Jackie Robinson: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1962

Jackie Robinson

Born: January 31, 1919

1937-39: Attended Pasadena Junior College

1938: Arrested for disputing the arrest of a friend by police.

1939-41: Attended UCLA where he was a track star

1942: Drafted into army

1943: Commissioned 2^nd lieutenant

1944: Court-martialed for refusing to sit in the back of a desegregated bus

1944: He was acquitted and honorably discharged

1944-5: Athletic Director for Sam Houston College

1945: Signed with KC Monarchs of Negro Leagues

1945: Branch Rickey signs Robinson to a Minor League contract with the Dodgers

1946: Plays for Montreal Royals

Debut: April 15, 1947 (Dodgers)

1947: Robinson becomes first black player in Major Leagues since 1887

1947: Won Rookie of the Year

1947: Dodgers lose World Series to Yankees

1949: “Did You See Jackie Hit That Ball?” becomes a hit single

1949: Testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee

1949: Won batting title (.342)

1949: Won NL MVP

1949: Dodgers lose World Series to Yankees

1950: The movie, The Jackie Robinson Story starring Robinson is released

1951: Hit dramatic home run to force pennant playoff (Dodgers lost playoff)

1952: Dodgers lose World Series to Yankees

1953: Was openly criticizing segregation by this point

1953: Dodgers lose World Series to Yankees

1955: Steals home in World Series. Yogi Berra swears he was out.

1955: Dodgers win the World Series

1956: Dodgers lose World Series to Yankees

1957: Retired after being traded to the Giants

1957-64: VP for personnel for Chock full o’ Nuts

1960: Endorsed Richard Nixon for President

1962: Elected to Hall of Fame

1964: Served on Nelson Rockefeller’s presidential campaign

1965: First black hired to do color analysis

1966: GM for Brooklyn Dodgers in the Continental Football League

1970: Started Robinson Construction Company to build for low income families

1971: Son died in an auto accident

1972: Did color commentary for Montreal Expos

1972: Dodgers retired his #42

1972:  Appeared at World Series advocating for black managers

1972: Died

1975: Frank Robinson became the first black manager

1984: Won the Presidential Medal of Freedom

1987: The Rookie of the Year Award was named in his honor

1997: MLB retired #42 for all clubs

1999: Time Magazine named him one of the most 100 influential people of the 20^th century

1999: All Century Team

2005: Won the Congressional Gold Medal

2013: The Movie 42 is released starring Harrison Ford

Accomplishments:

Desegregated Baseball

1955 World Champion

1949 NL MVP

1947 Rookie of the Year

1949 Batting Champ

6x All Star

#42 retired by all MLB teams

Negro League All Star

2x stolen base champ

.311 average

137 Home runs

734 RBI

947 runs

273 doubles

54 triples

197 steals

.409 OBP

.474 Slugging

.883 OPS

Hit .300: 6x

Scored 100 runs: 6x

203 hits (1949)

30+ doubles: 6x

12 triples (1949)

124 RBI (1949)

20+ steals: 5x

37 steals (1949)

106 walks (1952)

740 walks-249 strikeouts

.400 OBP: 6x

.500 slugging: 5x

Led league in SH: 2x

Led league w/7 HBP (1948)

Postseason: .234, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 6 SB, .679 OPS (6 World Series)

A Modern Dante's Inferno

In the fourteenth century, Dante created some of our conceptions about Hell. In the poem, Dante is escorted through Hell by the Roman poet Virgil. Dante's Hell has multiple levels and punishments are leveled upon sinners based on their crimes. This is not a one size fits all hell.

The Inferno has nine circles. Each circle represents a different sin and Dante placed real historical figures into these categories. Modern readers will not know most of these characters. So, here is an updated version...
First Circle: Limbo (Unbaptised and Virtuous Pagans)

Gandhi: The Indian mahatma led his country's independence movement through non-violent civil disobedience. However, he was not a Christian. As a result, he lands in Dante's first circle.

Second Circle: Lust

Wilt Chamberlain: Wilt claimed to have bedded over 20,000 women.

Third Circle: Gluttony

Jim Morrison: Jim did everything to excess and eventually ballooned out.

Fourth Circle: Avarice (Greed)

Ken Lay: The former Enron chief destroyed his company and wiped out his workers. Before the trial, Lay was worth around $40 million.

Fifth Circle: Wrath

Bernhard Goetz (space waiting): Yeah, he's still alive, but Goetz is the poster child for vigilantism.

Sixth Circle: Heresy

Joseph Smith: He convinced his followers that an angel visited him. He compiled the Book of Mormon and created his own branch of Christianity.
Seventh Circle: Violence

Toward Others: Ike Turner: Ike was a well known wife-beater.

Toward Self (Suicide): Kurt Cobain: Cobain shot himself at the peak of his popularity.

Toward God (Blasphemy): Muhammad Atta: Pick your terrorist for believing that killing people for Islam will get them 72 virgins and make God happy.

Toward Nature (Sodomy): Gerry Studds: Congressman Studds got involved with underage male pages.

Toward Art (Usury): JP Morgan: Is anyone a better example of Usury?

Eighth Circle: Fraud

Seducers: Marquis de Sade: The Maquis lived a scandalous life based on sexual liberty.

Flatterers: Joseph Goebbels: Goebbels served as Hitler's propaganda minister.

Simony: Reserved for George Soros: Simony is the sin of paying for church sacraments and offices. A modern equivalent might be the purchase of political influence. Soros has bought one of America's major political parties.

False Prophets: Jim Jones: Jones portrayed himself as a holy man and killed his followers.

Barraters: Boss Tweed: Tweed was the most corrupt politician in U.S. history.

Hypocrites: Jimmy Swaggert: 'nuf said.

Thieves: Jesse James: Jesse James was the most famous of the Old West outlaws.

False Counselors: Johnny Cochrane: Pick your lawyer...Cochrane got O.J. off for murder.

Schismatics: George Wallace: Few politicians have sewed as much discord as George Wallace.

Falsifiers: Alger Hiss: Hiss was a traitor, Soviet agent, and perjurer.

Ninth Circle: Betrayal

Kin: Lizzy Borden: There may be no greater betrayal than murdering one's family.

Country: Benedict Arnold: Arnold is America's greatest traitor. He almost succeeded in surrendering West Point to the British.

Guests: Ayatollah Khomeini: Iran held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days from 1979-1981. The American embassy workers were guests in Iran and Khomeini betrayed them.

Benefactors: Mary Queen of Scots: Mary became embroiled in a plot of overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I. Mary lived under Elizabeth's protection and betrayed her cousin.

Presidential Theme Songs: Richard Nixon

In real life: Nixon Now!

A rousing early seventies pop sound. It was so overwhelmingly happy, that over 60% of the country voted for him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceocNS-toDk

The song that may have best fit his administration: The Theme to the Godfather. In one sense, the end of Part 2 mirrors the end of the Nixon Administration. Michael was all alone after isolating himself. Paranoia led to Michael's lonely existence as it ended the Nixon presidency and left the president alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvKXt3Surlk

The Greatest TV Episodes of All Time #61-70

61. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Passion (1998): Angelus continues to torment the Scoobies. He took his art to new levels by killing Ms. Calendar, who was close to restoring his soul, and leaving her body in Giles bed.


62. MASH: The Interview (1976): Famous newsman Clete Roberts (Walter Cronkite anyone?) visits the 4077th and interviews the gang. Filmed in black & white to approximate 1950s newsreels, the actors improvised their answers.

63. The Beverly Hillbillies: Duke Steals a Wife (1963): Mrs. Drysdale is going to wed her dog with a Parisian Poodle. The dog’s owner accidentally arrives at the Clampet’s house instead. The female poodle hooks up with Jed’s hound, Duke. The couple has puppies and Mrs. Drysdale has a coronary.

64. Cheers: Bad Neighbor Sam (1990): Melville’s is purchased by a famous restaurateur. Sam does not like the new owner and the new customers are yuppies. A feud breaks out. Sam’s new neighbor bricks up the bathrooms and pool room and refuses to take it down until Sam pays rent. Sam loses his mind.

65. Rome: Caesarian (2005): Caesar arrives in Egypt. Pullo and Vorenus save Cleopatra. Pullo impregnates Cleopatra. She later claims Caesar is the father. The end is classic. Caesar shows off his son in front of his men. Pullo and Vorenus exchange looks.

66. Taxi: Cooking for Two (1982): Never invite Reverend Jim over. Jim destroys Louie’s apartment.

67. I, Claudius: Hail, Who? (1976): This episode of I, Claudius covers the exploits of Caligula. The Roman Emperor is living with a prostitute, murders those that annoy him, engages in orgies, has his soldiers collect seashells, and proclaims his victory over the god, Neptune. He is then assassinated.

68. Laugh-In: Nixon (1968): Before Clinton on Arsenio or Obama on Sportscenter, Nixon did Laugh-In. This was a major event as it set a precedent for other presidential candidates to follow. It allowed Nixon to soften his image, define himself, and go around the hostile press.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCp8Edp4pfo

69. Saturday Night Live: The Beatle reunion (1976): Lorne Michaels offers the Beatles $3000 to reunite. They have to sing three songs and can split the money anyway they want--even if that means less for Ringo. John and Paul almost showed that night. George did show up later to collect, but was told he could not collect without the other three.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALZuk8N0TgU

70. Curb Your Enthusiasm: Seinfeld Reunion (2009): Larry brings back the Seinfeld gang and hopes to woo his ex. In the meantime, they film an episode. George loses millions to Bernie Madoff. MADOFF!

Movies of the Decade: The Aughts

Overall, a week decade for movies as Hollywood seems to have run out of ideas. Here is my list of best films for the decade...These are not in any order.

Frost-Nixon

Gran Torino

The Dark Knight

Gladiator

Cinderella Man

Star Trek

The Two Towers

Old School

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2

Letters From Iwo Jima

Grades: First Year for Every President Since FDR

Here are the grades for every president's first year since FDR. The rationale for each grade is listed next to the name. If there are questions, google the terms or ask. Also, some events have a greater significance, so even if a president has a nice achievement or a dunderheaded move, it can be canceled out by something else. Interestingly, I gave Clinton a higher mark than many of the people in his administration for his first year...

Obama is not included.

I used January 20 as the end date for the accidental presidents.

FDR: A (New Deal)

Truman (April 12, 1945-January 20, 1946): A (Potsdam, Ended WWII,UN)

Eisenhower: A (Ended Korean War, Kept most of New Deal, Earl Warren)

JFK: D (Bay of Pigs, Alliance for Progress, Peace Corps, Berlin Wall, Failed summit, Space Program, Inaugural Address)

LBJ (November 22, 1963-January 20, 1965): A (Kennedy Assassination, Civil Rights Act, 1964 Election. Beginnings of Great Society)

Nixon: C (Inaugural Address, Bombing Cambodia, Beginning of Vietnamization, Silent Majority speech)

Ford: (August 9, 1974-January 20, 1975): A-(WIN Program, Nixon Pardon, Healer-in-chief)

Carter: C (Draft dodger pardon, Carter VS. Congress)

Reagan: A (First Inaugural Address, Tax Cuts, Assassination Attempt, Air Traffic Controller’s Strike, Confrontation, Defense Buildup, Sandra Day O‘Connor)

Bush 41: C (Panama, Fall of Berlin Wall)

Clinton: D- (FMLA, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, NAFTA, Travelgate, Troopergate, Whitewater, other assorted scandals, Waco, Somalia)

Bush 43: A (Tax cuts, 911, Patriot Act, No Child Left Behind, Withdrawal from ABM Treaty and Kyoto, Overthrow of Taliban and War on Terror, Ground Zero Speech, 911 Address to Congress)

Looking Back: Some 2010 Anniversaries

Happy New Year! The New Year is always a time to look to the future and reminisce about the past. It also provides a time to examine anniversaries of historical events. So, without delay, here are some anniversaries worth noting:

Five Years Ago (2005): Hurricane Katrina wipes out New Orleans. Over 1800 people died when Katrina struck. Government red tape and corruptions kept the levees from being upgraded to withstand a storm of that magnitude. Additionally, local and state officials failed to evacuate citizens in New Orleans resulting in a massive body count. On top of all this, the federal response was slow and incompetent thus demonstrating why government should not be allowed to run anything.

Ten Years Ago (2000): Bush vs. Gore. Gore won the popular vote, but Bush won the electoral college. It all came down to Florida's electoral vote. Gore decided to contest Democratic counties in Florida. During the multiple recounts, Gore made steady progress and cut into Bush’s lead in Florida. In recounts, the person leading the vote usually gains votes. Gore’s progress denotes possible vote fraud which led to protests. The Bush Campaign went to court. After a couple rounds in the Florida Supreme Court, the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court. On a 5-4 vote, they ended the madness in Florida and Bush became president. Gore’s mistake was not requesting a statewide recount at the beginning of this fiasco.

Twenty Years Ago (1990): Iraq invades Kuwait. Saddam Hussein decided to annex Kuwait. Iraq claimed it as a province. Hussein sent feelers to the Bush Administration about the invasion beforehand. The administration failed to warn off Hussein. As a result, Saddam felt he had a free hand and launched the invasion.

Twenty-Five Years Ago (1985): Gorbachev takes command. The Soviet Union buried three leaders during the Reagan Administration. Privately, President Reagan complained that he could not deal with the Soviets if their leaders kept dying. The Communist Party selected Mikhail Gorbachev to lead the country. Gorbachev was young and vigorous as opposed to the walking corpses that previously led the nation. Eventually, the new leader instituted reforms which backfired and helped destroy the USSR.

Fifty Years Ago (1960): Kennedy defeats Nixon. In the closest election anyone could remember, John Kennedy edged Vice-President Richard Nixon for the presidency. The election served as the transition in leadership from the Lost Generation to the G.I. Generation. Additionally, the first debate between Nixon and Kennedy proved the power of television. Radio listeners believed Nixon won the debate. Unfortunately for Nixon, more people saw the debate on television.

Seventy-Five Years Ago (1935): The Dust Bowl. Years of mismanagement of the nation’s farmland came home to roost. The topsoil was destroyed by generations of mismanagement and the great plains literally blew away. People on the east coast watched in amazement as Oklahoma blew into the ocean.

100 Years Ago (1910): Jack Johnson defeats Jim Jeffries. African-American boxer Jack Johnson beat all challengers. Whites demanded former champ Jim Jeffries return from retirement to defeat Johnson. Eventually, Jeffries relented and Johnson won the bout. Race riots broke out all over the country because a black man knocked out a white man in a boxing ring.

150 Years Ago (1860): Lincoln wins! In a bizarre presidential election, Abraham Lincoln defeated three other candidates for the presidency. There were two elections in 1860. In the South, John C. Breckinridge and John Bell squared off. Lincoln was not on the ballot. In the North, Republican Abraham Lincoln and Democrat Stephen Douglas battled. The North had the population and Lincoln won the North. So, Lincoln won the White House and the South left the Union.

200 Years Ago (1810): Macon’s Bill Number 2. Thomas Jefferson destroyed the American economy with his embargo. Congressman Nathaniel Bacon and President James Madison wanted to correct Jefferson’s error. President Jefferson believed Europe needed American goods and he could coerce the British and French into behaving on the high seas through an embargo. The two powers were seizing American ships to stop trade. Bacon’s bill promised to lift the embargo on whatever power promised to stop seizing American ships. Napoleon agreed, the U.S. dropped the embargo on France, and British-American relations suffered eventually leading to war in 1812.
300 Years Ago (1710): The Tuscarora Tribe protest land seizures. In 1710, the Tuscarora Indians sent a protest to the Pennsylvania colonial government. They complained about whites stealing their lands and enslaving their people.400 Years Ago (1610): Jamestown re-supplied. The winter of 1609-1610 was known as “the starving time” in Jamestown. The colonists lacked food and were surrounded by hostile Indians. They resorted to cannibalism. Eventually, the colony was re-supplied and repopulated with new colonists. This saved English North America.

500 Years Ago (1510): Slavery comes to the Americas. In 1510, Spanish King Ferdinand officially opened the New World to African slavery. This began 500 years of racial antagonism between whites and blacks in the Americas.

Presidential Legacies: 1969-1989

The Johnson Administration’s folly in Vietnam led to Republican Executive Branch dominance for the remainder of the century. The Cold War continued and the Republicans were enlisted to end it and fix an economy damaged by the Great Society. The presidents between 1969 and 1989 battled recession and Russians. In the end, both were conquered.

Richard Nixon benefited politically from Lyndon Johnson’s downfall. His political career was dead. However, he worked hard in 1966 and became the Republican nominee in 1968. Once in office, Nixon worked to thaw the Cold War and end the Vietnam conflict. It took almost four years for the Vietnam War to end. The North Vietnamese refused to negotiate in good faith through much of Nixon’s first term. They finally came around when it appeared he would be re-elected.

The war’s end coincided with two major Nixon diplomatic coups. He became the first president to go to China. This opened China to the United States, set in motion their economic renaissance, and isolated the Soviet Union. The Russians felt threatened and isolated by the U.S. and China. As a result, they welcomed Nixon’s diplomatic overtures. Détente has been criticized by the right, but there was no way for Nixon to know that the Soviet Union would collapse in his lifetime.

While Nixon was racking up the accomplishments, his administration became immersed in the Watergate Scandal. Basically, a group of White House operatives broke into and bugged Democratic Headquarters. The Johnson Administration bugged the Nixon Campaign, so this was nothing new. However, word of the break-in made it into the papers. Nixon made the mistake of attempting to cover it up. He should have fired those involved immediately and claimed ignorance. Instead, he waged war on the press. Events steam rolled and he was forced to resign.

Gerald Ford took over for Nixon. Initially, Ford was very popular. However, he pardoned Nixon and that popularity collapsed. The president from Michigan decided it was best to get beyond the Watergate Scandal. He wanted the country to heal and move forward. Ford did not want to put the country through the agony of a trial. Additionally, Nixon’s health declined dramatically and some worried the former president would not survive a trial. So, Ford pardoned Nixon and that cost him the election of 1976.

Ford lost to Jimmy Carter. Carter was an inexperienced nobody in 1975. In 1977, he was president. Carter’s tenure was marked by disaster. He refused to work with Congressional Democrats. Carter did not see much of a difference between them and Nixon. Then, the economy collapsed. Unemployment and inflation each hit double digits. The country’s confidence was gone. On July 15, 1979, Carter went on national television and chewed out the country. Carter called it a “crisis of confidence.” However, Carter’s tone was that of a fire-and-brimstone preacher and it fell flat. At the end of the year, Iran kidnapped 52 Americans and held them hostage. This paralyzed the Carter Administration even further. The economy and Iran Hostage Crisis cost Carter the White House.

Carter left America searching for a white knight. Ronald Reagan literally came out of central casting. Reagan won two massive electoral victories. Upon taking office, it appeared his economic policy was D.O.A. Then, John Hinkley Jr. tried to kill him in an effort to impress Jodie Foster. Hinkley failed on both accounts. This was a turning point. Reagan got his economic policies through congress. The economy continued to struggle for a time before exploding. By 1984, it was “Morning in America.” In his first term, the economy turned around. In his second term, he would face down the Russians.

During his first term, Reagan had little diplomatic contact with the Soviets. The Soviet leaders kept dying. Additionally, the Russians had been trying to expand in a fashion similar to the Nazis before World War II. By the early eighties, the Soviets had invaded Afghanistan, declared martial law in Poland, and stepped up their proxy wars against American allies. People questioned whether democracy could survive. In response, Reagan began a massive arms buildup. The plan was to outspend the Russians. He succeeded.

By 1985, the Soviet economy was strained. By 1989, it had completely collapsed. The Soviets had overextended and now had to try and keep up with the American arms buildup. The Reagan arms buildup was only part of the reason. The other factor was the new Soviet Premier, Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev attempted to reform the Soviet economy. He did not want to end communism. However, socialism is failed economic theory. Under Gorbachev's socialist reforms, the Soviet economy, and with it the military, collapsed. The Soviet Union itself ceased to exist in 1991.

In 1989, it looked like anything was possible. Communism was collapsing around the world. Dictatorships were on the wane. The world economy was expanding. Freedom was expanding. Would things continue to improve and would mankind enter into some new enlightened phase or would mankind blow it?

Richard Nixon: America's Greatest President

http://www.examiner.com/x-24794-American-History-Examiner~y2009m10d2-Richard-Nixon-Americas-Greatest-President

#21 John Lennon

John Lennon was a rock star, songwriter, artist, author, peace activist, and cultural icon. Along with Paul McCartney, he formed the most influential writing tandem in history. He provided a counterpoint to McCartney while with the Beatles. Lennon was the witty, sarcastic one. After the band broke up, Lennon launched a successful solo career.

Lennon’s post-Beatles life can be broken into two periods. The first period ran from 1970-1975. During this period, John released the bulk of his solo material (some came out before the Beatles broke up). The first post Beatles album, Plastic Ono Band, was emotionally charged which allowed Lennon to vent. The next album, Imagine, provided an anthem for the anti-war crowd. Some of his songs created controversy. “Working Class Hero” was banned for using the word “fucking.” Many stations did not bother to listen to the message in “Woman is the Nigger of the World” and simply banned it outright.

John’s political activism often got him in trouble. His anti-war stance during the Vietnam period found him on the receiving end of the Nixon White House. Lennon underwent several years of deportation proceedings as a result of a late 60s drug bust. Lennon also made friends with several radicals (some of which robbed him blind).

After several years of political wars, John went on sabbatical to raise his son, Sean. Lennon re-emerged in 1980. He recorded Double Fantasy with Yoko and prepared to return to public life. On December 8, 1980, he was murdered by a deranged fan outside his home.

Lennon’s assassin came from Hawaii. He applied for a gun despite having served time in a mental institution. The Hawaiian police did a shoddy background check. Additionally, the gun made it through airport x-ray machines and metal detectors. Once in New York, the murderer met Lennon out front the former Beatles’ home, The Dakota, and got his autograph. Later that evening, he shot Lennon in the back.

There was a memorial and moment of silence for Lennon six days later on December 14. He was later cremated. Three posthumous albums and a number of collections followed. John's son, Julian scored a hit in the mid-1980s. Yoko occasionally appears for interviews and makes some public appearances. For his part, John has become linked to John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. He was the last victim of the 60s. However, unlike the others named, Lennon’s death was not a political act. Instead, it was a deranged loser which clearly represents the culture of the late 1970s.

Rock n Roll Moment: The “Lost Weekend” In 1973, John and Yoko split for a time. John took up with his personal assistant, May Pang. He spent the next 18 months inebriated and called that period, his “lost weekend.”

Essential Lennon:
Plastic Ono Band (1970)
Imagine (1971)
Rock n Roll (1975)
Double Fantasy (1980)
Lennon (1990)- Box Set

Lennon’s Top 10:

Mother
Working Class Hero
Imagine
Jealous Guy
Instant Karma
Power to the People
Mind Games
(Just Like) Starting Over
Watching the Wheels
#9 Dream

The Kitchen Debate: 50 Years Later

On July 24, 1959, Vice President Richard Nixon visited the American National Exhibition in Moscow. The American government sponsored the event and had a real American home built with all the modern appliances and conveniences. It demonstrated to the Russians the value and benefits of capitalism and freedom.

While visiting the exhibit with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, an impromptu debate began. Khrushchev did not believe average Americans lived in such luxury. Nixon loved debating and accepted the challenge. The two sides argued over the benefits of each system. The Soviet leader stressed "things that mattered" and benefited the most people. Nixon boasted about America's high standard of living and ability to innovate. Nixon clearly won the debate. He was correct when he predicted the Soviet people would be freed one day. Perhaps the most poignant example of Socialist backwardness occurred inadvertently. Khrushchev kept playing with a disposable pen. He clicked it over and over in amazement.

Fifty years later, another foreign leader challenged another American president. At the Summit of the Americas, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega went into a diatribe over American foreign policy dating back two centuries. American President Barack Obama remained silent. Ortega succeeded with Obama where Khrushchev failed with Nixon. In fact, Ortega praised Obama and claimed he was someone they could deal with. Why wouldn't he feel that way? Silence means acceptance. What a difference half a century makes...

Media Bias: 1963-1980

The press loved Massachusetts aristocrat John Kennedy. When he died and was replaced by a (gasp) Texan, it was yet another politician without the right pedigree. As a Texan, Johnson was another outsider. He was a pretender to the throne and a vulgar man. He had a ranch. LBJ was everything the press hated. They turned on him the first chance they had. The press even printed pictures of LBJ holding his dog up by its ears. It reaffirmed their image of Johnson as a vile and uncultured man. In 1964, the press pulled for the Republican Rockefeller. However, the GOP nominated Barry Goldwater. Goldwater was worse than Johnson, so they went after him with full fury. Goldwater lost and then the press went back to criticizing Johnson. When Georgetown burned during the urban uprisings, someone told LBJ that Georgetown was on fire. Many press insiders lived there. Johnson's responded "I've waited 35 years to hear that!" The press helped drive him from office.

They also helped drive Richard Nixon from office. Had Nixon been an insider, they would have ignored Watergate. But, Nixon defeated good establishment liberals in his run for the house, the senate, and the presidency. He also brought down Alger Hiss. What drove them the craziest was his use of media to get his message across. Whether it was the “Silent Majority” speech or the trip to China, Nixon used the press images for favorable coverage while reporters seethed. The press never forgave him for that.

Nixon’s successor, Gerald Ford, came from Michigan. He even graduated from the University of Michigan. The press accepted him at first, but quickly went after him. Ford pardoned Nixon to get Watergate behind the country. The press began to work to undermine his presidency. They portrayed Ford as dimwitted and clumsy. Press coverage of Gerald Ford can be summed up with the headline: Ford to City: Drop Dead.

The press sided with Ford’s opponent, Jimmy Carter, in 1976. Carter was not Nixon. He was also a feel good story. The press played up Carter and attacked Ford (Ford did help doom himself with a debate gaffe). Carter made some silly mistakes in the press when he admitted he lusted in his eyes, saw a UFO, and by claiming to have been attacked by a killer rabbit (not making this up). Carter’s novelty disappeared quickly. The press enjoyed making Carter’s brother look like a fool. When all was said and done, Carter was another outsider. He was from Georgia. The press hoped he’d be one of them, but he wasn’t. The press did not rally to him until Ronald Reagan became the Republican Nominee.

The New Right scared the press. They were the ultimate outsiders. These Goldwater-ites were everything the press was not. They were not East Coast. They were not Ivy League. They were not Elites. They distrusted government. They distrusted power. They distrusted liberalism. The press pumped the candidacy of George H.W. Bush. Bush failed. Reagan won the GOP nod. They attacked Reagan as dumb, unsophisticated, and simple. They claimed he’d start World War III and civilization would end with a Reagan Presidency. The press went nuts. Then, Reagan won. The Reagan Revolution changed the dynamic. The press changed its tone and went after Republicans and gave Democrats a free ride. The GOP epicenter was no longer the East Coast. It had moved to the heartland while the Democratic epicenter remained elitist. The press sided with the East Coast while the GOP sided with the heartland and the blue collar voter.

Media Bias: 1952-1963

The press loved FDR. He was one of them. Roosevelt was an East Coast elite with an impeccable pedigree. He was exactly the man the media wanted as president. Educated, intelligent, and aristocratic. FDR contrasted strongly with the dour little Engineer from Iowa, Herbert Hoover and the silly little man from Missouri, Harry Truman. Truman did not even go to college. He was out of his depth. Luckily, his two terms were up in 1952.


In 1952, the media were in a quandary. They supported Princeton educated Democratic governor Adlai Stevenson, but they could not attack the Republican candidate Dwight Eisenhower. Ike was a superhero in American minds. Eisenhower was the next George Washington. The press did not see it that way. Eisenhower was another outsider. He was from Kansas and was not seen as an intellectual heavyweight. They also feared Ike would dismantle their precious New Deal. The media had to find a way to attack the outsider and support their candidate, Adlai Stevenson. Stevenson went to Princeton and was an elitist. The throne was rightfully his. They needed an issue to attack Ike.


The media got their issue when Richard Nixon became the GOP Vice-Presidential nominee. To the media, Nixon was everything wrong with American politics. He was from a small town in California. He did not go to an Ivy League school. He was not an elite. On top of this, Nixon defeated leftist elite candidates in his House and Senate elections (Joe Kennedy contributed to Nixon’s campaign for Senate) and had the gall to bring down Alger Hiss. Hiss was a Soviet spy, but he was part of the good old boys network and had the perfect East Coast establishmentarian credentials.


Nixon unwittingly gave them their issue. The press discovered Nixon had a “secret” slush fund. Despite the portrayal, the fund was neither secret nor illegal. Many members of congress and even Democratic nominee Stevenson had one. The Democrats did not push the issue because they did not want to seem like hypocrites. That did not stop the press. Ike was ready to dump Nixon.


Richard Nixon fought back. He used the media to his advantage and gave the now famous “Checkers” speech. In the national address, he gave a complete account of his finances (Pat Nixon was not happy) and defended himself against the charges. The public bombarded Republican HQ with calls to keep that “nice Mr. Nixon” on the ticket. The outsider beat the elite media at their own game and they were not happy. They added that to their list of grievances against this upstart.


Throughout Ike’s two terms, the media convinced themselves he was an idiot. They attacked him for his intelligence (the man who planned D-Day) and his golf game. Nixon fared no better. They were relieved the Republicans accepted the New Deal, but longed for one of their own to be in the White House. The darling of the left elite, Stevenson, returned to lose in 1956 (Robert Kennedy could not stand him and voted for Ike in 1956). In 1960, they’d get the perfect East Coast candidate.


After Nixon’s two terms as VP came to a close, he lost a close election to Kennedy. JFK was another east coast elite and the press loved him. They covered up his personal foibles to the extreme (Ben Bradlee of the Washington Post said JFK’s womanizing would have come to light in the second term had Kennedy not settled down. The press was tiring of it). The Kennedy Years would become known as “Camelot” which hearkened to a mythological time in England. It was a time of magic where anything was possible. In the media’s collective consciousness, Camelot stood in stark contrast to the dour repressive Eisenhower Years. Then, it came to an end. Kennedy’s death brought the Texan LBJ to the White House. The White House fell to another outsider. The press geared for war.

The Greatest Inaugural Addresses

I have read every Presidential Inaugural Address from Washington to W. I have seen every Inaugural Address from Kennedy to W (Thank you C-Span). So, here is my list of the five greatest addresses and four honorable mentions...They are arranged chronologically.

1. Thomas Jefferson (1801): Jefferson tried to heal wounds caused by a decade of intense partisanship. People think today's politics are hyper-partisan. However, the 1790s were worse. As Obama has been doing, Jefferson attempted to reach across the aisle and proclaimed one American nation with the refrain, "We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists."

2. Abraham Lincoln (1865): The partisanship of Jefferson's time was intense, but not as intense as the 1850s. By 1860, compromise was not possible and war broke out after Lincoln's inaugural in 1861. Speeches do not have to be long to be good. Lincoln's second address was short and to the point. He wanted to heal the nation, "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

3. Franklin Roosevelt (1933): FDR reassured a nation deep in despair by promising "that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Compared to the dour Herbert Hoover, this was a breath of fresh air. Additionally, with improvements in technology, we can see and hear FDR's speech today.

4. John F. Kennedy (1961): JFK's inaugural was a call to arms for a new generation. It was a message of hope. Mankind can eliminate poverty and other social problems. Liberty will spread. America's good words would be transformed into good deeds. Kennedy also challenged Americans to "ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."

5. Ronald Reagan (1981): Reagan always performed for his audience. After four years of the Carter Malaise, and almost 20 years of bad luck, divisions, and disasters, Reagan had come on his white horse to set things right. Reagan promised a new beginning. As a result of leftist policies, the economy was shattered and America's prestige abroad at an all time low. Like today, solutions to problems does not come from government. Instead, America's problem was government.

Honorable Mentions:

1. Andrew Jackson (1829): Jackson's election marked the beginning of a new age. (It also led to the greatest party in American History as the White House got trashed). Jackson's address was similar to Reagan's. Liberty is more important than government expansion.

2. Abraham Lincoln (1861): The South left the Union. How would Lincoln respond? He attempted to alleviate Southern worries, but he also let it be known that states can not leave the Union. He asks Southerners to be patriots and appeals to their "better angels."

3. Benjamin Harrison (1889): Harrison was known to be "icy." He was not very likable, but he managed to get elected. Despite his inability to be warm and fuzzy, he gave a pretty good address. It was a celebratory unity speech.

4. Richard Nixon (1969): Nixon came back from the abyss to win the presidency in 1968. During his exile, he became an expert in foreign affairs. Like Kennedy, he appealed to something bigger than himself. It was a "Summons to Greatness." Nixon pushed for a peaceful world. He asked Americans to seize the opportunity for greatness. It was time to end war, "The greatest honor history can bestow is the title of peacemaker."

What Could Have Been...

Two presidents could have been amongst the greats. They racked up impressive legislative victories and reformed government. One helped usher in the Second Reconstruction while the other changed the Cold War paradigm. However, their own obsessive compulsive behaviors led to tragedy. LBJ got bogged down in Vietnam which cost 58,000 American lives, his programs are directly responsible for the deficits that followed in the 1970s and 1980s, and Johnson lost the South for the Democrats which guaranteed GOP ascendancy over the last 40 years. Richard Nixon was forced to resign because of Watergate and some have argued his China policy led directly to recent Chinese ascendancy (I guess the Chinese had nothing to do with it). In the end, those two mistakes (Vietnam for Johnson and Watergate for Nixon) will cling to these two men's legacies forever and overshadow their real contributions.
Lyndon Johnson (1963-1969): Won 1964 election with 61% of the vote
Civil Rights Act (1964)Medicare/Medicaid
Urban Renewal
War on Poverty
Education Reform
Voting Rights Act (1965)
Conservation
Clean air and water
Fair Housing Act (1968)

Richard Nixon (1969-1974):
Re-elected with 60% of the vote
Opened China
Ended Vietnam War
Detente
School Integration
Created the EPA and OSHA
Conservation
Clean air and water
Setup the GOP takeover of the South

Both men had impressive records. However, poor choices led to unequaled unpopularity and historical oblivion.

Richard Nixon Back Again!

Thursday, July 24, 2008Subject: The Return of the NixonTime: 5:14:00 PM EDTAuthor: cicero390 Edit Entry Delete Entry
Richard Nixon lost a nail-biter to John Kennedy in 1960. Two years later, he lost in his bid to become governor of California. He promised the press they would "not have Nixon to kick around anymore." Nixon went into the wilderness to re-emerge in 1968 as the Republican frontrunner. The American voter wanted order, a resolution to Vietnam, and a competent government.
The Democrats had screwed things up. The nation seemed paralyzed by anti-war protests and the war in Vietnam was getting more unpopular. The Vietcong launched attacks across South Vietnam and were thoroughly defeated. The press declared defeat (much like in Iraq). President Johnson struggled in the primaries and dropped out. The new frontrunner, Robert Kennedy, was murdered two months after Martin Luther King's assassination. The new frontrunner, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, was mortally wounded by Vietnam, riots and violence in America's streets, and a riot at his own convention.
Despite the mortal wound, HHH made a race of it. LBJ suspended bombings of Vietnam right before the election in a cynical attempt to swing voters. Additionally, Governor George Wallace attracted many blue collar voters that despised what the Democratic Party had become (in 2008, they voted for Hillary). Wallace siphoned off votes from Nixon, but Nixon managed to win by a hair. Governor Wallace would run again in 1972. During that campaigne, Wallace was paralyzed by an assassins bullet and never was a factor.
In 1972, Nixon took on the first modern Democratic candidate in George McGovern. Senator McGovern gave the Democrats proportional representation in their primaries (which gave the nomination to Obama this year) and their socially liberal platform that is almost always rejected by voters. One critic claimed the Senator's campaign was based on Amnesty, Abortion, and Acid. McGovern ran a classically liberal campaign and got trounced. He could not even pick a vice president correctly. His original choice was treated for depression with electric shock therapy. Nixon got 61% of the vote, but did not enjoy the victory for long. Despite going toChina and ending Vietnam, Nixon got bogged down by Watergate and was forced to resign in 1974.
Tags: Presidential Election, Richard Nixon

Kennedy vs. Nixon: 1960

Richard Nixon should have won in 1960. He was clearly the most qualified candidate while his opponent had a thin congressional resume. However, circumstances and modernity worked against Richard Nixon. With a couple of breaks, some pure luck, and some pure skill, JFK eeked out a narrow victory.
Ike had to step down after two terms. Had he been able to run in 1960, he would have beaten anyone the Dems could throw at him. Ike's Vice President, Richard Nixon, promised to continue Ike's policies and touted his experience as the G.O.P. overwhelmingly nominated him for president.
The Democrats had about a dozen candidates. The one that finally emerged was John F. Kennedy. Many Democrats including Harry Truman thought Kennedy was too inexperience to be president. However, his father's connections combined with Kennedy's charisma and media savvy won the day. It turned out JFK's biggest problem was not experience, but his religion. The last Catholic candidate was Al Smith in 1928 and he was crushed.
Nixon did not want to touch Kennedy's Catholicism. He felt it was bigoted to do so. Instead, he hammered home the experience issue. Experience never seems to help a candidate when they raise it as an issue. Nixon held a slight lead through much of the campaign.
Then, Nixon got sick. He lost some time on the campaign trail allowing Kennedy to do some catchup work.. Additionally, Nixon promised to visit all 50 states which took time from his schedule when he could have been hitting battleground states. Then, President Eisenhower got sick. Despite this, he offered to campaign for Nixon. The V.P. refused fearing it might kill the general.
What killed Nixon's campaign was the first TV debate with Kennedy. Nixon was recovering from his illness and looked gaunt. On top of this, he refused to wear makeup and did not shave. This accentuated his Richard III-esque features. On the other hand, Kennedy was tanned, clean shaven, and had visited a hooker before the debate...thus relaxing him. Those watching on TV believed Kennedy won the debate while those listening on the radio believed Nixon won. Ironically, Nixon was the first politician to effectively use television during his "Checkers" speech in 1952.
When election day rolled around, Kennedy squeaked out a victory. After some research, some historians have concluded that Nixon actually won the election. There was vote fraud in Illinois and Texas. In response to dead voters voting Democratic, LBJ quipped, "That's how they would have voted!" In Illinois, Chicago is notorious for vote fraud and that specter showed it's ugly head again during the 2008 Democratic Primaries. The history of Democratic vote fraud also explains Republican howls during the 2000 election.
Lastly, the 1960 election is the time African-Americans turned overwhelmingly Democrat. From 1865-1932, they were overwhelmingly Republican. The Depression turned them into a swing vote. Despite the fact Democrats sponsored segregation and Republicans desegregated Little Rock, passed two Civil Rights bills under Ike, and a Republican Supreme Court Justice authored Brown v. Board, JFK mesmerized them. The key moment came during the sit-ins. Martin Luther King was arrested and his wife feared for his life. While Nixon went to Justice behind the scenes to try and get him released, Bobby Kennedy used public pressure to secure King's release. King endorsed Kennedy and the black vote has been Democratic ever since.
JFK became president, did an effective job, and was then assassinated and turned into a martyr.

I Like Ike!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008Subject: I Like IkeTime: 4:44:00 PM EDTAuthor: cicero390 Edit Entry Delete Entry
Both parties approached Dwight Eisenhower to be their candidate for President in 1952. Harry Truman was stepping down and the GOP was desperate to win back the White House for the first time in 20 years. Ike decided to be a Republican. With that, the Republicans won the elections in 1952 and 1956. Ike was too popular to beat.
The Democrats nominated Adlai Stevenson both times. He was a boring intellectual. Stevenson campaign ads featured the candidate droning on and on...he bored people to death. By contrast, Ike's ads were quick and to the point. In both elections, Ike won big.
Eisenhower served two successful terms in office. He ended the Korean War, built the national highway system, integrated Little Rock High School, and balanced the budget. Additionally, he kept much of the New Deal in place. He left office extremely popular. Had he been healthy enough to campaign in 1960 for Richard Nixon, or had he not been limited to two terms by the Constitution, Kennedy would have stood no chance.