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Speaker Well, when I started, I was a writer at CBS News. It was an entirely different landscape. I mean, there was no job description as producer in those days. There was a director and there were writers and there were editors. And that was that. And I was a writer and I was the junior most writer at CBS News and and available for any sort of overtime work that was. And so, Walter, in those days, did a Sunday night network newscasts called the Sunday News Special, which was seen in New York at 11 p.m. and broadcast over the then CBS network. And they would always pick that had no particular staff attached to it. They always picked people. And I was always available, always willing and always eager to get that sixth day in. And that's how I first got to know.
Speaker I just wanted to let you know one thing. Just talk to me, OK? OK. OK, OK. Sorry. So I will not be on camera here right now. Right. OK. The content of the question. So. So when you first met, do you remember the first time you met Walter Cronkite? First impressions?
Speaker Not precisely that way. But I remember we had a meeting of the minds and the heart, if you will, because we both had a background in wire service journalism. And he he's never forgotten his. His career at United Press. And he's very dedicated to that sort of journalistic technique. And of course, I had just come out of the forest working for a different wire service. And so I had the same sort of discipline and same sort of attitudes. And so we had and we had where I guess you call a meeting of the minds.
Speaker And when you talked about the discipline and the attitudes coming out of the wire service, what was unique about people who came out of lives?
Speaker Well, looking back on it now, you had to be terse.
Speaker I'm sorry. Can you talk about the words?
Speaker Oh, yeah. No. No. OK. OK. Well, at the wire services, certainly in those days you had to be terse in terms of your output. You had to be quick. I mean, there was always a deadline. It wasn't as if you were working for a newspaper or magazine when you knew there was a date certain that you had to get something you won't. You were always on deadline and you always are under pressure. You had to be fast. You had to be quick. You had to be terse. And course you had to be accurate.
Speaker And that's that was the sort of discipline I'm talking about now when I understand that the people take young people, work them really, really hard, and there's this kind of there was kind of this collegiality or quality of that kind of pushing to get this story. And can you talk to me a little bit about what it was like actually to work well in the wire services?
Speaker My experience was in the Far East, but I'm sure it was the same elsewhere around the world. There was a ferocious competition. There were three main wire services. I'm going back to the 40s and 50s coming out of World War two and the competition to be first with a story. And when I say first, I mean, a half hour was was a career, you know, if you could be first that way. And and so within each wire service, I mean, there was a command come a rotary. I mean, there were you were a band of brothers. I mean, and and the other guys were always the bad guys. And so it was. And of course, the technology was much less complicated than it is today. I traveled the Far East with an Olivetti typewriter and a little canvas case and a credit card which allowed me to send without spending cash money allowed me to send dispatches through something called Cable and Wireless, which was a worldwide British Western Union. And that was it. I mean, of course, now, if you go out on a story, there's a small army you have to travel with because of the technology.
Speaker That's great. Now, when you worked with Walter at the beginning, were you already his producer?
Speaker No, no. That's what I'm talking about. All right. And when did you become his producer? OK.
Speaker At the beginning of my relationship with Walter, there was no such thing as a producer. That is, in effect, the news writer and the editor were effectively the producers, OK? And the writer actually became the producer, although there was no such titles in those days. And I mean, the writer was the one who looked at the film with way this is way before videotape and who decided you're subject to second guessing by others, but decided that the way the film, what film would be used in the way it would be used and produced scripts. Walter was always very jealous of command of the scripts. I mean, you know, on the evening news later on in his career, I mean, there were three and sometimes four writers attached to the evening news, but nothing happened unless he either wrote it himself or certified it or changed something that he wasn't. He wasn't one of those people who just picked up a piece of paper and read was what was presented to him. He's always questioning. And so back in the early I'm going back now to the late 50s.
Speaker He was then an emerging star because he'd been at the conventions when when the convention coverage went from Philadelphia to Boston and nowhere else. But it was it was becoming very important because in those days, political conventions really did pick the nominee, unlike today, when when all they do is certify a nominee who's been picked through the primary process outside media and media.
Speaker Oh, are you working out here? OK, as we're filming. And so.
Speaker I wondered if you could start back with the conventions.
Speaker Right. OK. Back in the 50s, Walter was an emerging star in a much smaller universe than we have much on television universe than we have today. He was hired during the Korean War. Heath by CBS News. He thought to go to Korea. But CBS in those days owned the television station in Washington and they decided they made him an anchor man who and he very he's very proud of the fact that he used to do what he, loosely speaking, called chalk talks about the status of the war. And that's how he first came to notice. And then in 52, he was chosen to be the anchor man. I'm not sure the word was invented at that point, but he was he was chosen to be the anchor man at the convention coverage, which in those days, the network went from Washington to Boston, New York and Philadelphia. That was about it. And so he was an emerging star. And he also was was a star. We used to call it the ghetto, the sun ghetto, where the networks I'm talking mainly about CBS and NBC would put a lot of public affairs programming on omnibus, the war at sea on NBC and then CBS reacted with air power. These were all wonderful, wonderful pieces of work. And at CBS, Walter was the anchor man of these. They weren't news news operations, but they they there was a lot of publicity attached. A lot of fame attached to it. And so he was becoming a star in this other area. But he also did because he's such a news freak. He also did this eleven o'clock newscast on Sunday nights, which is no longer on the air. But but in those days was a minor part of the CBS News operation. And that's when I first met him and joined him, was on the Sunday news special.
Speaker You were saying about the conventions, how conventions were very different first.
Speaker Yes. Fifty to fifty two. I was I was still in the Far East doing God's work, covering the Korean War. And Walter. Walter was supposed to go over to cover the Korean War for CBS, was short, stopped and was in Washington and chosen to be the anchor man at the convention.
Speaker And I can't dramatize for you how important these these coverage is were in those days, because the conventions really did pick the candidate, unlike today, when they certify a candidate chosen elsewhere. And and there was a lot of anticipation. There was a lot of excitement to it. And you could see the whole process in smoke filled rooms. I mean, the networks went to great lengths to sneak into smoke filled rooms, to get into closets where they could eavesdrop, to get interviews and to show the excitement on the floor.
Speaker Even even, you know, the the maneuverings were right out there, very old to a great extent, right out there in the open if he knew where to look and who to talk to. And so that was the first, I guess, large scale national exposure, if you can. I use the word national loosely for Walter. And then, of course, at 56, 1956, where the conventions were in Chicago and San Francisco, it was a really big, big deal.
Speaker I mean, it was no kidding around. I was the major effort the networks put into it and they spent scads of money. And these were commercials. I mean, I'm I'm not crying poor for the networks. Westinghouse was the main sponsor for CBS. I don't remember who did the same for NBC. And I wasn't connected with Walter at 56. I wasn't even with CBS in 1952. And I wasn't connected directly with Walter. But I was there as part of the army that that CBS sent to both Chicago and San Francisco for those conventions. And I had a close up look at the operation. By 1960, when the Democratic Convention was in Los Angeles, I was the anchor producer, although I'm not sure that title. I'm not sure that was my title, but that was my function. And Walter's assistant chief sitting next to him mostly, almost entirely off camera, but sitting next to him and doing what I could to help him concentrate on what was going on in the train. And what was what was happening and what we could anticipate was happening and what surprises were coming along.
Speaker What happened in the 64 convention?
Speaker Well, I was, again, anchor producer. I'm not sure in a sick 1964 convention, which was in San Francisco. And the second convention, the Democratic Convention, was in Atlantic City. The incumbent. The incumbent party always had the second convention. The challenging party always went first matter of courtesy. That that still exists. And so the Republican convention, which nominated Barry Goldwater, was in San Francisco, and that was early on. And although I was not. I was not in the middle of those conversations.
Speaker There was a lot of unease. A lot of.
Speaker Well, it was yeah, there were a lot of problems, mainly the ratings as the NBC ratings were much better and the people in command at CBS corporate structure felt that artistically in other ways, that NBC was better. And the word came down in some way. And Walter was effectively fired as anchor man. NBC had a double anchor, Huntley Brinkley, who were dominant in those days in the ratings. And. And so Walter called me. I had after the San Francisco convention, I'd come back to New York waiting to go to. To Chicago, not to Atlantic City. So after after the Chicago homicide, after the San Francisco convention, I'd gone back to New York waiting to go to Atlantic City for the for the Democratic convention. And I received a phone call from Walter telling me that he'd just been fired and that he and his children were going to Disneyland or Disney World, whatever the West Coast version of it was. And coming that he was still he was still on the evening news, but he certainly was not going to anchor the Atlantic City Convention. That assignment went to a fellow named Bob Trout and Roger Mudd. And it was also judged a disaster. And I cannot tell you the specifics of why, because I wasn't involved in that. But. They were, in effect, fired because on election night of 64, Walter was back as the anchor, the overall anchor and the traffic cop and the guy who told you where we were going next and why and what was happening.
Speaker Were you close enough to Walter to know how he felt when he got this news? I mean, did you.
Speaker Well, he did he handle it?
Speaker Well, he he was just as anyone would be.
Speaker Walter was really jolted when the bill, a fellow named Bill Leonard, who was then the vice president of CBS News, in charge of such things as conventions. Bill Leonard was the one who actually delivered the the message to Walter that he was not going to be anchor firmly.
Speaker Actually, I understand Fred Friendly flew to see Walter and tell him that he was sure that Walter and his wife, OK, was very grateful about that.
Speaker But anyway, you could just pick up OK. You know, how did he feel? OK. How did he do?
Speaker Well, he was OK. He there's no question he felt jilted, disappointed. But he decided to take the high road, if that's the way to describe it.
Speaker At a news conference in San Francisco, the news about his his his being fired was big, big news in the day and at a news conference. There he is. Attitude was simply, well, the company has the right to choose whoever they want to do it and I'll do whatever they assigned me to.
Speaker And it was just it was a very praiseworthy by most people. Most people judge it as a very praiseworthy attitude he had. He was not criticizing the company. He was not criticizing the system. He was not criticizing the ratings or or certainly not criticizing his competitors. He simply said it's their candy store and they can run it any way they want.
Speaker And I'm here working for them and I'll do whatever I'm asked to do, which was to go back and do the evening news. And she did. Now, he and a fellow named Don Hewitt, who was producer at the time, went to Atlantic City. And I'm not sure that anybody anticipated his Walter's physical presence in Atlantic City. And there was a certain I wasn't there. I stayed back in New York because the way we did the evening news see, Walter, there would be the convention coverage anchored by Bob Trout and Roger Mudd. And then in the evening, the evening newscast would be anchored by Walter Cronkite coming to you from Atlantic City with the rest of the world news and national news being piped out of New York and integrated that way. And so. I think there was some unease within the company about this, but there wasn't anything that they could do in any kind of graceful way to try to amend this attitude. And so Walter and Hewitt were having a good time because they didn't have any daytime responsibilities as far as coverage goes. And they were just I mean, having a grand time.
Speaker Do you think that was a smart move on? Well, to how Walter handled that situation. Do you think that it served him well?
Speaker Oh, I think it served them extra. I think the way Walter handled that situation was it was extraordinarily beneficial to him in the end, because the people that make these decisions had no qualms about deciding he should be the anchor man election night.
Speaker And there wasn't any question about somebody eating crow or being embarrassed because of his his attitude on being fired. And so I think it worked out very well for all parties. In the end.
Speaker It seems that while one gets the feeling that he was a real. Do you think that's true, Walter?
Speaker Walter was and is a real company man. I mean, he was a real company man when he worked for Yuppy. I mean, he you know, he'll go on and on and on about the glories of UAP. He was in is a company man about CBS. It still is. Yes. I think it's fair to say that Walter Cronkite is a company man without any apologies or any sort of defensiveness about that.
Speaker I want just to finish up on the convention.
Speaker Tell me a little bit about because some people don't know who Huntley and Brinkley were and what the competition. Why did they seem to have become so popular? And what happens if you could give me a little bit?
Speaker Okay.
Speaker No, I don't remember. Do you know did Huntley Brinkley would they appear in 52? I think fifty six is when they first appeared to be the host.
Speaker No, not by your terms. OK, well. Well, the ratings. Right. Right. Just from that context. Right. OK. OK. OK.
Speaker Well, the chief competition for CBS News and Walter Cronkite was NBC News and a team called Chet Huntley and David Brinkley and David Brinkley operated from Washington.
Speaker Chet Huntley operated from New York. Chet Huntley was if I made the door. Serious newsman Chet Huntley was kind of a waspish sarcastic, sometimes funny commentator on what what what was going on in Washington. He was sort of a smart alec, OK? And but this was very attractive and it was a breakthrough for the audiences of the day, whereas at CBS it was kind of a retro usually stayed right down the middle. Tell it the way it is sort of organization anchored first by a fellow named Doug Edwards. And then in the early 60s, Walter took over the job. And one of the reasons they chose Walter to replace Doug Edwards was because Huntley Brinkley was which was hugely successful, talked about written about in newspapers and magazines and watched by a hell of a lot more people than were watching Doug Edwards and then Walter Cronkite at the beginning. This all changed back in the middle or late 60s in my mind. It changed when Huntley retired Chet Huntley, the door straight down, the middle guy retired.
Speaker And we discovered I mean, we working in the halls of CBS, knows that Chet Huntley was the main attraction for the audience in getting their news, not David Brinkley, who was the wise guy, because that's when their ratings took a tumble.
Speaker And to me, it was kind of an eye opener that and that's when Walter Cronkite became number one, ascended to the top top rated newscast. To me, it was a stunning surprise was to very many people to realize that it was Huntley that was the the main attraction over there and not David Brinkley, who, as I said, was was a wise guy, told jokes were sarcastic about the doings of Congress and the and I can't explain it beyond that. But that's what happened.
Speaker That's great. That's perfect. Thank you. Now, let's go back to Walter is the managing editor of The Evening News. You sort of gave me a sense before that he was he looked at the copy check things. Can you. Was he a very tough test taskmaster? I mean, did he. Was he very demanding? Did he lose his temper when he wasn't getting what he wanted? I mean, how. OK.
Speaker When Walter took over the evening news, he demanded and the company accepted his demand to be made managing editor, a title that did not exist in television. Up to that and in Walter's mind and I think in CBS News mind, it gave Walter the ultimate decision making power about what stories the evening news would carry and the way that they were carried. And to Walter, it was. That was very, very important. Of course, now everybody in television, including hundreds of local anchormen, are all called managing editors. And I suspect none of them understand the origin of that title. Of course, it's it's been an honor title in newspapers for many, many years preceding this. Anyway, Walter demanded and got this title.
Speaker And with this with the title went for it was the final arbiter if it came to that. Now, I don't remember that there was any really head to head argument about a particular story or the way it was, because we all grew up in the same same sort of environment we were all trained in. In those days that both CBS and NBC News, you had to have a background in in in writing, reporting, either at a newspaper or or a wire service before you could even get an interview. And so it's culturally there was a homogeneous kind of attitude in both both newsrooms. And so and this went to news judgments. Also, there's kind of a homogeneous attitude towards what was news and what wasn't news and what was worthy of being reported and what wasn't. So there was never, never in my presence and never did I ever hear of any really knock down blood in, you know, in the car or arguments about what stories to carry and how to carry them.
Speaker But Walter did have that power. And when he came in and suggested something, it carried more weight than something I would suggest or, you know, a lot of other people would suggest. It was his subject was Walter's suggestion, for instance, during the height of the Watergate controversy, which was then mostly a story that The Washington Post reported very episodically. And unless you were a student of the situation and a dedicated reader of The Washington Post, the Watergate problem made no sense to most people because The Washington Post would report it in a very episodic way. And today there'd be some development that wasn't related to yesterday or didn't anticipate tomorrow. And Walter came in and we were all frustrated because it was such a complicated story, especially for television. And it was really hard to cope with. And Walter came in one day in October, mid-October and and said.
Speaker Damn it. Let's just sit down and put together a story or a series of story.
Speaker An ABC man remembers his language in an ABC manner with a beginning, a middle and an end as far as we know it. So that makes sense, that Watergate makes sense. And that started the whole CBS effort, which turned into a really award winning super series of stories that Katharine Graham, the publisher of The Washington Post, was ever thankful that Walter Cronkite and his gang did this because it from her point of view and she said as much, it it it threw it made the story a nationwide story, which heretofore it really hadn't been. It was kind of a Washington Washington insider kind of story. And nobody outside of that little circle quite understood what it was all about. And I must say in the series we did, we didn't have one new original fact, that is what we did was package information that had been out there for months. But did it in a way that made sense to the untutored in this matter.
Speaker That's great. Are they rolling bowling balls upstairs? Keep up here when it happens to you. Is that Amelia's apartment?
Speaker Yeah. Well, what is his wife doing or Amelio doing up there?
Speaker I'd be so I mean, not however. I mean, can you tell?
Speaker I'll tell you a story. Well, yes. I'll tell you I'll tell you one part of it and then we can go on if you want more. OK.
Speaker OK.
Speaker When the first. Chapter of the Watergate story appeared on the Evening News. This was two weeks before election. In late October, and the White House went crazy because they understood what was happening.
Speaker That is that this thing was being trans transfer transferred to a national story from being an insider. And a fellow named Charles Colson, then counselor to the president, called. And I've never gotten this straight call either. The president of CBS corporate president, CBS fellow named Frank Stanton, or the chairman of the board, William S. pay leaves off of the founders CBS and threatened to destroy CBS right after election. This was in 72. Seventy four. And that as soon as they won, it was clearly indicated that Nixon was going to win. And DEEDI did win that election by the greatest plurality to that date in American presidential politics. And Colson said, we're going to go to Wall Street, we're going to yank your television, your station licenses. We've got just going to kill you. Now, at the time, none of us working on the show knew. Knew of these phone calls somehow or other Dixieland. And president of CBS News was informed of this.
Speaker And in part two of the series, which was scheduled the next night, he called a meeting in his office to present CBS News at which within embedded in this in the second chapter was a.
Speaker A little recital of something called CREEP, the committee to Re-Elect the president was called creep in how they laundered money through some Mexican money they shouldn't have had access to. They wanted it through through Mexico. And this was part of part of our Watergate story. It was related to Watergate. Too complicated for me to go in here, but it was related to Watergate. And Dixieland pulls out of his desk the script of a piece that had been done the previous September. Now I'm going. I'm in late October. Previous September. In those days, the networks always did a series of political shows between Labor Day and Election Day, usually on Sunday nights and in what I call the ghetto and CBSA cases was a half hour Sunday night, which dealt which interviewed the primary candidates, presidential candidates and vice president.
Speaker And did did issue it spend a half hour on an issue, something that doesn't exist today in in in television and in September. One of these Sunday afternoon broadcasts had devoted quite a bit to the whole idea of creep in and using identical language and what had happened. The producer of the second chapter simply take him that September piece and just laid it into the second piece. And Dixieland sets that a little group I was part of said, how can I justify this? I mean, are we making a political statement if I use the same piece? Exactly. Verbatim with the visuals at that tonight.
Speaker And this was a crisis for us because, God, we had you know, we had a hell of a hole in the show. If we. So I. Now, this is this is an area of dispute. OK. Walter was not involved in this in this meeting purposely because the vice president in charge of us at the time, a fellow named Gordon Manning, said to me, I don't want Walter this meeting. Walter's our last resort. Walter is when we're up against it, we call Walter in. But let's let's do this up to the point we can't do anymore and then we'll call Walter. And so with with very good motivation. Walter was kept out of this, OK?
Speaker I.
Speaker Jumped up. I was getting hysterical at this point cause the show was just going to pot on us. And I went back into the tape room after telling this group what I was going to do. And I I recut this piece to make it appear different and new. And in the course of it, I shortened it. I. To this day and quite proud of what I did. There's a lot of controversy. People very few people care about it anymore. But in those days, a lot of controversy about we had and had bowed to outside pressure and had distorted the news. And at some points, Walter has said as much that this is the only episode he remembers where management intruded on an editorial judgment. I maintain that the essence of the story was there. OK, I made it appear different so that we could get away with doing it.
Speaker That's great to get that story. That's terrific. Fantastic.
Speaker Now.
Speaker What tell me a little bit about what your day to day dealings with with Walter. When you were his producer?
Speaker Well, on the evening news, there was no real pattern, see?
Speaker And as the anchormen got more important that the networks, they became celebrities to the point where at one point Walter Cronkite and I do believe that David Brinkley had the same attitude, stopped going out during the political season, stopped going out to cover stories themselves or to see what was going on, because they intruded on the process that they showed up and nobody paid attention to the candidates and suddenly they were the center of attention. So so that's and that's just an index of the celebrity quotient that occurred.
Speaker Now, I forgot what my training I was asking about your day to day. Oh, Daddy. Daddy. OK. OK, so. OK, ok.
Speaker OK, so let me. OK. So as anchormen became celebrities, it became impossible for them to do routine reportorial work. Walter Cronkite and David Brinkley stopped going out to political rallies because they became the center of attention. Nobody paid attention to the to the candidate. I'm saying this because as they became more and more celebrated, the demands on their time became more and more impossible. And Walter was called on by CBS to makes speeches and statements to different groups. And he had all sorts of other obligations. So his his routine, our routine was pretty steady. We came in every day and we did we we beat ourselves up and we put a broadcast together and got on the air. Walter wasn't there every day. All day, OK? He was there every day, most days. But a lot of days he wouldn't he wouldn't be available until mid-afternoon or later. Which made things very complicated for us because he was a severe taskmaster. And he insisted on the same kind of oversight, whether he was there for two hours before air or or six or eight hours before air. But there was no rhyme or reason to that sort of rhythm. And we we just we would sort of sort of like a railroad train. We just came in and moved ahead until somebody stopped us or told us to change directions or switch tracks.
Speaker Now, did you have did you ever find yourself sort of like a kid with a specific story?
Speaker I mean, how did you work things out?
Speaker See, I don't I don't remember. I don't have a memory. Maybe I'll get back to you on that accident, but I don't have a memory that because as I said earlier, we all came out of the same cultural professional. We were all brought up the same way.
Speaker And because Mustoe and Lawrence talked about how they were, you know, there was a lot of pressure you had to really deliver maybe.
Speaker Well, I was I was I was exerting the pressure. Maybe, you see, I'm not very I guess, you know. Yeah. Walter. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Next year. Right. Right. No, I think that's. I think that's right. I really.
Speaker You did not produce anything.
Speaker That's right. That's right. And I was probably the instrument that they dealt with. Certainly they dealt with me.
Speaker Oh yeah. Yeah.
Speaker OK. As we were putting the broadcast together, the writers and the correspondents, both near and far, dealt mostly with me or perhaps somebody I appointed to take care of a particular project. And so they could assume. That whatever I was telling them or arguing with them about was something that Walter at approved or initiated or was it was coming through that that would be a safe assumption for them to make mostly. But most of the time, because Walter didn't have the time to do all these things. Most of the time correspondents in the field and and writers were dealing with people such as me.
Speaker I think yes. I think.
Speaker OK, so good. All right.
Speaker I just pick up on a few details on Watergate. Do you want to first tell the story? I mean, I guess one of the things is to finish Watergate is.
Speaker And then I'll just make note of Johnson.
Speaker You said you had maybe another thing you can't remember.
Speaker But let me just say one thing about Watergate, because this is very much on my mind. I don't start. I'll do it. WOODWARD declarative statement. The controversy over CBS News Walter Cronkite's coverage of Watergate was huge in its day, mainly generated by the white heat of the White House's anger at what had happened. And the White House threatened to destroy the company. And they were fearful because the election was two or three weeks away. Nevertheless, in spite of our coverage, in spite of our throwing it out there, Mr. Nixon won that election by the greatest plurality in presidential politics.
Speaker Up to that time, which always gives me pause when people accuse television especially of having undue political influence on the political process in this country.
Speaker Very good. Now, did you.
Speaker Were you aware of I mean, were you aware of what when Nixon was in was president when he was his administration of him making calls to the network and wanting.
Speaker No, not Nixon. No. Nixon didn't. Nixon. President Nixon didn't. Personally, to my knowledge, President Nixon didn't personally get involved with the nitty gritty of calling reporters or television people and complaining or suggesting or leaking. The people around him did that sort of work. But unlike Lyndon Johnson, who preceded Nixon as president. Everybody in the Nixon White House sort of separated themselves from the press. There was no camaraderie. Ron Ziegler was the press secretary for Mr. Nixon through through his entire time. And he didn't go out and have drinks and that and wasn't particularly friendly with any particular reporter, a group of reporters. And that whole atmosphere that the reporters were looked on with suspicion. They weren't pals. And there was a separation now in the Lyndon Johnson White House. There was no such separation. I mean, if anything, reporters were smothered with attention. Lyndon Johnson had the networks install a studio in the White House, which never existed. So he could command air instantly anytime he wanted to go on the air. This was a stunning development. Then at networks expense, there was a little sort of a tiny little modest studio built there. And it was Lyndon Johnson who negotiated this arrangement with the networks. I mean, unheard of for President Nixon. And of course, preceding Lyndon Johnson was President Kennedy, who was also a pal of of reporters because reporters loved and adored him. And so there was a great deal of camaraderie there, which all changed when President Nixon took over. And not Lyndon Johnson was not loath to call up. I remember there was some sort of a national strike, I think maybe a railroad strike that was impending. And it was settled before the strike actually occurred. And Lyndon Johnson went to this little studio in the White House and got on the air during the newscast. The network newscasts to announce the settlement of this of this particular strike. Also, Lyndon Johnson was famous for having multiple monitors in his office so he could watch all the newscasts at the same time. I don't know how we heard all three of the same time, but he certainly could watch all three. And so it was the attitude was really radically different in the Lyndon Johnson White House and of course, right up to the end. There's this famous anecdote in which Tom Johnson, one of Lyndon Johnson's chief chief assistants at the time, called Walter Cronkite, and they knew each other quite well. It was not unusual for Tom Johnson to call Walter Cronkite, except this call came when Walter was on the air and Walter's assistant of the day explained to Mr. Johnson that she couldn't put him through because he was on the air. Tom Johnson was various very insistent that he talked to Walter.
Speaker He didn't care whether Walter was on the air or not. And so the assistant came to me and during a commercial break, I had a fast conference with Cronkite and we came out and Cronkite picked up the phone and it was Tom Johnson announcing, if you will, through Walter Cronkite, through the telephone that Lyndon Johnson had just died.
Speaker So you all got we got the scoop.
Speaker We certainly got the scoop.
Speaker Did that happen often? Where because Walter was you sometimes get the scoop before anyone else.
Speaker Oh, I'm sure. I, I, I, if I put my mind to it, I could give you a catalog of scoops that resulted because of Walter being a Texan and being friendly with all of those people, although he was very friendly with Kennedy too.
Speaker I mean they were they big, they were chums. And you know, Walter was the word. I hate the word. But Walter Cronkite is often described as avuncular or Uncle Walter. And and it was that kind of attitude that made him approachable as opposed to to others in the business.
Speaker So, I mean, that works both ways. It worked both for the public, with the viewers, as well as for people.
Speaker Oh, yes. There's no question that among the Walter Cronkite's biggest show business attributes, if you can put it that way, were his is his presence on the air.
Speaker I often described as avuncular, often described as Uncle Walter. And he like Fred friend like. Edward R. Murrow before him. Exuded a kind of a knowledge and attitude. They knew more than you did, and they were teaching you about what was going on in the context in which it was going on. There was no attempt for Walter or, say, Edward R. Murrow before him or to Huntley Brinkley to. I don't want to say dumbed down, but to to to act as if they were one of the audience who were naive about these things.
Speaker I mean, they weren't naive about these things. And that was kind of the attraction that you were getting. You were getting your nose. You were getting your information from someone who knew more about what was going on than you did.
Speaker Tell me about your work with Terry during the space race.
Speaker Well, Walter. Walter, who is a gadget freak. I mean, he was into computers before anybody at CBS News even knew what a computer was and still is. And in the same way Walter Cronkite got interested in space and the space program before anybody else. And he sort of dragged CBS News kicking and screaming into covering space to a greater extent than there was any appetite for. And of course, that gave him a head start on the moon.
Speaker That going to the moon. And the project of going to the moon and.
Speaker Although he is accused. Or has been accused of being a space program booster to where his journalism was suspect, accused by some. He vehemently denies it and we have enough of record of his coverage to say he wasn't a booster. He was critical of things that went wrong and many things that go wrong. And he was quite objective about the program in terms of of. In terms of its progress or its its its lack of progress and the accidents that occurred, the several explosions and the deaths and but.
Speaker He was there before almost anybody in mainstream television in terms of being interested in it. And we went to Florida. I can't tell you how many times I spent months there. If he accumulated all the time we spent Florida, I think it be over a year, maybe two years on many, many separate trips going down there to watch these rockets go up.
Speaker And and. I'm sorry.
Speaker That's great. Now, he he really seemed like he really prepared. I mean, he not only was interested, but he was quite.
Speaker Oh, oh, I'm glad. I'm glad you brought it up.
Speaker Walter Cronkite, we have one more thing. And then there was a moment when they were, you know, I can't remember where they were summoning up civilians. And he was he was hoping to go. And then it ended up that teacher Niños Reagan.
Speaker All right. Thanks. Your teacher is dead.
Speaker Which in which in hindsight. OK. You know, Walter Cronkite was such so interested in space and so involved. He was with the space agency was the bait was wanted to send a civilian on a flight again to promote space. Walter was short listed. I think they were down to five or ten of which Walter. Walter Cronkite was on the list of semifinalists, if you will. And in the Reagan administration, I'm not quite sure who they decided that instead of a journalist, they would send a schoolteacher A.. By the way, a decision with which Walter afterwards totally agreed with that it made it made a hell of a lot more sense because Walt is very interested in education or the lack thereof, the lack of educational progress in this country. And so when they decided to send a schoolteacher, he had no problem. He was disappointed, of course, but he had no problem with that at all. And, of course, unfortunately, on that, that was flight that blew up and killed everybody aboard, including the schoolteacher.
Speaker Did he when he was reporting that, did you have a sense that he could see himself on that flight?
Speaker I mean, there was a very good chance I would have gone up.
Speaker That's right. That was the flight in which the civilian, whoever it was, would have gone up. I've never talked to him about that. But he must have had some some sort of there had to be he would be inhuman if he didn't have some sort of thoughts about the.
Speaker Yeah, with. OK, let's talk about Fiat. OK. And. What led up to at the beginning, Cronkite was reporting on Vietnam in a very, you know, as strife.
Speaker Right. And then if you can talk about the change. Right. Right. And what happened during his final. Right.
Speaker And I think if you want some more insights, this guy, Ron Bond, I told you about this would be very important for that.
Speaker OK. Tell me when you're ready. OK.
Speaker The Vietnam War or American involvement in the Vietnam War, of course, happened. Depending on how you define it, 68, 1963 or 1964. And at the beginning, the small group of American reporters on the scene were all pretty much hawks and thought that the United States was doing God's work in stopping the march of communism in Southeast Asia. And we reported this on the evening news because that those that that was the insights we were getting. Walter made a trip, I think, in 64 to see for himself. Out of which came a documentary, as well as several pieces on the evening news. And he was a hawk. I mean, no question about it. A process, I believe, which which started because many of the generals there were World War Two veterans. Walter knew them, OK? And I think they they and Walter were pals, so to speak. And they were telling Walter this, we're going to beat beat them and the war is going fine. And Walter accepted this, I guess, is the way to put it. And it was reflected in his reportage. He was getting it from the horse's mouth, from his perspective. And none of us had any basis on which to contradict or or to argue about this because the weight of the coverage was the same way from newspapers, New York Times, Washington Post, as well as this. So. So I guess you'd call it pack journalism, but for better or for worse. That was the situation. And as the war. Got worse as American investment got bigger. More and more troops and led up to the so-called Tet advance Tet Offensive in 1968 Tet. Is the Vietnamese New Year celebration. And it happened that late February, early March of 1968 when the communists staged a national in South Vietnam uprising, which was stunning in its ferocity and stunning in the death toll. Although. It was a defeat in the end for the communists, which they have subsequently admitted and which it but it created such bloodshed and such turmoil at a time when the United States had something like half a million soldiers there, that the body politic in the United States was really rocked at the idea that after this huge investment, the communists could still could still muster up this kind of outburst. And the battle went on for weeks.
Speaker And Walter, I can't remember the exact process, but Walter Cronkite decided I think it was excellent, actually. The then president, CBS News was suggested as Walter go there. Take a look for himself. Comeback or and put together a documentary as well as two pieces for the evening news. And indeed, you we have in the library several pieces of Walter in battle gear and helmet walking around Huawei, which was one of the ancient cities of Vietnam and which was a particular target of the Tet Offensive.
Speaker And and Walter spent, I'd say, week or 10 days there and came back to mainly put together this documentary.
Speaker We were doing the evening news. I was a producer on the evening news at the time and.
Speaker I don't know how it was generated, but Walter came back so disillusioned. And so upset with what he'd seen. And he was urged. My memory is he was urged by Dixieland then president CBS News to express himself, which violated Walter's ethic about being in the news. That is never to express himself. And you were never supposed to know what Walter thought about a particular situation. But in this case, I guess the situation was so bad compared to what he had been told previously and what he'd heard now from his peer group in Vietnam and with Dixieland urging him to express himself. He put together this essay, which.
Speaker Never appeared on the evening news. It appeared at the end of the documentary Sea, Walter was so. I don't I I'm saying that he was so ethical, doesn't quite encompass when I'm trying to get at. Walter was so diligent that the evening news should not be soiled by his opinions or attitude about anything that he refused to do anything on the evening news expressing his disillusionment with what was going on. And so that essay, which has now become famous, in which Lyndon and Bill Moyers tells us that Lyndon Johnson said he's lost America. He's lost Walter Cronkite when that when it was broadcast, was broadcast on the documentary, not on the evening news. And it was isolated, purposely isolated. And Walter's introduction to it was that he was stepping out of his usual position on such things to express himself on some of these thoughts. But now, of course, people there's some confusion. Anybody who cares about it or reflects on it automatically thinks that Walter did this on the evening news. And Walter went the extra mile not to involve the evening news.
Speaker I didn't know that. That's very interesting.
Speaker Now, let me tell you, the guy who was with him on the Tet Offensive. Jeff Granick, and that may mean anything to you. Jeff Granick, who Wendlandt was, was executive producer at one point of the Brokaw show and NBC. Before and you worked at ABC. And he lives up in Greenwich or Westport, Connecticut. But Jeff Gramlich was with Cronkite on the Tet Offensive. Trip.
Speaker So between those two guys, Ron Brown and Jeff Brown, you bookend his Vietnam experience.
Speaker Were you surprised? I mean, you made it very clear that how he felt personally. Were you surprised that Walter crossed that line?
Speaker Everybody was everybody. I mean, there was a lot of discussion not only about doing it, but how to express it and weren't. And I I was up to my neck doing the evening news.
Speaker So I wasn't a participant in the discussions about how it should be phrased or written. But but Walter and I've got Dixieland presence, CBS News and a fellow named Ernie Lizer, who's an important executive, I forget where he was in the hierarchy at the time.
Speaker They all talked and talked, talked, talked, talked about this ad nauseum because everybody understood the potential impact. Everybody understood Walter was stepping out of it as a custom role.
Speaker And everybody, I think it's fair to say, was sort of fearful of doing this, but felt very strongly and had to be done now.
Speaker Was there any other time that he stepped out of that role and did that kind of editorial?
Speaker No, no. I think he hit documentary or, you know.
Speaker Well, I should say that after after he stepped down from an active role, after Walter Cronkite stepped out of an active role at CBS News, he did a series of documentaries on the Discovery Channel, old fashioned one topic, timely documentaries. One hour time. And he did. He did. He didn't cross the line. But he certainly stepped on the line about. About expressing himself on drug drug drug laws in this country and other subjects such as that of those films that you executive produced.
Speaker You both sort of set up a company together that would you know, I wouldn't know.
Speaker He and another fellow named Jonathan Ward set up a company called Cronkite Ward and Company. And I was executive producer of that company, and I was not a principal in that company.
Speaker Now, was there any any films that you executive produce that you feel really that that you remember most and you are most proud of the work that you both did?
Speaker Well, yes, I mean, some of those documentaries we did for Discovery and some of those documentaries with very little updating are so pertinent today. We did one called Why We Fight, which was an examination of the United States role as policemen. And where do we. Who gave us the license and how much blood and treasure do we expand? And it was an examination of the whole question of should the United States get involved? Who made the United States this sort of important policeman?
Speaker And and there was some stunning thing, stunning events and epistle, I mean, the UN's first peacemaking organization was in Cyprus.
Speaker I discovered while we were researching this and this documentary, a period about 10 years ago, only more than 10 years ago, and the peacemaking group, U.N. peacemaking group in Cyprus had been there for 30 or 40 years and hadn't been able to make any kind of final settlement at Cyprus. And they were there to keep the opposing parties. Anyway, it was a thorough examination. And Kofi Annan, who is now secretary general of the U.N., was then in charge of U.N. peacemaking. And at the end, he was in charge at the time of the Rwanda massacre, a genocide, and whose hands were tied because of the bureaucracy and and the problems within the U.N.. And I remember we interviewed him about peacemaking and I I was very impressed with him at the time. So, yes.
Speaker And talk about the drug show that you did because of I live now is attacking. Yeah. You are attacking water.
Speaker Geez, I'd love to see some of that.
Speaker Tell me about that documentary. Well, it was an examination of. I'm sorry. Can you give what? Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Oh, yes, we did.
Speaker We we produced the one hour broadcast. I can't remember the title.
Speaker Do you remember like you remember the title of the drug show. The drug show.
Speaker Karl.
Speaker This is no family matters. You've got to do it.
Speaker There was another one we called Family Matters, or does this the one that I really sort of attacking Walter?
Speaker The drug dilemma here is. Ninety five. Okay. All right.
Speaker We produced again for the Discovery Channel, a one hour documentary called Drug Dilemma, which was an examination of draconian drug laws in this country and the strange situation where nonviolent, sometimes not even drug users are put away for years at a time. And and we did a lot of interviews and a lot of prisons about people who were misled into being drug couriers, didn't even know they were drug couriers and are spending 20 years of their lives in jail. And the weight of the broadcast was that drug. The drug laws, as they now stand, weren't working. If the goal was to reduce drug traffic and drug usage and and we examined other alternatives. I remember the district attorney of Brooklyn. I think it was who had a situation where if you rehabilitation instead of incarceration. And it seemed to be very promising at the time. I have no current feeling about whether it is or not. But at the time, it seemed like that. And so the weight, the weight of the program was that whatever we're doing is not working and maybe making things worse. And with a series of anecdotes illustrating this lady's having the same as my mind, is that this one lady who was a courier without knowing she was a courier and was caught and spending and had a baby in jail, I mean, gave birth to a baby in jail. And it was just was just heartrending. I mean, because she was victimized both by her companions of the time and by the system and by the laws of the day. But when I say Walter walked up to the line, maybe stepped on the line instead of being his usual right down the middle objective sense, the weight of that of that documentary was that drug laws and the system as they now exist are lousy.
Speaker Now, down the recent years, he's become very outspoken about foreign foreign coverage and education and lots of different things. Why do you think this has happened to him?
Speaker Well.
Speaker I think, you know, I never asked him that. I'm never asked Walter the particular question of why he's become so outspoken in recent years. He has. He's declared himself on many subjects. He's come out of the closet, is the way he describes it about himself. And he feels free to be opinionated and to speak out.
Speaker Why? I don't know exactly why.
Speaker I've never said I never asked him. I've accepted this new position he has. And of course, he's not a newscaster anymore. He's not a reporter anymore. And I would anticipate that would be part of his answer to me if I questioned him about it.
Speaker And he maybe feels he can do some good by speaking out on these questions. I'm I I'm not authorized to speak for him, but that's my anticipation of the way he would feel.
Speaker Over the years, he became very close friend of his and his family. You knew Betsy. Can you tell me a little bit about what you think? Tell me a little bit about that relationship and why how that marriage withstood so many years.
Speaker Well, if I if I knew the answer to Walter's marriage to Betsy Cronkite and how it withstood all the pressures and turmoil of the years, I would bottle it and sell it. I wouldn't share it with with you or anybody. But it certainly did. And she you know, when they met Betsy Cronkite was working for some newspaper in Kansas City. She was. She wrote the advice to the lovelorn column for some Kansas City newspaper.
Speaker And.
Speaker They met, they courted. They dated. They got married in Kansas City.
Speaker And gone until she died in March. March 15th of 19 of a tooth that she died March 15th of 2005. They were a cozy couple and they had three children. All three men. Now three grown ups. He had they have four grandsons. And I don't know the secret of the success of that marriage.
Speaker She was very, very bright, very quick, very funny. And she would very often kick the pedestal out from under Walt. And when he got to to. Too pretentious. And it was great fun to watch it because she would do it, you know, she'd do it in company, she she didn't wait till they got to the privacy of their bedroom. She and she she was very quick-witted. And and people people used to repeat her, her her witticisms for days or weeks after she said it.
Speaker Do you have any one particular witticism or something like that that you remember now call your back and becomes. Let me just. Okay. Could you stop? Second, I just want speed.
Speaker The fact that you had a new set. One of the things that by having this set, the deadline for stories and copy wasn't the beginning of a show, but the end of the show. Were there times when you were writing while broadcast was going on? I mean, were there. Before you go, were there times where you had. Is there one particular story where you had to change something in the middle of the broadcast? And what was that sort of on the evening news?
Speaker It was never a finished product. OK. I kept hundreds, maybe thousands of times. We would be writing while Walter was reciting because again, coming from the wire service background, that seemed to be the way to do it. And it was a moving target. I mean. And occasionally we would do the broadcast. It would be put on the air at six thirty pm New York time and then repeated at 7:00 p.m. New York time, and individual stations had an option on whether they would use the 630 version or the seven p.m. version. And back in the early days, when I say the early days of going back to the 60s, now the big cities, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington would broadcast the seven o'clock version. I can't explain the rationale to you, but the rest of the country would mostly take the six 30 version. But nevertheless, if we made an error, which happened occasionally on the 6th, we would we would do the show over at 7:00 to bring it up to date. And the one episode I remember Pat Buchanan's. I can't remember Pat Buchanan, a very well-known conservative commentator, I had a brother or a sister who was an accountant involved with CREEP, the committee to re-elect the president for Mr. Nixon, and also. There was some involvement in the money laundering phase of creep. And we got it wrong on the first version, because we we took the story of the Associated Press and I got a frantic, almost hysterical phone call from Leslie Stall, who was then covering the White House, telling me how we had misspoken on this subject. And so we instantly decided it was that we would do the seven o'clock show and correct it, which we did.
Speaker And we were sued by I can't remember now as Pat Buchanan's sister or brother, who is and who sued us. And I remember being deposed for hours on end by these lawyers. And when we finally showed up in front of a judge, given that we had. Corrected it without any outside pressures, without it was a self adjusting system. The judge simply threw the whole case out. He didn't even want to watch that depositions or hear anything more so that that saved us. And probably in a lot of minor other ways saved us, too, because because we were always, oh, the show is never set. The show is never set in type, as they say in the newspaper. We were always ready to adjust that. We were in Washington for reasons that escape me now. And Martin Luther King was shot in Memphis and the first bulletins came over during the first show. The Six Thirty show and Walter reported what we knew there, reports of what we didn't even know he was dead, that he'd been shot. We redid the seven o'clock to bring it up to date that he was dead. And my memory is we even did a fresh show, which was really extraordinary for the West Coast, which was three hours later. So seven o'clock. Washington was was four. It was four p.m. West Coast then. So at 10:00 o'clock that night, we did we did the show in New so that people on the West Coast would have a cogent report on what had happened to Martin Luther King.
Speaker Did Cronkite leave CBS Evening News when he wanted to?
Speaker Later than he wanted to. I'm glad you brought that up. OK, Walter Cronkite. Felt.
Speaker And without going into details, because it's too complicated and really doesn't matter to the sense of my story. Walter Cronkite felt that CBS News was on sort of a downward slope.
Speaker Okay. And he was very concerned about his situation and felt he wanted to retire as the undefeated champion.
Speaker I mean, he'd been dominant in the ratings for so many years. Most trusted man in America. Uncle Walter, the avuncular Mr. Cronkite.
Speaker And so he went to the then president of CBS News, Richard Saarland. And said to Richard Celente, in effect, his message, my words, Dick. I will. I want I want to retire. I want to get out of here while I'm still number one. And Richard Saarland was on the edge of retiring also. And so land prevailed on him to stay on, Celente said. I don't want to be the one to make that decision since I'm on the way out to prevailed on him, to muted and stay on. Solent was replaced by a fellow named Bill Leonard, who was appointed interim president of CBS News and first day on the job. They were great buddies, Bill Leonard and Walter Cronkite. First day on the job Walter was in on Bill Leonard and I went out. I went and so suddenly Bill Leonard was confronted with this. And I don't know how he did it, but Leonard kept putting Cronkite off and putting Cronkite off and putting Cronkite off, and Cronkite finally insisted. Which set the whole process in motion about the succession. And so I would say that Walter finally stepped down two or three years later than he wanted to, but achieved his goal of leaving as the undefeated champion, if you will, as the number one in the ratings.
Speaker I understood that when he when he did retire from that position, that he had hoped that he would sort of still be around sort of in a supervisory. And that didn't quite work out.
Speaker That's right. And then Walter felt and maybe we're going back 20 or 25 years now, Walter. Yeah, 25 years on, Walter. Yeah. Walter felt double crossed. I say that, frankly, and I think it's fair. Walter had an arrangement, not a not a contract, but an arrangement with with the management that he would he wouldn't fade away, that he would do occasional documentaries. He would do occasional pieces for the evening news. And as a matter of fact, at one point they assigned. But Benjamin, a previous executive producer of the Evening News, to be his producer on these sort of projects, which never seemed to get on the air. Now, he did do a couple of summer series called Universe, which were half our series about science scientific topics, but that wasn't what he had in mind.
Speaker OK, and.
Speaker For whatever reasons, I can't speak to it because I wasn't privy to it. They decided that Walters should disappear off the air.
Speaker And no, I remained executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather for the first year of Dan Rather's role, and no one ever told me this. See, we found this out much later with the testimony by by several of the executives involved. Nobody ever told me that Walter Cronkite was banned, but in effect, he was banned and kept off the evening news. And somehow, though, I managed to get him on a couple of times, not realizing I was violating some. And, of course, people assumed I was a a loyalist to a fault, if you will, of Walter Cronkite, although I knew where my bed was. But it on and was to be Dan Rather's the best executive producer. Dan Rather could could have. And again, I was not party to these discussions which did take place.
Speaker And although Walter had an agreement.
Speaker Agreement was violated the day he left the evening news. If you look at his final parting words on March six of 1981, you'll see. He says, you know, he'll be back. Which was the understanding he had with the powers that be.
Speaker So did he feel betrayed by the company?
Speaker Well, again, I can't speak for him on this subject. But yes, yes, I think it's fair to say he felt betrayed. OK. Well, I think when you say that, I will put that was pretty much to you.
Speaker What do you think, Leslie?
Speaker Quiet.
Speaker OK, Walter Cronkite. It's fair to say.
Speaker And then we'll do we'll go right into room town, which you are familiar with. Yes, I'll just holler.
Speaker We ready? OK. OK, OK, OK.
Speaker I think it's fair to say, speaking for myself and not for Walter Cronkite, that Walter Cronkite felt betrayed by CBS News right after he left the evening newscast in 1981. He expected to be on the air occasionally, not regularly.
Speaker And that. Happened almost by happenstance.
Speaker But there was a make a management decision that he was not to be seen or heard on the evening news again.
Speaker OK, let's have a.
cpb-aacip-504-pz51g0jp02, cpb-aacip-504-fb4wh2dz7x
"Sanford Socolow, Walter Cronkite: Witness to History." American Masters Digital Archive (WNET). 16 Mar. 2006, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/archive/interviews/535
(2006, March 16). Sanford Socolow, Walter Cronkite: Witness to History. [Video]. American Masters Digital Archive (WNET). https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/archive/interviews/535
"Sanford Socolow, Walter Cronkite: Witness to History." American Masters Digital Archive (WNET). March 16, 2006. Accessed January 20, 2022 https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/archive/interviews/535


text:
Aldershot & District Allotment Association
Established 1st March 1917
Let the growing begin
The Plots
Monthly Advice
Planning your allotment
ADAA Rules & By Laws
It takes a major catastrophe to make people dig for food – Signs of an Affluent Society
The Greenwoods Close site was required by the Council to accommodate a large firm in the area and an Extraordinary General Meeting was held 7th Jan regarding the future of the site and a decision was made to make the land available to the Council. Present were 52 Members.
The Chairman opened the meeting by saying that the object was to resolve the future of the Greenwoods Close Site following discussions at the Allotments Sub-Committee composing members of the Association and Town Councillors.
The secretary informed the meeting of events which had culminated in the convening of an Allotments Sub-Committee Meeting. Association representatives at the meeting had been advised that the Council wished to purchase the Greenwoods Close Site to satisfy the need of Messrs Purnell, Ltd for land for factory development, the firm having made it known that if land was not forthcoming they would have no alternative but to move out of the area. If the Association agreed to sell, the Council would purchase in the near future and as the land would not be required for approximately five years the Council would arrange to lease it to the Association for this period. Alternatively, other land had been offered, the most attractive being a tract at 'Tices Meadow' where five hundred housing units were to erected in the future. Under these circumstances the committee recommended that the Association offer the Greenwood Site for sale to the Aldershot Borough Council
The matter was then debated at length and sale was agreed.
The chairman Mr Beckett resigned in protest.
An article appeared in the Aldershot News on the 7th February 1964 entitled "It Takes A Major Catastrophe To Make People Dig For Food – Signs of an Affluent Society" quoted below in its entirety.
The days when the allotment played a substantial part in relieving the family green grocery budget have passed and today their cultivation as a pastime is proving so uneconomic that many plots have been abandoned.
With an affluent society basking in an age of motor cars, supermarkets and tin openers, the trend has accelerated over the years and the old wartime slogan "Dig for Victory" has been long forgotten. The sorry plight of many allotments in North East Hants paints a typical picture. Many have been swallowed up in recent years by industrial and residential development.
As ten allotment holders at Farnborough work out a Council notice in Sycamore Road on land required for a sewage works extension, comes the news that Aldershot and District Allotments Association Ltd has decided to sell a four acre site in the east of the borough for industrial development.
Town First
The secretary of the Association Mr Reginald G Havard, told a reporter that although the use of the site had greatly increased recently, the decision to sell had been taken because it was in the interests of the town. "The town comes before allotments. Otherwise we would not have sold" he said.
Farnborough Council possessed 340 allotments on 12 sites mainly in the Cove area. Of these 221 are rented. Some sites are fully cultivated but on others only a very small percentage are being worked.
Said a Council official: "There seems to be a lack of interest in them and they are not used. You have the old diehards and they are horticultural people. The normal allotmenteering seems to be dying out".
At Fleet the council has only nine plots but all these are under cultivation. These are situated at the rear of the council offices in Reading Road North where a few years ago other plots became the site for old people's homes.
A few miles away at Odiham lack of interest in allotment affairs has led to the local Allotments and Gardens Association being disbanded. The membership had fallen in the a few years from more than 200 to less than 50 and for the past two years there have been no ordinary meetings. A meeting to discuss the end of the Association was attended by only nine people.
The decision at Aldershot to sell the Greenwood Close allotment site comes close on the news that the Association has given the Council formal notice terminating its use at the end of the years of the allotments site in Moreland Road East – now worked on five plots.
It is understood the Greenwood Close site will be required for immediate development in about five years. The Council will lease the site to the Association until such time as it is required. In the meantime there will be negotiations for the provision of an alternative site at Tice's Meadow.
Two things have led to the Association deciding to terminate its lease on the Moreland Road East site. First is the nuisance which officials say is caused by children making a playground of the unfenced plots, and secondly, the general trend away from allotment cultivation.
The site originally offered about 60 plots but when the Council took some of the land a few years ago for the new crematorium only about 40 were left. Of this number never more than 30 have been worked and today only five are in use. The majority of the plots have not been cultivated for some time and a great deal of work would be required before this land could be brought up to the standard of existing plots in Greenwood Close.
A Playground
Said Mr. Havard: There has been a lack of interest on the part of people in the area coupled with the fact that those who were interested had to put up with it being used for a kiddies' playground. Over the past five years I have been pushing for adequate fencing but the Council have said they could not afford it. The result is the area has been overrun.
At a recent meeting with a subcommittee of the Aldershot's Parks Committee, members of the Association were led to understand that if they would agree to sell the site at Greenwood Close and retain the Moreland Road East site the Council would be urged to carry out work which would encourage allotment holde4rs to transfer to the site. Mr Havard thought such a proposal was too late.
Speaking of a nation-wide disinterest in the cultivation of allotments Mr Havard said the affluent society, with cars and tin openers did not cater for the allotment movement. "People don't want allotments where there is affluence". He said. "It needs a major catastrophe, industrial of war, to make people dig."
"Have seen it happen so often." Mr Havard went on "We find a chap moves here with his family but has no garden and wants a piece of land. I fix him up and help him along and all of a sudden we notice the plot has deteriorated. We make enquiries and fid the wife has started working and they have got a car."
The Association has a number of other allotment sites in its charge. One of the biggest is 106 plots on six acres bounded by Park Road, Coronation Road, Church Road and Lower Farnham Road.
Mr Havard told our reporter the Association had not land problem. It is not a case of too many people causing too few plots as it was when I first became secretary. We were always in trouble in not having enough land.
"The position in five years we can't say. If present trends continue Park Road could well be enough for the whole town.
The Belle Vue Road site was leased from the Council rent free and this was rented gratis to a member who was responsible for the fencing. The tenant had been told to quit by someone purporting to be the owner.
There was a discussion regarding the Secretary's salary of £36 per annum, an increase to £50 was agreed.
At the 47th AGM, it was proposed that the annual dinner that was currently confined to officers and members of the committee should be open to the membership. It was resolved that the Committee would discuss at a later date.
A complaint that the boundary hedge on the Park Road site was in an awful state was noted.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Grant Colfax Tullar, född 1869, död 1950, kompositör, pastor i Metodistkyrkan, sångledare och musikförläggare från USA.

Psalmkompositioner
Dagen stillnar, kvällen nalkas nr 453 i Frälsningsarméns sångbok 1990
Det är en som har dött i stället för mig nr 127 i Segertoner 1930.
Kristus är uppstånden, fröjda dig, min själ nr 66 i Hjärtesånger 1895
Ut på skogens tysta stigar'' nr 40 i Tempeltoner

Amerikanska kompositörer
Amerikanska koralkompositörer
Personligheter inom metodismen
Födda 1869
Avlidna 1950
Män

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


ACT NOW! We're opening our vault and releasing some great player bobbleheads of Mud Hens lore. Be one of the first 10 fans to reserve a Mud Hens Game Plan Membership using the form at the bottom of this page and we'll hook you up!
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Complimentary valet parking available as well as self parking.
Creative menus with personalized planning and professional staff to execute the most memorable events. From small intimate parties with a personal chef, to elaborate weddings and special occasions of over 250 people, we will handle all details to allow you the opportunity of enjoying yourself with your guests. Formal to casual, themes are our pleasure. Please contact 802-253-6426 to receive your quote today.
Flannel is the signature restaurant at Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vermont, a AAA Four Diamond Resort. Set before alluring mountain views, the patio-style restaurant beckons with a striking atmosphere, an inviting open kitchen, and an innovative menu featuring chic country cuisine created from locally grown organic provisions. The restaurant is adjacent to the resort's outdoor swimming pools and al fresco lounge area. With 65 seats inside and another 75 on an expansive terrace, Flannel sets a welcoming scene for astute diners who appreciate casual yet creative cuisine. The open kitchen is a defining touch, creating a captivating scene of culinary sights and sizzles for diners savoring the bounty of organic farms from throughout the state. High coffered ceilings and a tamped-down color scheme round out a contemporary setting. We focus our expertise on presenting creative dishes that express Flannel's new food attitude: vibrant, delicious and satisfying.
We had 1030am scheduled for brunch. We were driving in from Boston, MA. Taking the fun way back home to Cleveland, Ohio. A hundred miles out or so GPS has us getting there around 1045am. So I called to confirm Flannel doesn't close after bunch. A guy answered and replied back that they are open till 11pm. He didn't think to share that they close between brunch and lunch. As a snowboarding family I know what VT resort we will not be visiting next season. Everyone was friendly. Providing us suggestions on other places to eat. The area is really sweet.
We have been coming to this restaurant for many years and we were disappointed with our meal. Seems that the food quality has deteriorated significantly over the past few months. The restaurant's overall concept is tired and in need of a refresh.
This is the best restaurant experience that I've enjoyed in Vermont. Food is well-prepared and beautifully presented. Bus boys and waiters are attentive but not intrusive. Pricing is a bit high ($160 for two for three a la carte courses, no alcohol and before tip), but I suppose that comes with the territory in a ski resort town.
Worst service ever. Avoid this place.
Just made a last minute reservation as we were in Stowe for the weekend. Food was surprisingly good - generous portions but more importantly very tasty!! Definitely recommend.
But that server we had rocked.
Wonderful food and beautiful ambiance. Would highly recommend others to visit!
Our time at Flannel was delicious! We sat at the bar and enjoyed excellent service from the bartender. The meal was lovely, though the kale and cassoulet accompanying my salmon seemed under prepared. Nonetheless, it is a lovely atmosphere to drink and eat!
For a restaurant in Stowe with a lot of stuff competition, I expected a tastier meal. We had the poke which I found to be a bit drowned in the sauce. The caesar salad was overpriced for what we were served.
We've been to Flannel a few times and it's always been enjoyable. Had the tuna poke, which was very fresh though there was quite a bit of soy sauce that made it pretty salty. A little less would have made it perfect.
Service seems to be hit or miss. While a few servers seemed happy, efficient and engaged, ours was not.
And despite booking with OpenTable, I received notification that I didn't receive points for the reservation after we left. So what was the point of using the app?
Very good food just on the pricey side.
The food was overpriced and subpar. Will not be returning here.
Fabulous food! Tucked away inside condo complex but well worth the effort of finding it.
We are on vacation at the Stowe Mountain Lodge. Dinner with our three young children was perfect. Great, friendly, attentive service. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was perfect.
Nice ambeaunce ,fine chose of food,would be better during the day when you could view the surrounding.
Cheeses and charcuterie plate was awesome! Dinner and salad also awesome. Dessert, not so much. Should have stopped at dinner!
Hostess was absolutely dreadful!! Rude and impatient. Very cranky - she should not be the first person you meet. She needs to retire.
Food was just OK. Chicken better than burgers that were cold and hard.
Waiter was friendly and attentive.
There are tons of restaurants in Stowe that are much, much better.
We went to Flannel Saturday night, for my birthday dinner. The staff was very friendly and the service was great. I like the ambiance of the restaurant, however the noise level was little more than expected, most likely from the open kitchen. I was super disappointed with the food. I had the kale salad to start which had a funky taste to it. Then, for dinner, I had the Saffron Risotto which was so unfortunately lacking in flavor. The main flavor was a Smokey grilled flavor that overtook every bit of the seafood. My husband's filet was slightly better but also had the overall Smokey flavor as well. This was super unfortunate for the high price. Definitely not worth it. Lastly, silly to mention but in the reservation we mentioned that it was my birthday when asked what the dinner was for and they never said anything about it at the restaurant. Not important, but no extra style points either.
We traveled to Stowe, Vermont for a vacation and to celebrate our anniversary. Chose "Flannel" for our anniversary dinner based on reviews and easy access since we were staying at the Topnotch Resort.
The table we were seated at was mediocre at best. Kind of stuck out in no man's land and unfortunately next to a very loud group. We would have asked to be moved, but there wasn't anything else available. If you're planning on dining at Flannel ask for a window seat.
The great news? The service was very good. Our meals were terrific. We chose the filet and scallops as our main dishes. Excellently prepared. Paired with a bottle of "Fiction" which was just an okay Zin. The meal however, was really nice. Kudos to the chef.
Not sure we'll ever get back to Stowe...too many other destinations in our vacation queue...but if we do...we would go back to Flannel.
Service was spotty. Not many smiles from staff. Drinks are WAY overpriced and just okay. Tiny drinks for $17? Server asked how I wanted my cider, but instead of explaining that there are two types, she just kept repeating the question and was seemingly annoyed. Ordered the cheese/charcuterie tray. It was decent. We split the burger. Burger was okay, fries were awful. Tasted like you were eating a sprig of rosemary. Brought us some regular fries as requested, with zero seasoning. No salt. No pepper. We wouldn't visit again.
Food overall was super salty and steak came well done when I asked for medium - bummer!
The Flannel had a beautiful view of the mountains as well as a cozy atmosphere. However, the restaurant was difficult to locate (not being a guest means there is no direct entrance). The restaurant appeared to be understaffed as it took quite a while to get a table, and then place our order. Overall, the food was good and we were in no rush.
Kitchen periodically serves Luke warm food.
Have been going there for years.
Quality. Ingredients, consistency could be better.
We heard breakfast was excellent. Definitely mediocre and they did not have enough staff. The place was half empty and tables were waiting 45 minutes just to get water.
Way, way overpriced for what you get. Food sounds fancy, but presentation and flavor basic. Won't return.
We had a delicious meal with a gorgeous view. The staff was attentive as well. Creative dishes, too! We'll be back!
Excellent meal. Our server was amazing.
Went for our 25th anniversary. The food was delicious. It was off season and the restaurant is off the beaten path, so the restaurant was quiet. Glad we decided to dine at Flannel anyway. Everything was nicely done.
Flannel was absolutely awesome! We went for our anniversary and every member of the staff came to wish us well including the chef. The food and service were phenomenal. Highly recommend!
The food keeps getting better at Flannel. Rabbit Rillette was incredible, steak and fries perfectly cooked and seasoned, Beef Tartare always very good, great seafood risotto.
Wine list a bit in the expensive side, but they had a Pomerol for $60 that was probably the best Bordeaux we've had under $100.


text:
Der Keekorok Airport (IATA: KEU, ICAO: HKKE) befindet sich in der Masai Mara in der Nähe des Ortes Keekorok im Narok County im südwestlichen Kenia, nahe der internationalen Grenze zur Republik Tansania.

Der Keekorok Airport liegt etwa 225 Kilometer westlich des Nairobi International Airport, dem größten zivilen Flughafen Kenias.

Weblinks

 Eintrag bei airportguide.com

Einzelnachweise

Flughafen in Afrika
Flughafen in Kenia
Narok County


text:
Memorials, Bequests and Donations
Ministers of Hospitality
Sacristan Aid
Parish Choir
St. Cecilia Children's Choir
Contemporary Ensemble
Pipe Organ
Altar & Rosary Society
Holy Family Athletics
Holy Name Society
Ministry of Consolation
Neocatechumenal Way
Prayer Line Ministry
Seniors Citizens Club
Women's Renewal
Youth Ministry ( VISION)
Social Justice and Outreach
Health & Wellness Ministry
Social Action Commission
Childcare and Preschool
1st Eucharist
Automated Giving
HomeChristie Cereshko2022-01-21T21:50:57+00:00
CONFIRMATION PREP
Mass Online
January 15, 2022 - 4:30pm Vigil Mass
4:30pm Vigil Mass celebrated at Holy Family Parish in beautiful Parma, Ohio
Please note: Effective January 3, 2022, due to the Church renovation, all Masses will be held in the Chapel
Weekdays: 8:30 am
Saturday: 4:30 pm (Live Streamed)
Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:30 am, and 11:30 am
Overflow seating is available in the Costello Community Center Cafeteria (School) for the 4:30pm, 9:30am and 11:30am Masses
Every Saturday: 3:00 – 3:45 pm in the chapel; or by appointment
Please Support Holy Family Parish – ONLINE!
It's very easy to do – click here for instructions on set up osvhub.com/holyfamparma/funds
Please pray for the recently deceased of our Parish Community
Karen Maxa; Carol Stueber; Frank Medved, Neil Zalewski; Raymond Kurowski; Patrick D. Byrnes; Paul F. Falkenberg; Monica Goldbach
Eternal rest grant unto them , O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them .
Through the mercy of God, pray for the repose of the souls of all the faithfully departed.
Parish App
Text App to 88202 to obtain the link to download the app to your phone. We feel this app allows us to better communicate with you throughout the week and keep you updated with relevant parish news or updates. The app is very well designed and very intuitive. It is a great resource; providing daily Mass readings, Catholic news and prayers, convenient prayer and Confession reminders, our bulletins and more. We hope our app is a tool for fostering stronger parish life at Holy Family.
Childcare & Preschool
Holy Family Childcare/Preschool is a Step Up to Quality 5 Star Award Winner. Please also note that all persons entering the daycare building must wear a face mask at all times.Please contact Ms. Rene Buchtel at 440-886-4717 to register. For more information, please see their website https://holyfamilydaycare.org/
Holy Family School
School is in session! For the safety of the children, the north lot will again be closed during the school day. Please take extra caution in our parking lot and remember that the school zone on York Road is photo enforced by the City of Parma. Please also note that all persons entering the school building during school hours must wear a face mask at all times. For information about our school please call 440-842-7785 or see their website www.HolyFamilySchoolParma.org.
Updated Safety guidelines/recommendations on Holy Family Campus
As our school resumes and organizations begin to come together for meetings and activities, we wanted to pass along a few reminders about COVID-19 safety guidelines.
All persons entering the school building during school hours must wear a mask at all times. Persons entering the school building during off-school hours but during hours when there is a school, PSR or CYO activity must wear a mask while entering or exiting the building. If you are holding a meeting not related to those activities, your organization may set its own guidelines for mask-wearing once you are in your meeting room. Organizations who hold meetings/activities in all other buildings on campus should set their own guidelines for mask-wearing. We ask that all show kindness and respect to one another for choices that they make, and remind you that the Diocese of Cleveland has recommended that "all persons – whether vaccinated or unvaccinated – should consider wearing masks when in close proximity to others. Frequent hand washing and practicing social distancing also are strongly encouraged."
News of the Diocese
A message from Bishop Malesic on keeping people safe from illness this Christmas ~December 20, 2021
As we approach the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord at Christmas, I wish to share a brief reminder of important guidelines we have in place to keep people safe during this time of pandemic.
The latest information from federal, state and local public health agencies informs us that the Delta and Omicron variants of the COVID-19 virus continue to surge in our area, causing increased illness and hospitalizations. Our health care systems and many of our health care workers are being stretched to the limits. For them and for the safety of all who worship at Catholic parishes throughout the Diocese of Cleveland, I strongly encourage everyone, whether vaccinated or not, to wear a face mask while attending Mass indoors. All who want to attend Mass, and who are otherwise vulnerable, should feel safe and welcome inside our sacred spaces. We should also do our best to help reduce, as much as possible, the number of COVID-19 cases that require the attention of those working in our hospitals.
Those who are ill, have significant health risk factors or care for someone who is immune-compromised or ill, as well as those who have significant fear or anxiety about contracting the coronavirus in a large group of persons are not obliged to attend Mass.
In consideration of others, I am mandating that those who distribute Holy Communion at Mass must wear a mask until the current danger has subsided.
Remember that the situation seems to be ever changing. Stay connected to information coming from national, state and local health authorities, and stay home and get tested for COVID when you are not feeling well. Following these recommendations will go a long way in helping to keep you and others around you safe. Be kind to those who will disagree with this encouragement.
Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady Help of the Sick, may God bless us and keep us free from all illness.
May God's peace be with you and your family this Christmas and always.
The weekly TV Mass is produced by the Diocese of Cleveland and it originates from the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland will be aired on Sundays at 10 a.m on WUAB Channel 43, the CW43. The TV Mass also can be accessed on demand starting Saturday evening and running throughout Sunday on the Diocese of Cleveland website, dioceseofcleveland.org. In addition, the Mass can be heard on the radio, at 4 p.m. Saturdays and 10:30 a.m. Sundays on AM 1260 The Rock. Also, radio station WINT-1330 AM airs the Mass at 9 a.m. each Sunday and Cox Communications cable subscribers can view the Mass at 11:30 a.m. Sunday on channel 45.
Prayer Request*
We, the people of Holy Family Parish in Parma, Ohio, were established in 1872 as a community of Catholic faithful; We worship God in the celebration of the Eucharist; We evangelize through Jesus Christ, sharing the great message of salvation; We foster community as a spiritual home for all in our parish; We promote Catholic education and faith formation for all ages; We extend loving service to the poor, sick, and needy; We develop Catholic leaders and encourage participation in ministries by using our time, talent, and treasure; We strive to follow the example of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the original Holy Family.
Holy Family Parish
Parma, Ohio 44130
EMAIL: office@holyfamparma.org
Visit our school website!
www.HolyFamilySchoolParma.org
The Holy Family Preschool Center is a Step-Up to Quality Center and follows a developmentally appropriate philosophy. We strive to provide a learning environment which is holistic in approach. For more information call Rene Buchtel, Director at 440-886-4717 or visit their website HolyFamilyDaycare.org
Copyright © Holy Family Catholic Parish. All rights reserved. | Web Development by CMD Graphics


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text:
https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2020/02/05/report-kemba-walker-marcus-smart-and-daniel-theis-out-against-magic/
Report: Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart and Daniel Theis out against Magic
Cameron Fields
The Boston Celtics have been in a groove, winning their past four games. But on Wednesday, that streak might be hard to maintain with some key players out.
Per the Celtics' Twitter account, Kemba Walker (knee), Marcus Smart (quad) and Daniel Theis (ankle) all will be out for the team's game against the Orlando Magic. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.
According to NBC Sports Boston's Chris Forsberg, Celtics coach Brad Stevens does not expect the team to have any "major activity" at the deadline, which is set for Thursday at 3 p.m.
Walker has missed the past two games with knee soreness. In the six games prior to missing time, Walker was averaging 21.5 points and 5.7 assists. A four-time All-Star, Walker has been important for the Celtics' success, being the team's leading scorer and leading the team in assists.
#NEBHInjuryReport update: Marcus Smart (quad), Daniel Theis (ankle), Kemba Walker (knee) and Rob Williams (hip) are all OUT tonight. Gordon Hayward (calf) and Enes Kanter (hip) are available to play, per Brad Stevens.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 5, 2020
As one of the best wing defenders in the league, Smart's presence will be missed on the perimeter, especially against players such as Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier. An athletic forward, Gordon is able to take players off the dribble, and Fournier is one of the Magic's best shooters, hitting at a 39.6% clip from deep.
Brad Stevens said he does not anticipate any major activity from team at deadline.
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) February 5, 2020
A third-year big man, Theis is having the best season of his career to date, averaging a career-high 8.1 points and career-high 6.1 rebounds. Theis is also playing the most minutes of his career (22.6) and shooting a career-best 55.0% from the field.
Report: Evan Turner of interest to Celtics as buyout candidate
Preview: Boston looks for 5-game streak as Hospital Celtics return
Rival GMs reporting Boston has little interest in dealing core players
Kemba Walker's rest more playoff prep than 'long term thing'
Theis, Brown, 4 other Celtics upgraded to available vs. Magic


Jack De Johnette Quartet announces EU tour dates, features Don Byron.
One of the finest jazz drummers of all time and long time SONOR endorser, Jack DeJohnette a living jazz icon returns for fall performances in Europe in style with a terrific quartet that includes brilliant reedsman Don Byron.
In a career spanning over half a century, DeJohnette has been the drummer of choice for a who's who of jazz giants - Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny and Herbie Hancock - and sits firmly alongside them, having won a coveted National Endowment For The Arts Jazz Masters Award. As a composer and band leader he is hugely respected, creating acoustic and electric musical languages that always sound as fresh as tomorrow.
Joined by longtime keyboardist and recording artist George Colligan and bassist Jerome Harris, rounding out the quartet is Don Byron the recipient of the first Doris Duke Performing Artist Award who has been a singular voice in an astounding range of contexts, exploring widely divergent traditions while continually striving for what he calls "a sound above genre."


The difference between conservatives and socialists, is that conservatives believe that the government was constructed so that the legislature makes laws, and the court overturns those that are unconstitutional. That is the purpose of the court: to guarantee that the laws that are made adhere to the constitution, and to guarantee that the adjudication of conflict is according both to the laws and to the constitution.
But the constitution can be changed. There are methods of change in our constitution. These methods are the right to call a constitutional convention, which requires a majority, and legislation, which requires a majority. There are no methods of change that require a minority. That is not democracy. That is the abuse of our system, circumvention of the constitution. There are no methods of change that do not require legislative change. And legislative change must be obtained by the consent of the majority.
Judicial activism on the other hand, is circumvention of our democracy. And judicial activism has been the means by which most of our constitution has been abridged. The general approach has been to tolerate judicial activism because a constitutional convention would expose the nation to too much risk. However, it does not state that judicial activism poses the nation to the risk of civil war, rather than constitutional convention. A constitutional convention would, almost certainly, return rights to the states and to individuals.
The constitution is the set of rules that limits what a government can do.
They are not the rules by which liberals agree to play. The county is, and always has been, center-right. The left does not want this constitution to prevail. It wants no limits on government. It wants to have an upheaval, a constitutional convention held by fiat – against the very document that gives them political power: the constitution. It wants to change the public hearts and minds to favor 'compassion' and democracy over the rules by which the nation was established.
The constitution is the rules by which conservatives agree to play. By allowing the left to change the dialog to one of injustice rather than rules, we do not force them to use the rules by which our democracy operates.
if however, the rules of the interchange are 'whatever we can get away with', or the rules are whetever rules one side chooses to adhere to, then we are not playing by the rules.
if we don't play by the rules then there are no rules, there is no constitution, and there is no need to refrain from violence, because the very premise of our non-violence is the principle of peaceful competition according to those rules.
Since the constitution is being circumvented by the left, and by conspiring with an activist judiciary that acknowledges that the constitution is now unworthy of respect,and must be circumvented, then we cannot hope to call a constitutional convention.
Since the left ignores the constitution, and the right respects it, we are no longer agreeing to play by the rules that we agreed to. We are simply fools clinging to a fantasy while our opposition abuses the document and processes by which we constrain ourselves to peaceful democratic politics..
We cannot restore our civilization. We can enumerate the changes we wish to make to our country, or we can break it into pieces.
Given the size of our country, and the vast different cultures that inhabit the new england, the south, Texarcana, the great lakes, the River and Plains, the pacific northwest the mexican southwest, it may be best to come up with a new federal government in each of those different cultures, and substantially weaken the federal government so that it cannot oppress us. It may instead be better to simply update the constitution with greater protections. It may be better to simply return all power to the states. But this trend toward totalitarianism cannot continue.
I am advocating violence. I am going to continue to advocate violence. At first it must be civil disobedience. But it must grow to upheaval.
Because if we do not play by the rules, then I no longer need to restrain my violence. Conservatives no longer need to constrain their violence.
It is time for violence.
Some men are capable of petty interpersonal physical violence. Some are capable of rabblery and protest. Some of us are capable of revolution and civil war. We are threatened by the myth of the general strike. We are threatened by the idea of revolution by the left, we are threatened with personal violence in order to institute change, by the left.
We believe that these malcontents will simply learn. They will conform. That we are safe in our patience. We tolerate this abuse because we are confident in our system. But that system has failed. We must understand that we cannot hold onto pacifism and restraint. And that if we do we are not acting on conviction but convenience.
We don't need half the population to create change.
We don't need a quarter of it.
We don't need a tenth of it.
We need one man in one thousand to be willing to take action in an organized manner, and we can restore our freedom.
Under the rules of the civic republican tradition, a tradition you may not even be able to articulate, or even understand, except as habits and emotions, you agreed to restrain your violence as men, for the common good, in an effort to create a meritocratic society, as long as the rules were adhered to by everyone.
Instead you find that you are sacrificing, that you may have to live in poverty in old age, that your civilization will become another Bonapartist state, so that the left can immigrate us out of power under the rubric of compassion and democracy.
So stop confusing your complacency with conviction.
You pay for government by forgoing opportunity to use your violence. YOu could, if you wanted, use that violence, use fraud, use deception, break the rules, for your own benefit. Each time you dont you pay the cost of building a society. You pay for whatever society you get. So you are paying for this one. EAch deposit you make pays for this society. Each time you forgo and opportunity. Each tax you pay. Each abuse of your freedoms you tolerate, pays for this society.
Prepare to withdraw your deposit. You have been saving violence into a bank for most of your life. It's time to withdraw it. To spend it. It's a hefty sum. And with that violence you can buy your civilization back.