History Is Our Guide To Ending Hatreds

The Vietnam War led to massive violent uprisings.  The hatred was enormous.  Private businesses, college campuses, government buildings were shut down by protesters.  Like today, activists wanted a complete overall of our government and way of life.  There would be no comprising.  It was their way or the highway.  They made every effort to circumvent the democratic process by attempting to thwart the 1968 Democratic Convention.  The awful ugliness on the streets of Chicago that was captured and witnessed by millions of Americans on television, will never be forgotten.

This resulted in the trial of the Chicago Eight.  What we witnessed there was a total lack of respect and adherence to our judicial system.  One of the defendants, Bobby Seale, had to be gagged and tied to a chair in the courtroom to prevent him from disrupting the legal process and proceedings.  Seale was so rebellious that his prosecution had to be severed during the trial, reducing the ugliness of the Chicago Eight to the Chicago Seven.  Others, on occasion, had to watch the court proceeding on closed circuit television from their jail cells. 

This led to strengthening the Black Panther Party.  Their very public callings for the killing of “pigs” (police officers) propelled heavy government scrutiny of the organization.  As arrests were made, the Panthers charged law enforcement officials with racism and oppression.  Police officers were targeted for death.  Some thirty-five police officers were gunned down by the Panthers.

Many young people decided to “turn off and drop out” of mainstream American culture.  Some just wandered the streets aimlessly, while others created and joined communes.  Everything they had and everything they could acquire, by any means, became the property of the commune.  “Free love” (licentious sexual behavior) and securing illicit drugs was their stated lifestyle. 

One such commune was started and controlled by Charles Manson.  He preached love and inner beauty while intoxicating his members with LSD and directing their sexual activities.  Some cult members believed he was the second coming of Jesus. 

Manson, a lifelong criminal, had one objective in mind.  He wanted to start a race war.  He believed if wealthy high-profile individuals were brutally slaughtered by what appeared to be the Black Panthers, “whitey” would rise up and attack the black community.  During the war, Mansion and his followers would remain hidden.  It was Manson’s premise that “whitey” would never defeat the superior physical traits of “blackie.”  But the blacks would not be able to govern themselves, at which point, Charlie would emerge to rule the world.  To get the war started, Charlie and his followers committed a series of nine murders at four locations over a period of five weeks in August of 1969.  This preceded the Chicago Eight trial by just one month.

Then on June 17, 1972 came the Watergate break in.  The prowlers had been caught attempting to bug the telephones of, and steal documents from, the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate office plaza in Washington D.C.   There is no evidence that President Nixon knew anything about the break in plot before it happened.  However, the combination of the national uproar over his handling of Vietnam and evidence of his involvement to cover up and forcefully silence the Watergate investigations led to his resigning from office on August 8, 1974.  Nixon was the only president to ever resign from the office.  Just six years earlier President Johnson announced (March 31, 1968) he would not seek another term as President.  The Vietnam War had forced him into early retirement.  

Enter President Gerald Ford.   He knew he had to stop the bleeding.  His first act was to pardon Richard Nixon for any and all involvement in Watergate.  This ended the scandal and the awful hatred it generated.  Just nine months into his presidency Ford also ended all United States involvement in Vietnam successfully slamming the door shut on that ugliness.   By 1975 all draft and military conscription requirements were ended.

Gerald Ford had to know that he was committing political suicide.  It didn’t stop him from doing what needed to be done to heal our nation. 

While so very many of events from the late 60’s and early 70’s parallel today’s events, the one missing element is whether we have a leader with the courage to lead – the courage to end the hatred and bitterness that plagues us today.  For it would appear that political suicide is necessary once again.

Best of The Worst

A scribe was recently asked for specifics as to why polls have consistently shown that the American people do not like or trust Hillary Clinton.  

He began with Whitewater.  

It was reveled in a March 1992 New York times article that Bill and Hillary Clinton were heavily invested in the Whitewater Development Corporation.  Jim and Susan McDougal were also investors in the real estate investment program. 

Criminal allegations surfaced when David Hale, an Arkansas banker, claimed that he was pressured by Bill Clinton to provide an illegal loan of $300,000 to Susan McDougal to invest in Whitewater.  Three criminal investigations could not tie the Clintons to any fraudulent or illegal behavior.  Susan McDougal went to prison for refusing to testify as to whether Bill Clinton lied in his testimony (Bill perjure himself? – Never) surrounding the scandal.  President Clinton pardoned her just hours before leaving the White House.  

Whitewater also uncovered suspicious activities surrounding what came to be known as “Trooper-gate” “Travel-gate,” “File-gate” and the questionable circumstances surrounding the death of White House counsel and Hillary Clinton aid, Vince Foster.  

Next it was reported that Hillary Clinton purchased 10 cattle futures contracts that cost $12,000 for only $1,000.  The next day those contracts were worth $6,300 and after a mere 10 months, $100,000.  Robert L. "Red" Bone, who allowed the trades, received the biggest fine ever recorded in Arkansas future exchange history and was suspended from conducting all market activities for three years. 

For brevity we will skip “Looter-gate” “Drug Dealer Donor Scandal” “China-gate”

and Norman Yung Yuen Hsu’s 24-year prison sentence for fraud in attempting to manipulating the political process in Hillary’s 2008 Campaign.  

We are now to Benghazi.  We Know – “What difference, at this point, does it make?”  It makes a difference because like all the previous suspicions of wrong doing, Benghazi is also cloaked in a veil of impenetrable secrecy.  This behavior only promotes more serious doubt and suspicions centering on competency, honesty and thus motivations. 

As part of the Benghazi investigations, it was discovered that Secretary Clinton had used her private email server to conduct State Department business.  Following a request to review those emails, Secretary Clinton deleted 3,300 of them in obvious deviance of federal regulations requiring the archiving of all emails.  Hillary has stated that the deleted documents were of a personal nature only.  Yet no evidence can ever be presented to validate that assertion. 

We have learned that in American politics the impropriety is far easier for the American people to dismiss than a coverup.   When President John F. Kennedy was asked who was responsible for the “Bay of Pigs” debacle he responded with grace, humility and honesty in saying he had no wish “to conceal responsibility because I am the responsible officer of government…”  From that point forward it was, for the most part, forgotten. 

The Clinton Foundation has also come under scrutiny and investigation for suspected influence peddling while Hillary was Secretary of State.  While subpoenas have been issued, no illegal wrongdoings or fraudulent activity has been conclusively established.  Yet unethical behavior has been established.  After her visits to foreign countries as Secretary Of State, it became common for her husband to receive an invitation to speak in some of those countries for hundreds of thousands of dollars.  The foundation has managed to raise $2 billion, much of it coming from foreign governments, corporations and political donors.  While that is legal, it once again sends a signal that conflicts of interest could very easily be on the horizon. 

Hillary has further fueled suspicions around potential conflict of interest by refusing to release the transcripts of her Wall Street speeches.  Her position on the refusal is that she has “both a public and private position” on Wall Street.  Again, this feeds into even more doubt as to what she really represents, and what she truly believes. 

And while Hillary should not be held accountable for her husband’s sexual addiction, habitual adultery and impeachment, it is fair to hold her accountable for defending his dalliances and political bungles.  She made a repeated charge that anyone attempting to bring any scandal to light were engaging in a “vast right wing conspiracy.”   The argument that because she was Bill’s wife, she had no choice but to aggressively defend him lacks validity.  For she indeed did have a choice.   She could have remained silent. 

Yes – politics is an ugly business.  But there is simply too much dirty laundry to support the argument that ALL of this was politically motivated.  The repetitiveness unquestionably validates indisputable character flaws in integrity and honesty.  

This has not been lost on the American people. Polls consistently reveal, through

Hillary’s unpopularity reflects that Americans are keenly aware of all this political ugliness.  If we have, in fact, reached the point where Hillary is considered the best choice between the two major party candidates, the we must brace ourselves for the reality that she could ultimately play a huge role in electing “The Donald.” 

Poo-Pooing Career Politicians

The CNN Sunday morning news program “Global Public Square” (GPS) provided a fascinating and enlightening conversation.  It dealt with the immense chore and importance of smoothly transitioning the White House when a new administration takes over. 

The participants were the show’s host Fareed Zakaria, Evan Osnos a writer with the New Yorker magazine and author of a new book entitled “President Trump,” and Melody Barnes who was instrumental in directing the White House transition of the Obama’s administration.  

The size of the project is enormous.  Barnes, who has worked with many CEO’s of major corporations described it as; “…taking some of the largest companies in the world, if you bolted together Exxon and Walmart and doubled them in size you would still not reach…(the) three million employees… (or) the $3 trillion budget” of the federal government.  Therefore, a new president must identify and appoint 4,000 staff members in a matter of weeks after taking office.  Two hundred and fifty (250) of those positions must be filled almost immediately.  This must be done to assure the White House never misses a beat.  Barnes: “there's litigation underway, there are regulations, there are any number of things that are already in motion…” that must be dealt with as though no change has taken place.  Because these appointees must be put in place quickly, there is no time to play politics.  Controversy must be almost nonexistent, their experience and knowledge must be unquestionable and they should be as free of strong partisanship as possible.  

With this reality, Zakaria asked Osnos if Donald Trump’s declaration that on day one he would sign 25 executive orders to eviscerate as much of the Obama presidency as possible is legal and doable? 

Osnos pointed out that it is indeed legal.  He said that “legally, he (the president) has the ability to do many more…things than we might imagine.” He went on: “…on day one or within several days, they (Trump Administration) could withdraw the United States from the Paris climate deal, for instance. They could suspend the Syrian Refugee Program. They could radically accelerate the pace of deportation.”   

It was additionally pointed out that in matters of foreign policy the president has even more unchallenged authority. Trump could effectively refuse “to come to the defense of Eastern Europe because (he doesn’t) think they're paying their fair share.”  He could deny coming “to the defense of Japan. If they want to develop nuclear weapons that's fine by me (Trump).”  Osnos continued; “(this) sends out a message to all of these other governments and (they will) begin to make calculations, (they will) begin to hedge, (they' will) begin to reimagine their relationship with (the) United States and their relationship with other powers, whether it's china or with Russia.”  This would create a very volatile and dangerous situation. 

Osnos went on to maintain that because of the size and enormity of the tasks that would await the Trump administration upon entering the White House, the 25 executive orders claim is implausible.  Osnos said; “… this just further demonstrates an indicator of how little experience this group of political folks actually has.”

Finally, Barnes was asked if being a CEO is a strong qualification for the presidency. 

BARNES: “…there is a difference between leading even one of the largest companies in the world and leading the United States of America.”

“When you're the CEO of a company, you don't literally have to sit down with your loyal opposition every single day to get from an idea to a conclusion and to negotiate your way through that. You don't have the checks and balances in place that our founder(s) set up to ensure that the chief executive of the country doesn't run amuck.”
All of those things are part of what make(s) our republic work and operate.”

As we march off to the polls on November 8^th we may want to carefully scrutinize the notion that we would be better served by a novice in politics than a career politician.  We may want to remember that it was Lyndon Johnson’s and Hubert Humphrey’s political skills and savvy, along with their experience and knowledge on our governmental system and the friendships acquired over the years that ended the filibuster of the 1964 Civil Rights Act paving the way for its passage.  The same is true of Social Security, Medicare and any other crucial piece of legislation ever enacted. 

The presidency is NOT analogous to sitting on the city council.  Like any profession, it takes years of hard work and dedication to reach a level of excellence that is required and that we must demand of our chief executive.

God and Family Values

Honesty is telling the truth to other people. 

Integrity is telling the truth to yourself. 

Okay let’s agree to ignore and totally forget what the Republican Party and Trump loyalists are irrationally demanding we disregard.  Let’s forget about the Howard Stern tapes, the bus comments, the Miss Universe comments, hobnobbing with Hugh Hefner at the Playboy mansion, the Carly Fiorina personal appearance attack and all the other forgotten female slights not noted here.  Just put them out of your mind - give them absolutely no weight.

Now the question becomes; what other demands would these ardent supporters of morality and strength of character also like us to accommodate? 

Would they like us to forget all or just a portion of the following??

·         Mr. Trumps bragging about his dalliances, along with his adultery with Marla Maples while married to Ivana  

·         The mocking of a physically handicapped reporter

·         Calling John McCain, a loser because he was captured in Vietnam

·         War hero and former Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s statement that he will write-in his vote on election day.

·         Trump’s endless bigoted pronouncements 

·         For probably the first and ONLY time both Michael Moore and Glen Beck will be in agreement - Trump should not sit in the oval office.

·         Paul Ryan, the most influential Republican legislator in the country, refusing to campaign for Trump.

·         A third of the Republican senators refusing to endorse Trump

·         “Not a single CEO of a fortune 100 company has endorsed Trump – 11 of them are backing Clinton.  Not one major newspaper has endorsed Trump and some are endorsing a Democrat for the first time in over 100 years.  Even conservative thought leaders (Magazines, Noted Columnists and Pundits)…are in some form Anti-Trump and in some cases have become pro-Clinton.”  - Chuck Todd - Meet The Press 

There is of course more – so very much more – but let’s just start there so we can learn what the legitimate concerns should be when considering Mr. Trump and his character.  After all, supporters of those committed to the party of God First and family values can surely justify why all of this should be routinely dismissed. 

“I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters.” ~ Donald J. Trump

“MAY”day Needed For Radio

Back in the dark ages of radio broadcasting there was a code of conduct that was considered gospel for all who worked in the industry.  It was incorporated into the Radio Act of 1927 and became the operational standard for all broadcast licensees.  It was very simple, very straight forward; “To operate in the best public interest, convenience and necessity of the community.”  

This requirement not only guided regulations surrounding technical standards but program and licensing requirements as well.  It was implemented to act as a safeguard against greed and selfish motivations from infecting the industry.  It worked beautifully from its inception until deregulation in the 1980’s and when squeamish Supreme Court rulings destroyed its effectiveness as a golden rule. 

Over that fifty-year period there were endless examples of broadcasters sacrificing to serve “in the best public interest, convenience and necessity of the community.” The effort that best exemplified that commitment could be found in tiny Shenandoah, Iowa. 

Henry Field – KFNF Radio

In the 192o’s two extraordinary radio pioneers owned and operated radio stations in Shenandoah.  In 1924 Henry Field founded KFNF operating on the top of his seed house business.  In 1925 seed salesman Earl May put KMA on the air.  Both started their radio stations to increase the sales of their seed products.  

The fierce completion brought out the very best in them.  They were decades ahead of their time in establishing radio as a very personal medium for the listener.  Such an approach to programing didn’t become predominate until the end of the golden age of radio.  It went from a very structured format of one radio program after another (like contemporary television) to personality radio.  Field and May could talk for hours telling tales about family and friends, sharing anecdotal stories of interest to the farming community and providing a steady source of information and ideas on how to increase farm profits. 

While they were at it, they established the format for a morning show that is still employed to this day.  It included news, weather, farm reports and other key pieces of information that became crucially important to the listener. 

They also used their stations to create wildly popular community gatherings and events.  Today almost all radio stations have a promotional department whose sole function is do exactly what Field and May were doing. 

All these efforts attracted listeners throughout the Mid-West and drew thousands of visitors to tiny Shenandoah for years.  All definitely serving “the best public interest, convenience and necessity of the community.”  Yet the most prolific example of commitment to this operational standard did not occur until the 1930’s. 

At the depths of the depression, Earl May took to the air with an offer the farmers couldn’t refuse.  He pointed out that he had the seed the farmers needed but couldn’t buy.  May said he was confident that the banks would reopen.  He told the farmers to go ahead and pick up their seed.  He said he would accept all checks and hold those checks until the banks reopened.  He received $50,000 in orders…more than enough to bankrupt his company.  

When the banks reopened 98% of the money was paid. 

Deregulation from the Carter Administration through the Obama administration has yet to demonstrate it has served “the best public interest, convenience and necessity of the community.”   It has demonstrated that it indeed serves the best interest of big money concerns.  No better evidence exists than the reality that no broadcast entity today would ever risk what May risked in the service of “the best public interest, convenience and necessity of the community.”  
Today most radio stations are owned by large corporate concerns whose apparent mission statement is to the secure the largest profits possible through devoting more air time to commercials than anything else, using technology to substantially reduce employees, and turning this marvelous medium into a jukebox. 

But rather than lamenting the loss of personality radio and a code of conduct clearly designed to serve the best public interest, it may be wise for us to simply focus on gratitude for the fifty years of greatness that once was radio.  It will diminish the tears.

Dino’s Next to Bailey and Spencer

One of the most popular television dramas from the late 1950’s and early 1960’s was “77 Sunset Strip.”  Its popularity was derived from all the usual attributes of a successful program but it also contained one very unique aspect that previously had never captured audience imagination as this one did.   

While the address was fictitious, the setting for the address was an actual location.  Every episode spotlighted Dino’s Lodge, a restaurant named after entertainer Dean Martin.  “77 Sunset Strip” was the fictional office address of the private detective firm “Bailey and Spencer.” It was located immediately next door to Dino’s Lodge.  

The Warner Bros. sound stage replica of the outward appearance of the business residing next to Dino’s was precisely as it looked.  In reality, “77 Sunset Strip” was the Mary Webb Davis Modeling Agency located at 8532 West Sunset Boulevard in then west Los Angeles and now West Hollywood.  Dino’s was located at 8524 West Sunset Blvd. This location may have been the best known location of its time.  Those who had no idea of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue were keenly aware of “77 Sunset Strip.”   

In January of 1961 our family enjoyed the second of two family auto trips from Minneapolis to California in our 1959 Chrysler Imperial.  While in Los Angeles, the family had dinner at Dino's.  There were some stark realities that were so very much fun to observe. 

As in the television show, Dino’s naturally had valet parking.  However, the parking lot itself was NOT just a flat parcel of land that sat behind Dino’s.  It was rather located down a steep embankment far below and behind the restaurant. The parking attendants had to be in good shape to climb that hill several times a night after parking patron’s cars and returning to their station at Dino’s front door.  This naturally led to the awaking that Dino’s was built on a hill.  This afforded the patrons with a magnificent view of the Los Angeles basin from the restaurants beautiful picture window.  

The meal was outstanding.  It was served by male waiters in tuxes and yes, the scantily clad cigarette girl was ever present.  The coat check room, resplendent with the alluring coat check girl, could be found in the exact location as depicted on the program.  The bar motif and the dark wood walls along with the wall plaque designs were also an exact match on the show. You naturally paid for all of this.  It was the only time I ever heard the old-man complain about the price of a meal. 

After dinner we decided to pay a visit to Bailey and Spencer next door.  We were hoping to have a pleasant chat with Stuart Bailey and Jeff Spencer.  We assumed that Suzanne had probably gone home for the evening and that Roscoe would, in all likelihood, be at the horse track.  

What we discover as we walked under the white awning and opened the door to the Mary Webb Davis Modeling Agency was only a long stairway to the offices above street level. There was nothing more than the entryway and stairway at street level.  No Bailey and Spencer offices.                      

We retreated back to Dino’s to retrieve our ’59 Imperial.  

One of the most charming characters from the television program was “Kookie,” a valet parking attendant that worked at Dino’s.  He was played by Edd Byrnes.  During the run of the show, Byrnes appeared on more magazines covers than any other entertainment personality in the history of show biz.  Connie Stevens enjoyed a hit record entitled "Kookie, Kookie -- Lend Me Your Comb" “spoofing Kookie” for constantly combing his ducktail haircut.  In 2005 TV Guide named Byrnes and “Kookie” number 5 on their list of “TV’s Greatest Teen Idols.”  Seems everyone in America knew of “Kookie.”  

With no mention of the show, the parking valet who presented us with our ’59 Imperial was asked how much money it would take to buy his comb.  He took a comb out of his pocket, swished it through his hair a couple times and said; “Nothin’ doin’ daddio.  It ain’t for sale.”

It was not only a wonderful era for marvelous music, fabulous cars and women of exceptional beauty, but it also provided very special memories that each and every one of us from that era have neatly tucked away in a very special place.  

Notes:  “The Alpine Lodge” preceded “Dino’s Lodge.” 

               It remained Dino’s Lodge from 1958 to 1978

“Chez Denis” (Shay-Da-Knee) restaurant succeeded Dino’s (1978 to 1983)
“Chez Denis” maintained the same exterior and interior look of Dino’s
              The building was torn down in 1985

             “77 Sunset Strip” ended its run in 1964 
Mary Webb Davis was succeeded by the Tiffany Theater in November 1966 

Today both locations are part of a city redevelopment program that is currently
in progress, so they are tantamount to nothing more than empty lots.   
Before construction began, all that remained to commemorate these original sites was a sidewalk plaque.  It has been carefully removed, intact, with the assurance that it will be, once again, placed in front of the new building at 8524 as part of the completed construction in 2017.   

         

Remembering Irene Sendler

In 2007 Irena Sendler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.  She was 97.  The award was given to former Vice President Al Gore for his slide show on Global Warming.  The effect of Sendler’s nomination was to alert the world of her presence and impact, some 65 years after she demonstrated unparalleled compassion and courage. 

During WWII she smuggled 2500 Jewish kids/infants out of the Warsaw ghetto in Poland.

She devised a very creative and elaborate plan using a typhoid scare and the sewer system as a means to secure their freedom and survival.

She was caught by the Nazis.  She was tortured and severely beaten.  The beatings broke her arms and legs and left her crippled for life.  She never revealed even one, minuet piece of information to her vicious captors.  She was sentenced to death but escaped when a guard was bribed.  She spent the remaining years of the war in hiding as the Gestapo relentlessly hunted for her.

Irena kept the names of all the kids she guided to safety hidden in a glass jar.  After the war, she tried to reunite the families even though most of the parents had been systematically slaughtered.

Irena Sendler died on May 12, 2008 at the age of 98.

Forgiveness on this front remains, in all likelihood, the sole province of the Almighty.   While we may not possess the divine nature necessary to forgive these monsters we nevertheless have the responsibility to never forget.  We must never forget the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated or the atrocities of Pol Pot, Chairman Mao Tse-tung and the other butchers that followed Hitler - And it is high time we start remembering and memorializing Irena Sendler as those in the Middle East make plans for exacting their own perverted brand of genocide.