DOWNLOADS: 602

PLAYS: 27

(Acknowledging coffee as a food group)

In 1974 the argument was whether or not to call it a Recession or a Depression, but without any doubt we had one.

The economic woes of the 1970s extended well into the 1980's, with fits and starts and forays into inflation and deflation and stagflation - a veritable plethora of 'flations confronting the country for the better part of a decade. President Ford initiated the somewhat feeble Whip Inflation Now as gas prices went spiraling up, home values came cascading down and unemployment skyrocketed. Sound familiar?

There was a lot of analysis to be had - one was a panel discussion broadcast by NBC Radio in 1974 and later edited into a one hour documentary called "The Wayward Economy" as part of their Second Sunday series. The panel consisted of various economic "experts" (with heavy emphasis on the Chicago School of Economics) at the time; Pierre Renfret, Peter G. Peterson, Ralph Nader (during his relevancy period), Yale Brozen and Tilford Gaines.

This documentary was aired on September 17, 1974.

DOWNLOADS: 1160

PLAYS: 13

(Attorney General Edward H. Levi - you wonder what he'd have to say today)

". . .for example some of the alleged instances of misuse of the FBI over previous periods have involved directions from the White House, often from low ranking officials, given orally and couched in terms of law enforcement of national security. They involve such matters as surveillance at a political convention, investigations of a newsman unsympathetic to the administration cause, or the collection of information on political opponents. The proposed guidelines require that the request be made or confirmed in writing, specify those who may make requests, require the official initiating the investigation be identified, the purpose of the investigation stated among certain routine areas, and where a field investigation is initiated, an attestation that the subject has given consent".

Attorney General Edward H. Levi (1975-1977) addressing the American Bar Association convention in Montreal in 1975. Post-Watergate, post-Nixon. Listening to this address, I wondered what Levi would have to say about Roberto Gonzalez and the shambles the judicial system had become - falling very far from the "high moral ground" we had been so tenuously placed. I was struck by Levi's mention of the "ambiguous nature" of our Constitution as part of the genius of it. But all it of seemed to be based on an assumption it would never be manipulated to fulfill an agenda of fear. The unscrupulous placed in charge to find loopholes in order to justify immoral behavior and the degree in which those behaviors are carried out.

DOWNLOADS: 931

PLAYS: 39

(Jerry Brown: Post-Reagan - Pre-Jarvis - hair and optimism in abundance)

Since today is an election day in California, and since California is teetering on an abyss yet again, I ran across an old Meet The Press from October 15, 1975 featuring an interview with Governor Jerry Brown.

In 1975 California had a $300 million surplus. But then, the average household income was $13K a year (hard to imagine . . .not really). New York City was the problem child at the time, plunging hip-deep in bankruptcy and asking for bailout money from the government. To a lot of people it seemed an abstract concept, the U.S. Government actually bailing a city out, and the Ford Administration were loath to offer any help at first. But that was New York City - it could never happen in California.

Famous last words.

So here is Jerry Brown in his first year as Governor in 1975. Loaded with optimism and new ideas and all was sailing along before that little thing called Prop 13 and the Howard Jarvis Tax initiative blew into Sacramento in 1978. And 34 years later we're casting our eyes to Washington with hopes of a bailout.

I've included commercials for one of the sponsors of Meet The Press - Exxon. Seems the issue of clean coal just can't get off the ground.

Like I always say, some things just never change.

DOWNLOADS: 463

PLAYS: 38

(Khrushchev: Exercising the Righteous Indignation Clause)

1960 started off rather hopeful. In 1959 a noticeable thaw was taking place in the Cold War. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev made a visit to the U.S., cultural exchange programs were going full force and all was looking optimistic that maybe we all could get along after all. May 17th was slated to be the day the first major summit conference between the NATO powers and The Soviet Union would begin.

And then came the U-2 spy plane incident. The U.S. had been sending regular reconnaissance missions over Soviet territory, taking pictures of military installations. On May 1st, the Russians shot down one of the planes, announcing to the world on May 5th they had captured the pilot Francis Gary Powers.

At first, the State Department denied the plane was on a spy mission, saying Powers was flying over Turkey and had become unconscious, sending the plane in auto-pilot over Soviet air space and all was an unfortunate accident. But later, the story was recanted and officials conceded Powers was really on a spy mission.

With last minute negotiations via British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan as go-between, Eisenhower agreed to suspend future flights, but refused to apologize for the incident.

Khrushchev promptly pulled the plug on the much hoped-for summit conference on May 17th and issued a stinging three-hour denunciation of the West at the Press Conference in Paris on May 18th.

Whether it was a calculated move on Khrushchev's part, knuckling to pressure from the hawkish elements of the Politburo (that would cost him his job in 1964) or it was a supreme blunder on the part of the Eisenhower administration has been a topic of dispute for years.

In any event - on this day in 1960, the Cold War got a whole lot colder.

DOWNLOADS: 2486

PLAYS: 2182

(Back by popular demand - the whole show)

A few weeks ago I put up an excerpt of a Hollywood Bowl concert from 1962 featuring Dave Guard's Whiskeyhill Singers. It drew a huge response and the overwhelming request was for more. Since I had put up the initial clip before the snappy new Crooks and Liars embed player was up and running, I was only able to use YouTube and their somewhat limiting 10 minute maximum to play the piece.

Now that things are new and improved, I've decided to run the concert complete and without edits or interruptions - just as it happened that night in 1962.

Okay fans, have at it!

DOWNLOADS: 298

PLAYS: 36

(Nelson Mandela in 1994 - putting new meaning in "Shine South Africa, Shine")

I almost let the week go by without acknowledging the recent election and swearing in of Jacob Zuma as President of South Africa on May 9th. But I was also reminded how defining that moment was for Nelson Mandela, on May 10 of 1994. How the political and social landscape of South Africa would change forever, and how apartheid was relegated to the trash heap of history and how a new era would emerge.

Fifteen years ago, this week. In some ways it feels like a hundred and in other ways it feels like a minute or two ago. How far we've come - how far there is left to go.

DOWNLOADS: 2612

PLAYS: 3509

(Robert Shelton - Imperial Wizard of the KKK - life of the party)

With the current wave of hatespeak flooding the air and cable, I noticed a striking similarity in all of it; that strange desire to take half-truths, outright lies and fabrications and somehow weave them into plausible, factual events and speak about them with an air of honest-to-God authority.

So I stumbled across an interview done by Marsha Tompkins at WBAI in New York with Imperial Wizard of the KKK Robert Shelton on December 23, 1969, conducted at his home in Tuscaloosa Alabama.

Shelton makes no bones about the fact that he's anti just about everything and every one on the planet. Tompkins makes no bones about being intimidated and doesn't question any of his logic. Which, in retrospect was probably a good thing, because it allowed him to spew and continue spewing in a way that would have ground any other interview to a screaming halt. In this context, Shelton is seen for the person he really was; petty, vindictive, ignorant, arrogant and terrified.

Pick which wingnut personality he most closely resembles today. Without too much trouble you'll probably find a lot. The common denominators are hate and ignorance and an overwhelming fear.

(They would have you believe they are as American as Apple Streudel!)

DOWNLOADS: 539

PLAYS: 24

(Everything but tar and feathers)

Following up yesterdays post and the interview with Alfred McCoy, I located two later interviews, both done by Philip Adams on his Late Night Live radio program for ABC National in Australia. The first one, from May 22, 2006 features former Lt.Gen. Janis Karpinski and her role in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal and the second half is an interview from June 6, 2006 with former weapons inspector and detainee adviser Rod Barton.

Both worth a listen, especially in light of the recent "What Us, Torture?" tour currently going on.

DOWNLOADS: 3756

PLAYS: 3696

(Making an indelible impression on a curious teenage mind.)

If there was one single thing, one defining moment that turned my life around as a teenager, it would be the first time I heard "The Dreams" in 1966.

No, The Dreams are not a band - nobody played guitar, you can't dance to them. The Dreams was the first part of a four part Electronic Music piece originally broadcast over the BBC in 1964 and released by the BBC Transcription Service to radio stations in the U.S. shortly after.

It was described as "an invention for radio" conceived and written by Barry Bermange and scored by The BBC Radiophonic Workshop. The result was haunting, hypnotic and totally overwhelming for these fifteen year old ears. It completely changed the way I listened and reacted to music.

Having only captured half of it on tape at the time, I waited years to find the complete recording, when a radio station tossed out their BBC Transcription library. We collectors are adept at being dumpster divers, even before it was fashionable.

For a long time I thought Barry Bermange (a talented writer on his own) was the one behind the whole concept. I didn't realize until much later that The BBC Radiophonic Workshop was actually the brainchild of Delia Derbyshire, and she was the one responsible for the incredible electronic sound that accompanied the voices.

Her work has been sadly neglected over the years (she died in 2001), but reading about her I came to realize she had a huge influence over a lot of people in the 60's, from Luciano Berio to The Beatles.

Hearing The Dreams today is just as fresh as when I first heard it that Saturday night in 1966.

Some things are just destined to stay with you.

DOWNLOADS: 239

PLAYS: 100

(Times Square at night on VE Day, May 8, 1945)

Sixty four years ago the war in Europe was over. Half of World War 2 had come to a close.

I don't think there is anything anyone can add to that moment that hasn't been dissected at length, written about from every angle, documented in just about every form imaginable.

With that in mind, here is a group of news reports from various points in Europe and the Pacific, part of the continuing special broadcasts of the day from CBS.