(H.V. Kaltenborn - decrying Partisan Politics - even in 1940)

Seventy years ago this week, France surrendered to Germany and, even though at the time of this broadcast (June 21st 1940), it had not become official for another day. Still, H.V. Kaltenborn, who was one of the more trusted and listened to commentators of the day, spoke about the effect the surrender would have on the rest of the world as well as the political ramifications here in the U.S.

Then, as now the sentiment seemed to be the same:

H.V. Kaltenborn: “National Defense is not a partisan question, would that that were true. I repeat what I have said so many times – it is unfortunate that this country must be divided politically at a time when it should be united nationally.”

This weekend, twenty-five years ago, it was all about The Persian Gulf and the U.S. decision to re-flag Kuwaiti Oil Tankers within the next ten days. Amid reports that Iran was mining the Gulf and the U.S. was inching closer to a shooting war. With the Iraqi bombing of the USS Stark, which claimed 37 crewmen, it would seem a showdown was inevitable.

Despite all that, there was no concrete Policy in place, with reference to our position on The Persian Gulf. This episode of Face The Nation was titled "Persian Gulf Policy: A Sea Of Confusion", and it reflected just how off the charts we were in handling crises overseas.

Joining Moderator Leslie Stahl were Under-Secretary of State Michael Armacost and Chairman of The House Armed Services Committe, Les Aspin, discussing what was becoming a fractured and and confusing policy and whether or not the re-flagging of Kuwaiti ships should be postponed.

Here is that broadcast. You get to decide.

News for this June 21st in 1955 was mostly all about the 10th Anniversary celebrations taking place in San Francisco, site of the first meeting of the United Nations. June 21st commemorated the signing of the UN Charter. Right after the newscast is a re-cap of the days activities and excerpts of addresses from British Foreign Secretary Harold Macmillan.

With the news was also enthusiastic anticipation over the upcoming Big Four Conference, to be held in Geneva in July. Macmillan voiced optimism that the issues of the Cold War were becoming more agreeable. In addressing the assembly, Macmillan hoped for a continuing of good relations between East and West. Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill was less unreserved, saying he welcomed the softening of positions, but was still wary that the Cold War was still very much with us.

In other news, it was reported two North Korean pilots defected to South Korea. CIO Leader Walter Reuther rejected an offer by the Auto Makers for uniform contract negotiations and President Eisenhower extended the Reciprocal Trade Agreements.

All that and a re-cap of the celebrations at the United Nations for this June 21, 1955 as reported by Ben Grauer of NBC Radio News.

Any chance of finding a low-key day June 21, 1994 hit zero as the morning news trumpeted the latest dose of haywire.

Starting with the aftermath from the previous days shooting rampage at the Fairchild Airforce Base near Spokane Washington by 20 year old Dean Mellberg. Mellberg, who was determined to be psychologically unfit to serve in the Air Force and subsequently discharged, decided he'd take it out on the people in the base clinic, killing 4 and wounding (at the time of this report) 21, before being taken out by sharpshooters.

And speaking of murder, the infamous OJ Simpson Case was gearing up for trial as the search for the murder weapon went into overdrive. Simpson plead not guilty and the defense team was tinkering with the idea of manslaughter based on a Crime of Passion. Simpson friends, including Basketball star Magic Johnson voiced their support and the profile for this Circus Under Construction grew higher and higher each minute.

And since he made international headlines as the "butt that launched a thousand gasps", Caning recipient Michael Fay was finally released from Singapore Prison a little bit lighter and the controversy lingered on.

While we're on the subject of Taking It On The Ass; it was looking more and more like President Clinton's Healthcare Reform package was going to head south as Big Pharma and Big Insurance got together and cooked up two fact-free characters in Harry and Louise to the tune of many-many millions of dollars to torpedo Clinton's proposal. The moral of story being, never get between Blue Cross and their greed. We all know how that story ended . . .and do I hear grunts of "deja-vu"?

But the baskets were being passed to the Friends Of Bill in an effort to raise the $2million needed to pay for court and attorney's costs associated with the White Water and Paula Jones cases.

And in the money Department, the U.S. Trade Deficit grew by 22% to $8.4 Billion. But who cared? There was juicy scandal to be had!

Occidental Chemical did finally cough up a settlement in the Love Canal suit. They did however pledge to go after the Government in order to get their money back. Or in the words of Magic Johnson with regards to the Simpson case, "he needs to take it like a man". Seems to be a lot of that advice going around. Seems nobody paid attention to it.

And so went this first day of Summer in 1994. The CBS World News Roundup lays it all out and tries to keep a straight face. And sometimes with history, that's the best you can do.

(Same as it ever was. Same. As. It. Ever. Was.)

In my never ending quest to find some historic evidence that the myth of bi-partisanship ever existed, I had hopes that surely fifteen years ago things may have been a little different. Unfortunately the answer is no. Almost exactly the same. In 1995 it was Bill Clinton facing a majority Republican House and Senate. Budget, Taxes, Base closures and Presidential appointments facing filibusters. During the week of June 21-25, 1995 the filibuster threat came as the result of Clinton's appointment of Dr. Henry Foster to the post of Surgeon General. Phil Gramm voiced a sentiment that has become something of recurring mantra even today.

Phil Gramm (on confirmation of Dr. Henry Foster and a threatened filibuster): “This is the wrong person with the wrong views for the wrong job. I think we can serve the public interests by saying no. I think no is the right answer. I am confident we’re going to say it.”

And saying it over and over and over again.