(Shirley Chisholm - just slightly ahead of her time)

When people run through lists of Presidential candidates, the ones who tried but didn't quite get there, the name Shirley Chisholm doesn't really ring any bells with people who weren't around for the '72 elections.

During a time of protest and great upheavals (the Womens Movement got it's big kick off in 1970 if you'll remember), the idea of a black woman running for President was probably a little bit much for mainstream America to deal with. It was, if anything an opportunity to kick a few doors down and to free up the dialogue and, even though I would like to think Shirley Chisholm was able to do that, the reality was it didn't, least not for a while.

But I suspect not a lot of people have heard Shirley Chisholm (she died in 2005 after leaving the political scene some years earlier) or had a chance to hear where she stood on issues. This clip comes from a PBS program called "Thirty Minutes" from April 28, 1972. The questions are pointed and Chisholm doesn't flinch.

Shirley Chisholm: “We double talk. You know, we don’t carry out what we really mean. And this is why I think the American people have come to distrust their politicians, have come to distrust their leaders. Because we say one thing and we do something completely different. We have to restructure our foreign policy in such a way that our dollars, our monies that we work very hard for in this country does not continue to perpetuate countries that suppress liberties of other people.”

She came around at a time when all things were possible, despite established machines to the contrary. Had she made it or at least got in a position to implement change, it's a tantalizing thought to consider what might have been.

(It could happen . . .)

With the current movement afoot to legalize Marijuana in California (in an effort to raise revenues with a cigarette-style tax), I was reminded that in 1971 there was a movement afoot to legalize drugs completely, not just Marijuana but the whole recreational sub-genre. The idea that Heroin would suddenly become legal seemed remote, but the PBS program The Advocates devoted their hour on week to just that subject. And, as always with that program, the arguments were very interesting.

Joseph Oteri(arguing For legalization): “As extreme as our proposition may sound, we believe that we can show that by legalizing all drugs, you will have the following results: There will be less crime because drugs will be cheap enough so that addicts will not have to steal money in order to purchase them. The tax free criminal drug monopoly will be destroyed because of their inability to compete with cheap legal drugs. There will be fewer addicts because the forbidden fruit temptation of drug use will be diminished by its openness and the drug subculture, which makes drugs available will disappear. There will be fewer deaths from overdoses because the strength of drugs will be controlled by Federal standards. Hepatitis cases will be diminished because it will no longer be criminal to possess needles and syringes and users will have sterile equipment to use. But more importantly, an adult’s right to be let alone, his right to determine for himself what is good for him and not to be forced to accept the moral judgments of society as they relate to his private conduct demand that he have the right to use drugs if he chooses to do so.”

Needless to say it was a bold idea. The arguments on both sides had merits (although the "against" side went into overdrive when someone on the "for" side mentioned Heroin and Ice Cream in the same sentence).

It does beg the question why it can't happen now. I'm still not so sure we will ever see a full legalization of all drugs in our lifetimes, but legalizing Marijuana does seem possible at this point in time. Probably more so now than in 1971.

(Nixon in 1970 - Just Say No. . and no. . .and no)

It was such a big deal, Nixon took Primetime television to talk about it. His veto of the Education and Health bills passed by the House on January 26, 1970. Despite his protests, it was largely viewed as a political move and a somewhat disingenuous display over the rising budget and our about-to-become involvement in Cambodia a few weeks later.

Nonetheless, with bravura and flourish, President Nixon proclaimed his concern and welfare for the American people and cut spending in an area that was desperately needed.

Nixon: “No matter how popular a spending program is, if I determine that it’s enactment will have the effect of raising your prices or raising your taxes, I will not approve that program. Now for these reasons, for the first time tonight instead of signing a bill which has been sent to me by the Congress, I am signing this veto message.”

Right after the non-signing, NET (pre-PBS) hosted a discussion of the bill, its veto and the implications hosted by Mitchell Krause. It was generally conceded that Nixon, as usual was not in touch with millions of Americans hanging by a thread and that social programs were not his strong suit.

Seems to be a recurring theme.

(The Doors - someone wondered if in a hundred years we'd still be playing "Light My Fire" - so far, so good.)

I know this particular show has been bootlegged quite a bit; it's the PBS program "Critique" from May 23, 1969 which features The Doors performing in the studio, an interview with the band and a roundtable discussion between Richard Goldstein, Pat Kennealy, Rosko and Al Aronowitz.

My source is from NET (pre-PBS) and is probably as close to the original recordings as possible. The tape box says April 29, 1969, so I am assuming this is when the copy was made and not the original air date. Truths to tell, I haven't heard the bootlegs of this recording so I have no frame of reference with which to judge. All I know is, the sound is excellent and, if you haven't heard it before, pretty exciting. This was done shortly after the famous Miami bust and it's discussed during the round table portion. The interview with Morrison is great - the round table discussion afterwards is . . . well . . . interesting. You be the judge.

As for the performances themselves, it's classic Doors.

So here is "Critique" complete, uncut and exactly as it was aired in May 1969.