Category Archives: Politics

Questions on the Future of the Presidency

Posted on March 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 18, 1960: Columnist James Reston explores President Eisenhower’s refusal to intervene in the dispute over segregated lunch counters in the South and what his philosophy signifies for the next president. Reston says, “President Eisenhower believes with great sincerity … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, JFK, Politics, Richard Nixon | 2 Comments

‘Nothing Freakish About Hoover,’ Times Columnist Declares

Posted on March 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 18, 1920: Alma Whitaker says that American women should seize the historic moment of casting a vote in the presidential election for the first time by supporting Herbert Hoover. After listing his positive attributes (he makes few speeches … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Politics | Comments Off on ‘Nothing Freakish About Hoover,’ Times Columnist Declares

Matt Weinstock, March 17, 1960

Posted on March 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Conversing Computers     Well, we're there, folks.  I suppose it was inevitable.  And presumably the news has been deliberately hushed and permitted to leak here so no one would get the impulse to jump out of his shoes.  So … Continue reading →

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TV Show D.A. Arrested in Nude Pot Party

Posted on March 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

Uh-oh. March 14, 1960: William Talman, who plays prosecutor Hamilton Burger on the “Perry Mason” TV show, is arrested at a nude pot party in West Hollywood. The Times didn’t report that they were naked until a few days later. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Food and Drink, Politics, Richard Nixon | Comments Off on TV Show D.A. Arrested in Nude Pot Party

Texas Politician Opposes the Automobile

Posted on March 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 12, 1920: Former Texas Sen. Joe Bailey wants to abolish autos except for businesses, according to his opponents in the governor’s race. Bailey says, “I believe that next to the dog, the horse is man's best friend." More … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Comics, Politics, Transportation | 1 Comment

Kennedy, Nixon Lead in New Hampshire

Posted on March 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

On the jump, an attorney seeks to keep state officials from removing Alice Marie Combs, 4, center, from her foster home in an effort to find a more intellectually stimulating family for the girl, who has an IQ of 138. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, JFK, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports | Comments Off on Kennedy, Nixon Lead in New Hampshire

Meet Jackie Kennedy

Posted on March 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 8, 1960: Fletcher Knebel writes about Jacqueline Kennedy as part of his series on presidential candidates’ wives. It’s hard not to feel a pang of sorrow when Knebel notes that the Kennedys have just celebrated their daughter Caroline’s … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Westbrook Pegler

Posted on March 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 7, 1941: I thought it would be interesting to spend some time this month looking at the columns of Westbrook Pegler, a 1920s sportswriter who became a rather vicious national columnist and was ultimately sued for libel by … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Politics | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Westbrook Pegler

Times Correspondent Held in Mexico

Posted on March 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 7, 1920: Gerald Brandon filed about 15 stories for The Times from late 1919 to early 1920. This incident was the third time he had been expelled from Mexico under various regimes, The Times said. Unfortunately, there’s no … Continue reading →

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Noise Replaces Facts in Politics

Posted on March 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 6, 1960: The Times publishes James Reston’s views on politics after adding the New York Times News Service. Reston calls Sen. John F. Kennedy (D-Mass.) a tough political operator and describes Vice President Richard Nixon as “nearer to a … Continue reading →

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Kennedy Pulls Even With Nixon in Poll

Posted on March 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 4, 1960: Nancy Sinatra greets Elvis! March 4, 1960: Sen. John F. Kennedy (D-Mass.) pulls even with Vice President Richard Nixon – even though Kennedy is Catholic! (More on the jump). 

Posted in #courts, Dodgers, Front Pages, health, JFK, Music, Politics, Religion, Richard Nixon, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, March 1, 1960

Posted on March 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

Way Out Walkout     A great many people walked out on Miles Davis and John Coltrane, two great men of music they had primarily come to see and hear, at last Saturday's jazz concert at Shrine Auditorium, thereby provoking a … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, Columnists, Matt Weinstock, Politics, Richard Nixon, Rock 'n' Roll | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, March 1, 1960

‘We Don’t Want the Pope Running the Country’

Posted on March 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

“I’d Like to Examine This Young Woman!”   March 1, 1960: Samuel Lubell focuses on Vice President Richard Nixon in his survey of Southern voters and dismisses Democrats' chances, but there's a more complicated portrait of the South buried a … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Countdown to Watts, Film, Hollywood, Politics | Comments Off on ‘We Don’t Want the Pope Running the Country’

Kennedy and Catholicism

Posted on March 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Note: For quite a while, the Daily Mirror has been clicking along in perfect synchronization with the past. Mondays were Mondays and Fridays were Fridays. No more, because 1960 was a leap year and 2010 isn't. Feb. 29, 1960: … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, JFK, Politics, Richard Nixon | 1 Comment

U.S. Doomed by a Culture of Leisure

Posted on February 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

“Give Me Your Pistol, Buck. Mine’s Overheated!”   In 1960, The Times was inserting This Week magazine in the Sunday papers. The editor was William I. Nichols, who countered the phrase “Better Dead Than Red” with the slogan “Better Brave … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, JFK, Politics, Richard Nixon | 1 Comment

Americans Lower Expectations for Presidency

Posted on February 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 27, 1980: This page is such a time capsule of the 1980s that I couldn’t decide on one story. There's Baltimore Sun columnist Matt Seiden's a piece on the war between humans and computers, an essay by Calvin … Continue reading →

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Jarvis Urges Recall of Gov. Brown

Posted on February 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Vice President Richard Nixon greets admirers in South Bend, Ind., while visiting Notre Dame to receive its Patriotism Award. Caryl Chessman and the Finch trial. A good day for news. And the historic Southern Pacific depot on Alameda burns … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, Caryl Chessman, Dodgers, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports | 1 Comment

Anti-Japanese Legislation

Posted on February 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

“The Days of Real Sport,” by Clare Briggs.   Feb. 24, 1920: "The great mass of California voters have been roused by the Japanese menace; and they are ready to go to almost any length to break the Jap monopoly … Continue reading →

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Carter Calls on Iran to Free Hostages

Posted on February 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 20, 1980:  Storms kill 22 people across the Southland, including 13 in Los Angeles County. President Carter demands that Iran release 53 American hostages, then in their 108th day of captivity,  and the Fed raises interest rates to … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Politics | Comments Off on Carter Calls on Iran to Free Hostages

Voices — Alexander Haig, 1924 – 2010

Posted on February 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

"As of now, I am in control here in the White House pending return of the vice president and (I am) in close touch with him." — Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr.,on the transfer of power after the … Continue reading →

Posted in Obituaries, Politics | 2 Comments