Real Time 1960s: Recent Episodes
Joe Rubenstein
Real Time 1960s tells the story of the 1960s -- politics, culture, entertainment, sports -- day by day.
A massacre in Texas; Martin Luther King attacked; Beatle ban in the Bible Belt; Lenny Bruce dies; Nixon in Saigon; Muhammad Ali wins again. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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Riots in Chicago; eight nurses murdered; Beatles attacked in Manila; Hanoi talks tough; a long fast is ended; All-Star Game played in St. Louis. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In Vietnam, a U.S. Army captain orders a napalm strike on his own position; in South Africa, Robert Kennedy speaks out; in Mississippi, the "March against Fear" picks up steam; a merger in pro football; a retrial for Dr. Sam Sheppard; Sonny Siebert makes baseball history. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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Buddhist students riot in Vietnam; Ronald Reagan slams Berkeley; Billy Graham crusades in London; Andy Warhol brings "The Exploding Plastic Inevitable" to San Francisco; a Santa Barbara judge orders sterilization or jail; Muhammad Ali retains his title. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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Dr. Timothy Leary is arrested; MLK speaks out against the war; Bill Russell breaks a racial barrier; a surprise winner at the Oscars; a sweep in the NHL playoffs; Muhammad Ali has a message for his next opponent. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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The Viet Cong launch a terrorist attack; Martin Luther King visits Stockholm; South Boston schoolboys attack antiwar protestors; Indira Gandhi visits New York; the Air Force investigates UFO's; Muhammad Ali takes on George Chuvalo. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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Hubert Humphrey and RFK clash over Vietnam; Rockefeller cracks down on narcotics; Demonstrators picket LBJ's New York speech; Cary Grant is a father; Muhammad Ali won't apologize; Koufax and Drysdale continue their holdout. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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More U.S. troops headed for Vietnam; LBJ defends his war policy; Ronald Reagan surges in the California gubernatorial race; Sony brings video into the home; Batman is a hit; an NBA doubleheader at Convention Hall. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In Vietnam, intense fighting in the Ia Drang Valley; in Chile, pro-Communist students spit on RFK; in Orlando, Walt Disney announces a new project; Joan Baez talks peace; Hugh Hefner expands his empire; Muhammad Ali gets set for Floyd Patterson. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our 7th- and 6th-ranked films for 1965, a disaster film starring James Stewart and directed by Robert Aldrich and a drama starring Steve McQueen and Edward G. Robinson.
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L.A. rioting brings death and destruction; U.S. Marines hit the Viet Cong; the Beatles hit Minneapolis; Juan Marichal hits John Roseboro; Jim Maloney achieves baseball immortality. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our 8th-ranked film for 1965, a psychological thriller directed by Roman Polanski and starring Catherine Deneuve as a psychotic manicurist.
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Adlai Stevenson collapses and dies; Robert McNamara heads for Saigon; Sinatra plays Forest Hills; Viet Cong forces multiply; a legendary stunt pilot is killed; National League All-Stars reign supreme. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our 9th-ranked film for 1965, “Pierrot le Fou,” a French New Wave film written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Anna Karina, and we touch on many of Godard’s other ’60s films as well.
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LBJ kicks off Project Head Start; Queen Elizabeth visits West Berlin; U.S. destroyers shell the Viet Cong; John Lindsay runs for Mayor of NYC; Muhammad Ali defends his title. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our 10th-ranked film for 1965, “The Sons of Katie Elder,” a Western directed by Henry Hathaway and starring John Wayne. We also rank the top five Wayne films of all time.
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LBJ sends troops to the Dominican Republican; a teen sniper terrorizes California motorists; Edward R. Murrow is dead; North Vietnamese soldiers infiltrate the South; the Canadiens are NHL champions. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our No. 1 film for 1964, “Dr. Strangelove,” Stanley Kubrick’s nightmare comedy dealing with Cold War fears of nuclear war.
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MLK leads marchers from Selma to Montgomery; accusations of gas warfare in Vietnam; RFK scales Mt. Kennedy; Viola Liuzzo is murdered; two astronauts are honored; the NBA playoffs are off and running. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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Malcolm X is assassinated; Barry Goldwater speaks out on Vietnam; Patricia Neal suffers two strokes; James Baldwin debates William F. Buckley; the Celtics roll; Stan Laurel is dead. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our No. 2 film for 1964, “A Fistful of Dollars,” the first true Spaghetti Western that launched the careers of director Sergio Leone, star Clint Eastwood, and composer Ennio Morricone.
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MLK and thousands of others arrested in Selma; LBJ stands firm on Vietnam; Gen. Curtis LeMay steps down; Malcolm X excoriates Elijah Muhammad; Muhammad Ali praises Floyd Patterson. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our 3rd-ranked film for 1964, “Seven Days in May,” a political thriller directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Fredric March, Edmond O’Brien, and Ava Gardner.
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LBJ delivers his State of the Union; MLK plans a campaign in Selma; Senate divided over Vietnam; “Ready Steady Go!” bans miming; Malcolm X speaks out; Joe Namath signs with the Jets. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our 4th-ranked film for 1964, “A Hard Day’s Night,” the Beatles’ big-screen debut, which critic Andrew Sarris called “the Citizen Kane of jukebox musicals.”
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LBJ decorates a Vietnam hero; Berkeley police arrest 800 students; J.W. Fulbright speaks out on Vietnam; Ringo gets his tonsils out; Dr. King wins the Nobel Prize; Muhammad Ali is on the mend. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our 5th-ranked film for 1964, “Nothing but a Man,” a groundbreaking production starring Ivan Dixon and Abbey Lincoln which deals with contemporary black life in the Deep South.
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Khrushchev is replaced; Ronald Reagan switches parties; RFK seeks to change his image; MLK wins the Nobel Peace Prize; the Cardinals are champions. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our 7th and 6th-ranked films for 1964, “Goldfinger,” the third James Bond film, and “The Soft Skin,” French New Wave director Francois Truffaut's “clinical autopsy of adultery.”
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Robert F. Kennedy resigns from the Cabinet; President Johnson speaks in Detroit; controversy over a school integration plan in NYC; Hell’s Angels wreak havoc in Monterey; the Beatles invade Toronto; Checkers is dead. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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Violence in the Gulf of Tonkin; a Congressional resolution on Southeast Asia; a grim discovery in Mississippi; Ranger 7 sends pictures of the moon; LBJ speaks out on Vietnam; Giants manager Alvin Dark is on the defensive. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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Rioting in Harlem and Brooklyn; news coverage in Vietnam set to expand; the search for three civil rights workers continues; Malcolm X speaks out on Barry Goldwater; George Wallace withdraws; the Phillies are riding high. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our 8th-ranked film for 1964, “The Pawnbroker,” a drama directed by Sidney Lumet about a Holocaust survivor played by Rod Steiger.
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The search for three missing civil rights workers continues; departing Ambassador Lodge sees progress in Vietnam; Sen. Edward Kennedy recovers from a deadly plane crash; new requirements on cigarette packaging; Jim Bunning pitches a perfect game. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our 10th and 9th-ranked films of 1964, “The Naked Kiss,” a neo-noir directed by Samuel Fuller, and “That Man from Rio,” a French adventure-comedy directed by Philippe De Broca and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Françoise Dorléac.
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LBJ envisions the "Great Society"; Reagan stumps for Goldwater; racial violence in St. Augustine; Malcolm X returns from Mecca; Jews patrol Crown Heights; Mickey Mantle slows down. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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LBJ speaks out against extremism; Communist atrocities in Vietnam; Barry Goldwater wins the Illinois primary; history is made at the Oscars; Shea Stadium opens for business. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our top-ranked film of 1963, “Hud,” directed by Martin Ritt and featuring an Oscar-nominated performance by Paul Newman and Oscar-winning performances by Patricia Neal and Melvyn Douglas.
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Six Americans are killed in Vietnam; Mississippi Freedom Summer is announced; two Senators want U.S. out of Vietnam; Jack Ruby is doomed; Malcolm X speaks out; Cassius Clay has a new name and is rejected by the Army. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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Robert McNamara briefs LBJ on Vietnam; Barry Goldwater speaks out; Robert Kennedy goes on the Jack Paar Show; Malcolm X defects from the Nation of Islam; the Celtics set another record. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we review our second-ranked film of 1963, Louis Malle’s haunting drama, "The Fire Within,” starring Maurice Ronet.
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President Johnson speaks out on Vietnam; the Presidential primary campaign heats up; Malcolm X at odds with Elijah Muhammad; the Tax Bill is signed; the Beatles go home; Cassius Clay shocks the world. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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LBJ holds his first televised news conference; MLK visits Milwaukee; another coup d’état in South Vietnam; Sen. Margaret Chase Smith announces a Presidential run; “Louie Louie” is called “pornographic”; Cassius Clay creates chaos. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we move on to our fourth and third-ranked films of 1963, Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low” and Stanley Donen’s “Charade,” starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.
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The long-awaited Federal report on smoking is released; RFK sent on troubleshooting mission; Lieut. Gen. Westmoreland will replace Gen. Harkins in South Vietnam; LBJ gives his State of the Union — Goldwater responds; Mrs. Kennedy thanks the public; the NBA All-Stars almost go on strike. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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President Johnson meets with Chancellor Erhard; Harry Truman speaks out; Nikita Khrushchev predicts U.S. defeat in Vietnam; Martin Luther King is Time’s Man of the Year; Roy Campanella brings Christmas cheer to a paralyzed jockey; the Chicago Bears are champions of the NFL. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we move on to our fifth-ranked film of 1963, Alfred Hitchcock's “The Birds.” At the end, we reveal our ranked list of the Top 10 films of Hitchcock’s entire career.
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President Johnson announces the formation of the Warren Commission; Governor Connally speaks out; Jack Ruby is indicted; Cape Canaveral is renamed; Staubach wins the Heisman Trophy. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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This report covers the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald as well as memorial ceremonies for President Kennedy. Included are clips of Lee Harvey Oswald issuing his last public denial of guilt; Ike Pappas of WNEW-AM describing the shooting as it happened; Police Detective Jim Leavelle, who stood next to Oswald when he was shot; Steve Landregan, Parkland Hospital administrator; Dr. Tom Shires, chief of surgery at Parkland; Joy Dale, a dancer at Jack Ruby’s nightclub; Richard Nixon commenting on the murder of Oswald; and Chief Justice Earl Warren eulogizing President Kennedy. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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This report covers the assassination of President Kennedy from all angles. Included are clips of the President at various events just prior to his death; Walter Cronkite of CBS News; Acting White House Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff; UPI Reporter Bill Hampton; Lyndon Johnson as he takes the oath and then delivers remarks at Andrews Air Force Base; Lee Harvey Oswald; Ted Callaway, who witnessed the shooting of Officer J.D. Tippit and picked Oswald out of a police lineup; two Dallas police officers who helped arrest Oswald; Dallas Police Sergeant Gerald Hill, who describes what was found on the 6th floor of the Texas Schoolbook Depository; Dwight D. Eisenhower; Martin Luther King; everyday citizens in Chicago and New York, including a policeman in Times Square; Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry; and Dallas Judge David Johnston. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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President Kennedy defends his foreign aid program; a changing of the guard in South Vietnam; the pushbutton telephone arrives; the nation honors its war veterans; George C. Scott solicits feedback; Cassius Clay hears from the military draft board. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In Indianapolis, an explosion kills at least 62 people; in Philadelphia, President Kennedy is met by protestors; in South Vietnam, three Americans are captured; demonstrators assault Chief Justice Warren; Madame Nhu is snubbed in Los Angeles; Sandy Koufax wins another big award. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we move on to our sixth-ranked film of 1963, "The Organizer," an Italian strike drama directed by Mario Monicelli and starring the great Marcello Mastroianni (“8½”).
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The South Vietnamese crisis deepens; state troopers go on the attack at a voter registration drive in Alabama; President Kennedy talks 1964; the nuclear test ban treaty is signed; the Valachi Hearings are criticized; the Dodgers are set for a big payday. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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Twenty-two U.S. Senators speak out on Vietnam; in the Deep South, schools in four states are integrated; a serial strangler terrorizes Boston; Robert Kennedy speaks to American Indians; Frank Sinatra is linked to a mobster; the Yankees clinch their 28th pennant. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we move on to our seventh-ranked film of 1963, "The Great Escape," which marked career turning points for Steve McQueen, James Garner, and James Coburn.
In this episode:
- Background on director John Sturges [2:07]
- Difficulties with Steve McQueen [5:58]
- How Sturges helped viewers remember so many characters [8:31]
- Where the filmmakers deviated from the facts of the 1944 escape [11:44]
- Placing the film in the context of 1963 [15:15]
- Scenes deleted from the final cut [18:38]
- Facts on casting, storytelling structure, musical soundtrack [22:30]
For an additional podcast on McQueen's role in this film and in two others, click here.
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President Kennedy speaks out on Vietnam; Governor Wallace blocks integration of Alabama public schools; two young women are brutally murdered in New York City; the Beatles take Britain by storm; Whitey Ford joins an elite group; a blast from the past at the Polo Grounds. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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The South Vietnamese Buddhist crisis worsens dramatically; a Birmingham civil rights leader's home is bombed; security measures are announced for next week's March on Washington; the Castro regime is charged with kidnapping; General Eisenhower signals support for the test ban treaty; a massive brawl breaks out at Yankee Stadium. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we move on to our 8th-ranked film of 1963, "Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment," a groundbreaking example of "direct cinema" that provides fly-on-the-wall coverage of the the 1963 integration crisis at the University of Alabama. In addition, we discuss the other Kennedy films of Robert Drew and offer recommendations of some other direct cinema films of the '60s, including "Mills of the Gods: Viet Nam" (1965).
Link to documentary: "Mills of the Gods: Viet Nam"
President Kennedy speaks at the Naval Academy; Barry Goldwater hits the radical left; possible coup in South Vietnam; Marlon Brando is heckled; Cassius Clay cuts a record; Sonny Liston has a spiritual guide. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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D.C. police get ready for a massive civil rights march; South Vietnamese Government forces crack down on Buddhists; Richard Nixon defends Barry Goldwater; Marlon Brando is hospitalized; Floyd Patterson needs a miracle. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we move on to our ninth-ranked film of 1963, "This Sporting Life," directed by Lindsay Anderson and starring Richard Harris and Rachel Roberts.
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West Berliners cheer President Kennedy; N.J. Governor Hughes scores a major coup; the Mississippi D.A. seeks the death penalty for Byron De La Beckwith; the Viet Cong set booby traps; Malcolm X speaks out; Sonny Liston bites back at Cassius Clay. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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The University of Alabama is integrated; Medgar Evers is assassinated; a Vietnamese Buddhist monk sets himself on fire; President Kennedy talks peace; New Yorkers talk “Cleopatra”; the Yankees and Dodgers are on the rise. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we commence our survey of the top 10 films of 1963 with a deep dive into our 10th-ranked film, "From Russia with Love."
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In Washington, cheers for astronaut Gordon Cooper; in Vietnam, a major Communist attack; in New York, a premature birthday party for President Kennedy; Martin Luther King speaks out; Koufax gets hit; Mickey Mantle launches a baseball into outer space. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In Birmingham, negotiators call a truce in the racial crisis; in Vietnam, a U.S. Army lieutenant is killed; in Boston, another young woman is strangled; Harry Truman takes a call from the President; the Dodger offense finally explodes. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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President Kennedy hits back at Richard Nixon on Cuba; Martin Luther King is released from Birmingham city jail; the Communist Viet Cong score another victory; a white integrationist is murdered; the clock is ticking on the New York World’s Fair; the Boston Celtics reign supreme. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we complete our survey of the top 10 films of 1962 with an examination of our No. 1 film, "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Click here to listen to 1962 Top 10 Films pt. 1
Click here to listen to 1962 Top 10 Films pt. 2
Click here to listen to 1962 Top 10 Films pt. 3
Click here to listen to 1962 Top 10 Films pt. 4
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The U.S. government cracks down on Cuban exile leaders in Miami; Mississippi police break up a voter registration march; President Kennedy hits back at former President Eisenhower; the New York newspaper strike is over; Steve McQueen speaks out; Duke Snider is coming home. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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President Kennedy reviews his trip to Costa Rica; Malcolm X speaks out; nuclear test ban treaty talks hit a roadblock; boxer Davey Moore is hospitalized; Alcatraz is closed; the Big O puts on a show in the NBA playoffs. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this episode, we continue our look at the top 10 films of 1962 with an examination of our second-ranked film, "Days of Wine and Roses," starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick and directed by Blake Edwards.
Click here to listen to 1962 Top 10 Films pt. 1
Click here to listen to 1962 Top 10 Films pt. 2
Click here to listen to 1962 Top 10 Films pt. 3
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President Kennedy responds to Republican charges; Richard Nixon appears on the Jack Paar Show; General Harkins calls 1963 a year of decision in Vietnam; Mickey Mantle has a new contract; Cassius Clay has a new poem; Patsy Cline is dead. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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The New York newspaper strike continues with no end in sight; in South Vietnam, new rules of engagement are announced; a Hollywood T.V. writer brutally murders his wife; Lenny Bruce is arrested; an NBA referee is attacked; Frank Robinson has a new contract. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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NBA: Celtics vs. Nats, Hawks vs. Royals, Lakers vs. Pistons. MLB: Yankee reliever Marshall Bridges is shot, Bob Gibson and Maury Wills sign contracts, Cardinal manager Johnny Keane talks 1963. NHL: Bruins vs. Canadiens. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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Today's episode covers our third-ranked film released in 1962: Sam Peckinpah's "Ride the High Country," starring Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott.
Click here to listen to 1962 Top 10 Films pt. 1
Click here to listen to 1962 Top 10 Films pt. 2
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Defense Secretary Robert McNamara updates the nation on Soviet missiles in Cuba; search teams scour the jungles of South Vietnam for a missing U.S. pilot; President Kennedy speaks out on faith; David Janssen stars in "The Fugitive"; Wilt Chamberlain sets another NBA record. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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President Kennedy addresses lingering controversy over the Bay of Pigs invasion; a white University of Mississippi student who befriended James Meredith is attacked; Khrushchev offers a compromise on nuclear test inspections; the Democrats prepare for 1964; Stanley Kubrick prepares an explosive new film; Cassius Clay fulfills another prediction. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this second installment of a 3-part episode, we continue our look at the top 10 films of 1962. Today: "Birdman of Alcatraz," "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," and "The Manchurian Candidate." Click here to listen to Part 1.
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In this first installment of a 3-part episode, we look at the top 10 films of 1962. Today, Nos. 10-7: "Dr. No," "Cape Fear," "Lawrence of Arabia" and "David and Lisa."
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President Kennedy speaks out on Cuba; South Vietnam's President Diem shakes up the armed forces; John Steinbeck accepts the Nobel Prize; a newspaper strike hits New York City; California psychiatrists warn about LSD; Cassius Clay takes questions. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In Washington, President Kennedy makes a decision on Cuba; in Vietnam, the U.S. uncovers a Communist assassination plot; Thurgood Marshall speaks in Harlem; Marlon Brando meets the press in Australia; and a shocking upset in the NFL. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In a speech of extraordinary gravity, President Kennedy tells the American people that the Soviet Union, contrary to promises, has been building offensive missile and bomber bases in Cuba. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In a speech of extraordinary gravity, President Kennedy tells the American people that the Soviet Union, contrary to promises, has been building offensive missile and bomber bases in Cuba. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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Hundreds riot after James Meredith is admitted to Ole Miss; Robert F. Kennedy swears in a new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Dr. Martin Luther King is assaulted; the Dodgers are in trouble; Cassius Clay has a lot to say. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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Hundreds riot after James Meredith is admitted to Ole Miss; Robert F. Kennedy swears in a new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Dr. Martin Luther King is assaulted; the Dodgers are in trouble; Cassius Clay has a lot to say. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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President Kennedy speaks out on Cuba; two Negro churches are burned in Georgia; convicted spy Robert Soblen commits suicide; Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" is criticized; Lenny Bruce is banned in Sydney; Jimmy Piersall is arrested in Baltimore. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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President Kennedy speaks out on Cuba; two Negro churches are burned in Georgia; convicted spy Robert Soblen commits suicide; Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" is criticized; Lenny Bruce is banned in Sydney; Jimmy Piersall is arrested in Baltimore. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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President Kennedy speaks out on Cuba; a Federal challenge to Mississippi voting laws; Edward Kennedy takes a beating; NYPD volunteers dress up; Justice Felix Frankfurter steps down; Dodger fans hold their breath. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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President Kennedy speaks out on Cuba; a Federal challenge to Mississippi voting laws; Edward Kennedy takes a beating; NYPD volunteers dress up; Justice Felix Frankfurter steps down; Dodger fans hold their breath. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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President Kennedy speaks out on the space race; a verdict on the death of Marilyn Monroe; a Phoenix TV host has an abortion; a Soviet buildup in Cuba; rioting in West Berlin; Vice President Johnson leaves on a foreign tour. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In Washington, President Kennedy honors a hero doctor; in Georgia, the Justice Department backs Negro demonstrators; in Sweden, a Phoenix T.V. host seeks an abortion; President Kennedy is serenaded; Elizabeth Duncan is executed; Marilyn Monroe is laid to rest. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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The Senate rejects President Kennedy’s health care bill; Egyptian President Nasser threatens Israel; Europeans get a live look at American baseball; Dr. King addresses the National Press Club; the Baseball Hall of Fame has four new members. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In Washington, President Kennedy takes in a ballgame; in Georgia, Dr. King goes to jail; at Cape Canaveral, Telstar is launched into orbit; Khrushchev talks tough; McNamara sees progress; the U.S. sets off a nuclear blast on the fringes of outer space. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In Mexico, President Kennedy continues his state visit; in Washington, the Supreme Court makes a controversial ruling; in Israel, a convicted spy seeks asylum; executions in Cuba; setbacks in South Vietnam; and Sandy Koufax makes history. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In Washington, President Kennedy addresses the Peace Corps; in Michigan, Senator Mansfield speaks out on Vietnam; in San Diego, Dr. King meets the press; three convicts escape the Rock; Lee Remick gets money for nothing; the Mets take another beating. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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At West Point, President Kennedy issues a pardon; in Washington, the Surgeon General forms a committee; in California, Richard Nixon wins an election; the Viet Cong take prisoners; an ex-Marine comes home; and Marilyn Monroe is fired. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
In Washington, President Kennedy takes on the AMA; in Vietnam, an American general’s son is wounded; in Atlanta, Martin Luther King predicts the future; Marilyn Monroe is cheered at the Garden; Cassius Clay is booed at St. Nick’s; Rod Serling expands "The Twilight Zone." Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
In Washington, President Kennedy explains a derogatory statement; in Los Angeles, Black Muslims clash with police; in Kansas City, Vice President Johnson honors Harry Truman; Secretary McNamara goes to South Vietnam; Stanley Kubrick plans an explosive new film; and the Bronx Bombers are heating up. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
In Washington, President Kennedy triumphs over Big Steel; in New Orleans, the Archbishop excommunicates three segregationists; in Vietnam, the U.S. Secretary of the Army predicts victory; three East Berliners crash out; Jack Lemmon branches out; and a thrilling Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
In Washington, President Kennedy denounces Big Steel; in Europe, a sleeping pill causes thousands of birth defects; in Vietnam, Communist guerrillas murder two American prisoners; Hollywood turns out for the Oscars; the New York Mets make history; and Michael Curtiz is dead. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
We resume our look at the top individual athletic performances of 1961. Today: Jim Brown, Sonny Liston, and Willie Mays. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support! Click here for 1961: Top Six Athletes, pt. 1.
In Washington, President Kennedy defends his health care plan; in Algeria, French security forces battle right-wing terrorists; in Pakistan, the First Lady gets a warm welcome and a horse; a famous director bets on his own film; and a shocking revelation about the most famous home run in baseball history. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
In London, a health organization releases a report on cigarettes; in New York, conservatives and liberals stage dueling rallies; in Washington, President Kennedy asks America’s friends to do their share; a World War II anniversary is observed; an Oscar nomination is refused; and outfielder Jimmy Piersall speaks out. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
Astronaut John Glenn is honored at Cape Canaveral; Robert Kennedy draws huge crowds in West Berlin; J. Edgar Hoover speaks at Valley Forge; Robert McNamara sees improvement in Vietnam; and Roger Maris wants a bigger raise. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
The First Lady leads a tour of the White House; Republicans want straight talk on Vietnam; John Glenn’s orbital flight is postponed; President Kennedy backs the Boy Scouts; Stanley Kubrick courts controversy; Cassius Clay makes his Madison Square Garden debut. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
In this first installment of a 2-part episode, we cover the top individual athletic performances of 1961. Today: Wilt Chamberlain, Roger Maris, and Whitey Ford. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
President Kennedy confronts a reporter; Governor Brown ridicules Richard Nixon; Malcolm X debates Bayard Rustin; twenty-eight East Germans escape to freedom; the President endorses milk; two baseball legends are headed to the Hall of Fame. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
President Kennedy defends his civil rights record; Secretary Rusk heads to South America; thousands of women protest nuclear fallout; Senator Goldwater preaches conservatism; Malcolm X preaches racial separation; John Wayne signs on to a World War II epic. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
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In this second installment of a series on 1961, we cover the 2 most horrifying front-page crimes committed in the U.S. that year: a cross-country kill spree by a pair of ex-soldiers and the massacre on the yacht Bluebelle. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support! Link to pt. 1
In this Episode:
- Latham and York [2:30]
- Murderer Charles Starkweather [6:51]
- Notorious random killers of the 1960s [7:26]
- Capote's "In Cold Blood" [8:32]
- The Bluebelle massacre [11:26]
Links:
* Book: "In Cold Blood"
* Book: "Alone: Orphaned on the Ocean"
* Podcast Website
President Kennedy gets a warm welcome in Venezuela; Dr. Martin Luther King is jailed in Georgia; Adolf Eichmann is sentenced in Jerusalem; the President sends a Christmas message to Berlin; the Army sends war dogs to South Vietnam; and a Hollywood film premiere in a Cold War hot spot. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
Enjoy this first installment of a series on 1961. Today: the rise of the NFL, the Twist, the switch from black-and-white to color TV, Ingmar Bergman, the fear of nuclear war, Aretha Franklin and more. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support! Link to 1961, pt. 2
In this Episode:
- Bergman's "Through a Glass Darkly" [1:47]
- The South trending Republican [13:19]
- The Twist [16:17]
- Fear of nukes [19:03]
- The rise of the NFL [22:57]
- The rise of color TV [26:46]
- Aretha [29:32]
Links:
-
Podcast Website
-
Aretha Franklin and the Ray Bryant Combo on Spotify
A chimpanzee orbits the earth in a Project Mercury space capsule; a mob attacks five Freedom Riders at a Mississippi bus station; President Kennedy responds to reports of low morale among Reservists; Governor Rockefeller’s son is missing; the CIA has a new Director; and 19-year-old heavyweight Cassius Clay has his eye on the crown. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
In Seattle, President Kennedy speaks out on the Cold War; Congolese soldiers murder 13 U.N. peacekeepers; the National Security Council approves the President’s Vietnam policy; a young girl is rescued after drifting in the Atlantic for 82 hours; singer Ray Charles is arrested; gangster Joseph Gallo is found guilty; Speaker Sam Rayburn is dead. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
The Soviets explode the most powerful weapon ever created; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gets a mixed reception in Great Britain; President Kennedy hits the campaign trail; former Vice President Nixon gives Governor Rockefeller some advice; and a very good week for the man who caught Roger Maris's 61st home run ball. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
President Kennedy speaks out on the Berlin crisis; General Maxwell Taylor is headed to South Vietnam; Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie charges racial discrimination in Kansas City; Open warfare between rival factions of the New York underworld; Chico Marx is dead. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.
Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
Sixty years after "The Hustler" was released, Joe Rubenstein reveals personal observations and fascinating facts about the production, director, and cast of this riveting drama, starring Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, and Jackie Gleason. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
In this Episode:
- Director's background [2:18]
- Synopsis [8:07]
- Newman's reaction to script [14:05]
- What Scott "said" to Laurie in party scene [18:25]
- Newman's performance [25:13]
- Why Scott used middle initial [26:54]
- Why Scott rejected Oscar nomination [28:56]
- Did Gleason hustle Newman? [35:33]
- Music [36:58]
Links:
- Episode Transcript
- Piper Laurie's Autobiography
- George C. Scott's Biography
- Podcast Website
In this second installment of a two-part episode, host Joe Rubenstein takes an in-depth look at the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion and its many repercussions. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support! Link to pt. 1
In this Episode:
- What went wrong [1:44]
- Supporters and detractors [9:06]
- When & why RFK became the de facto V.P. [12:32]
- When & why JFK installed a taping system [13:11]
- CIA plans to assassinate Fidel Castro [17:03]
- What JFK knew about those plans [21:38]
- JFK’s political mop-up strategy [26:25]
- Why JFK’s poll numbers went up [31:22]
Links:
- Episode Transcript
- Podcast Website
In this first installment of a two-part episode, host Joe Rubenstein explores the evolution of the C.I.A. plan to invade Cuba and topple Premier Fidel Castro. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support! Link to pt. 2
In this Episode:
- A 1954 model for the Bay of Pigs invasion [1:43]
- The increasing friction between the U.S. and Castro [6:16]
- How Cuba impacted the 1960 presidential campaign [15:31]
- A fresh look at JFK’s foreign policy approach [21:34]
- The pressure on JFK to invade Cuba [24:38]
Links:
- Episode Transcript
- Podcast Website
In this second installment of a 2-part episode, host Joe Rubenstein discusses 3 of Steve McQueen's best films of the ‘60s -- "Nevada Smith" (1965), "The Sand Pebbles" (1966), and "Bullitt" (1968) -- and then ranks his top 10 films overall. Tons of behind-the-scenes trivia and analysis. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support! Link to Pt. 1
In this Episode:
- "Nevada Smith" [1:25]
- "The Sand Pebbles" [10:06]
- "Bullitt" [23:26]
- McQueen’s top 10 films overall [38:38]
Links:
- Episode Transcript
- Podcast Website
In this first installment of a two-part episode, host Joe Rubenstein explores the action-packed early life of Steve McQueen and discusses three of his best films of the 1960s: "The Magnificent Seven," "The Great Escape," and "The Cincinnati Kid.” Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support! Link to pt. 2
In this Episode:
- McQueen as first crossover star from TV to movies [0:49]
- Troubled youth [5:26]
- Merchant Marine, Marine Corps [12:16]
- New York [16:28]
- Marriage, Hollywood [20:45]
- "Wanted: Dead or Alive" [23:35]
- "The Magnificent Seven" [26:20]
- "The Great Escape" [33:01]
- "The Cincinnati Kid" [40:27]
Links:
- Episode Transcript
- Podcast Website
In this final installment of a two-part episode, host Joe Rubenstein tells the story of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann's capture by Israeli operatives in Argentina and the Nazi war criminal's trial, sentence, and execution. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support! Link to pt. 1
In this Episode:
- The Israeli plan to kidnap Eichmann [2:13]
- The snatch, holding him prisoner, transporting him to Israel [6:58]
- Trial, testimony, sentencing [19:15]
- The 1942 Lidice massacre [27:34]
- Eichmann’s spiritual counselor [32:17]
- Execution [33:28]
- Sixties books, films, and TV shows about WWII & the Holocaust [42:04]
- Why discussing these things continues to be necessary [46:27]
Links:
- Episode Transcript
- WWII Documentary “The World at War”
- “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,” by William Shirer
- “Night,” by Elie Wiesel
- Podcast Website
In this first installment of a two-part episode, host Joe Rubenstein explores the life and crimes of Holocaust organizer Adolf Eichmann, his years as a fugitive in Germany and Argentina, and the effort to bring this Nazi war criminal to justice. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support! Link to pt. 2
In this Episode:
- Eichmann’s early years in the Nazi party [1:03]
- Two critical junctures that massively accelerated the Holocaust [3:20]
- Eichmann’s 4-stage genocidal process [7:07]
- How Eichmann evaded detection in postwar Europe [14:43]
- Eichmann’s two big mistakes in Argentina [20:40]
- How Cold War politics affected the Eichmann case [28:11]
- Background on the Israeli team of operatives tasked with capturing Eichmann [32:30]
Links:
- Episode Transcript
- Book: “Hunting Eichmann,” by Neil Bascomb
- Podcast Website
David Pietrusza, author of "1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon: The Epic Campaign that Forged Three Presidencies," joins the show for a discussion of the latter stages of the 1960 race. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support! Link to Part 1
In this Episode:
- Nixon’s campaign mistakes [8:12]
- Did JFK's Catholicism hurt or help him? [11:29]
- JFK’s restricted usage of LBJ [15:51]
- RFK’s ruthlessness [18:15]
- Nixon’s psychotherapy [20:52]
- The African American vote [23:14]
- JFK’s amphetamine use [27:06]
- The debates [35:23]
- Voter fraud? [40:01]
- Did 1960 lead to Watergate? [42:57]
Links:
- Episode Transcript
- David Pietrusza’s book
- Podcast Website
Host Joe Rubenstein explains why 3 "Twilight Zone" episodes from 1960 are a cut above the rest. Deep analysis, fascinating trivia, and at the end, a few runners-up. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
In this Episode:
- Rod Serling’s work before "The Twilight Zone" [1:43]
- “A World of Difference,” S1, Ep. 3, aired 3/11/60 [8:00]
- “The Big Tall Wish,” S1, Ep. 27, aired 4/8/60 [20:35]
- “Eye of the Beholder,” S2, Ep. 6, aired 11/11/60 [36:41]
- Other great episodes from 1960 [50:37]
Links:
- Episode Transcript
- Podcast Website
Sixty years after "Psycho" terrorized moviegoers, Joe Rubenstein takes a deep dive into Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
In this Episode:
- Hitchcock’s motivations in making the film [4:12]
- His brilliant marketing campaign [14:03]
- All about the shower scene [20:07]
- Goofs [23:07]
- Bernard Herrmann’s musical genius [31:42]
- Insane Oscar snubs [34:49]
- ‘60s trends set by Psycho [36:47]
Links:
- Book: "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho"
- Episode Transcript
- Podcast Website
Dr. Gary Donaldson, author of "The First Modern Campaign: Kennedy, Nixon, and the Election of 1960," joins the show to discuss the early stages of the 1960 Presidential campaign. Please subscribe to this podcast, and thanks for your support!
In this Episode:
- What the Republican party looked like in 1960 [2:45]
- Eisenhower’s attitude toward Nixon [5:04]
- Why the left wing wasn't enthused about JFK [11:58]
- Why Eleanor Roosevelt opposed JFK [14:32]
- Why JFK picked Lyndon Johnson as running mate [26:16]
- About Nixon’s complicated relationship with New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller [29:30]
- Why Nixon’s choice of running mate may have hurt him [31:53]
Links:
- Episode Transcript
- Sequel to this episode
- Gary Donaldson’s book
- Podcast Website
