Richard Nixon watched 'All In the Family'
March 3, 2009 4:25 PM Subscribe
"the son-in-law apparently goes both ways"
Huh. I would've expected it from Gloria, but not Meat... hey wait a minute.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 4:31 PM on March 3, 2009
Huh. I would've expected it from Gloria, but not Meat... hey wait a minute.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 4:31 PM on March 3, 2009
Jesus Christ.
posted by geos at 4:31 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by geos at 4:31 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
I love Alex Jones. The guy is sounding more and more sane to me, which makes me think the world is getting crazier and crazier.
posted by jayder at 4:32 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by jayder at 4:32 PM on March 3, 2009
Also:
Metafilter: it's fatal liberality
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 4:32 PM on March 3, 2009
Metafilter: it's fatal liberality
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 4:32 PM on March 3, 2009
He wears an ascot and so forth and he uses the language.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:33 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by mr_roboto at 4:33 PM on March 3, 2009
I saw that the other day on Andrew Sullivan's blog. So gays and weed were responsible for the downfall of all empires, apparently.
posted by delmoi at 4:35 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by delmoi at 4:35 PM on March 3, 2009
WOW that's an... interesting... place for a fourteen second beep.
posted by Flunkie at 4:37 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Flunkie at 4:37 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
WOW that's an... interesting... place for a fourteen second beep.
the internet seems to think that he was talking about hoover... but you never know.
posted by geos at 4:38 PM on March 3, 2009
the internet seems to think that he was talking about hoover... but you never know.
posted by geos at 4:38 PM on March 3, 2009
That is outstanding. It almost sounds like something Tarantino would have written. "Let me tell you what 'Archie's Guys' [sic] is about - it's all about this queer, in an ascot...'
posted by brandman at 4:38 PM on March 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by brandman at 4:38 PM on March 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
This has to be some kind of viral thing for Ellroy's Blood's a Rover, because this is exactly how Ellroy would write Nixon.
posted by The Straightener at 4:42 PM on March 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by The Straightener at 4:42 PM on March 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Nixon had an ...unusual habit of wondering how many "queers" where in any one place at any time. It keeps coming up in stories about him.
posted by The Whelk at 4:43 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by The Whelk at 4:43 PM on March 3, 2009
That's what's happened to Metafilter: the homosexuals... the Russians... the single mothers. I mean, we all know that mathowie is sleeping with prostitutes, that's been going on forever. But won't somebody think of the children.
posted by Dumsnill at 4:47 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by Dumsnill at 4:47 PM on March 3, 2009
Nixon: im not against it for any moral reason. its just the immorality of it.
good, clear, strong, and principled that Nixon was.
posted by Glibpaxman at 4:48 PM on March 3, 2009
good, clear, strong, and principled that Nixon was.
posted by Glibpaxman at 4:48 PM on March 3, 2009
WOW that's an... interesting... place for a fourteen second beep.
Struck me as very, very odd too. Perhaps what's being beeped out is Nixon describing a homosexual encounter of his own? One can only wonder.
posted by ornate insect at 4:49 PM on March 3, 2009
Struck me as very, very odd too. Perhaps what's being beeped out is Nixon describing a homosexual encounter of his own? One can only wonder.
posted by ornate insect at 4:49 PM on March 3, 2009
Perhaps what's being beeped out is Nixon describing a homosexual encounter of his own? One can only wonder.
If I had to guess, and obviously I do, I'd say he was talking about a gay relative.
posted by stammer at 5:00 PM on March 3, 2009
If I had to guess, and obviously I do, I'd say he was talking about a gay relative.
posted by stammer at 5:00 PM on March 3, 2009
Perhaps what's being beeped out is Nixon describing a homosexual encounter of his own? One can only wonder.
Perhaps Nixon was discussing a probe from J. Edgar Hoover.
posted by jonp72 at 5:01 PM on March 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Perhaps Nixon was discussing a probe from J. Edgar Hoover.
posted by jonp72 at 5:01 PM on March 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Metafilter: Hot pants.
posted by ooga_booga at 5:07 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by ooga_booga at 5:07 PM on March 3, 2009
"Nixon had an ...unusual habit of wondering how many 'queers' where in any one place at any time. It keeps coming up in stories about him."
The queers and the Jews, always speculating about the Jews. But Nixon was always such a people person.
posted by krinklyfig at 5:19 PM on March 3, 2009
The queers and the Jews, always speculating about the Jews. But Nixon was always such a people person.
posted by krinklyfig at 5:19 PM on March 3, 2009
Golly, I sure hope nobody gets the idea that Nixon had peculiar views and attitudes.
There is nothing in the transcript the least bit remarkable for an American his age at that time.
Nothing.
posted by hexatron at 5:32 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
There is nothing in the transcript the least bit remarkable for an American his age at that time.
Nothing.
posted by hexatron at 5:32 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Original link to Harper's. (Subscription required.)
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 5:33 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 5:33 PM on March 3, 2009
So, according to paranoid crackpots, the ultimate force of evil in the world would be some kind of Gay Jewish Mason?
Hmm.
I could convert, but I don't know of any lodges around here.
posted by The Whelk at 5:35 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Hmm.
I could convert, but I don't know of any lodges around here.
posted by The Whelk at 5:35 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
"There is nothing in the transcript the least bit remarkable for an American his age at that time."
Except for, ya know, those Americans who were gay, black, Mexican, or lived in San Francisco.
posted by kanewai at 5:43 PM on March 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Except for, ya know, those Americans who were gay, black, Mexican, or lived in San Francisco.
posted by kanewai at 5:43 PM on March 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Some of those fellows (fashion designers), they have the flat-chested thing with horrible looking styles they run.
That was really the designers taking it out on the women. I'm sure of that.
Brilliant.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 5:53 PM on March 3, 2009
That was really the designers taking it out on the women. I'm sure of that.
Brilliant.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 5:53 PM on March 3, 2009
But what about the [unintelligible] Jews, Bob? What about the [unintelligible] Jews?
posted by [expletive deleted] at 6:00 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by [expletive deleted] at 6:00 PM on March 3, 2009
Okay, things get really weird in here. WTF is he talking about in this passage? I'm a little turned on.
NIXON: You remember when Pasadena had this thing about - many years ago, you know, where all the boys were out in the swimming pool, and well, they had to fire half of the faculty of the high school. This was before you were born. This was a terrible, terrible thing.
posted by mek at 6:01 PM on March 3, 2009
NIXON: You remember when Pasadena had this thing about - many years ago, you know, where all the boys were out in the swimming pool, and well, they had to fire half of the faculty of the high school. This was before you were born. This was a terrible, terrible thing.
posted by mek at 6:01 PM on March 3, 2009
Yeah, Nixon's transcripts are always good for a chuckle or two. The best part of the episode is when they're arguing about going on strike, Archie states that it causes, "your kids shoes to go up in price," to which the barfly replies, "not my kid's shoes, I buy Jap shoes," and at this moment I had a really surreal image of his kids wearing these bright neon limited edition Kanye West designed Japanese shoes.
posted by geoff. at 6:09 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by geoff. at 6:09 PM on March 3, 2009
"There is nothing in the transcript the least bit remarkable for an American his age at that time."
Not for a particular segment of conservative America. But not every president from that era or before spoke like he did. Johnson said some pretty embarrassing things in private, but Nixon was like a combination of Jesse Helms and Dick Cheney, as he was nakedly ambitious and corruptible because of it, and he was a racist and bigot. Brilliant guy, but when he went off on tangents about his pet theories, well, he's just sorta nutty, kinda paranoid and suspicious of everyone. Not a guy you want in charge of the Big Red Button. But then neither was Bush II, for some different reasons.
posted by krinklyfig at 6:15 PM on March 3, 2009
Not for a particular segment of conservative America. But not every president from that era or before spoke like he did. Johnson said some pretty embarrassing things in private, but Nixon was like a combination of Jesse Helms and Dick Cheney, as he was nakedly ambitious and corruptible because of it, and he was a racist and bigot. Brilliant guy, but when he went off on tangents about his pet theories, well, he's just sorta nutty, kinda paranoid and suspicious of everyone. Not a guy you want in charge of the Big Red Button. But then neither was Bush II, for some different reasons.
posted by krinklyfig at 6:15 PM on March 3, 2009
Heh - I just went and watched the episode in question. The point where Nixon said he "turned the goddamn thing off" because he "couldn't listen anymore" was essentially the end of the show. The spot he claimed he turned it off turns out to be the final commercial break, with literally only a one minute closing gag left.
posted by Flunkie at 6:22 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Flunkie at 6:22 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
So he talks about how great the Russians are for 'rooting them out', then in his next sentence talks about how the communists are forcing homosexuality onto society?
posted by Midnight Rambler at 6:37 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by Midnight Rambler at 6:37 PM on March 3, 2009
Of course! They have to force them to become gay before rooting them out! Classic Commie efficiency! Wake up people!
posted by The Whelk at 6:38 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by The Whelk at 6:38 PM on March 3, 2009
Except for, ya know, those Americans who were gay, black, Mexican, or lived in San Francisco.
No, even those guys mostly agreed with the nixonian sentiment, except for some members of their own particular subgroup. And howcome you left out jews?
posted by hexatron at 6:48 PM on March 3, 2009
Metafilter: the enemy of strong societies.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 6:52 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 6:52 PM on March 3, 2009
Television Without Pity.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:55 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by kirkaracha at 6:55 PM on March 3, 2009
The sentiments that Nixon expressed wouldn't have been exactly outside of the mainstream in San Francisco (or many other major American cities) in 1971. Nixon got 34% of the vote in San Francisco in 1968 and 40% of the vote in 1972, and his views about the direction of American society were no secret. Sure, Humphrey and McGovern won, but Nixon's were not microscopic numbers.
posted by blucevalo at 7:36 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by blucevalo at 7:36 PM on March 3, 2009
Sure Nixon lied. But his great downfall was that he was too honest.
This tape proves it. Nixon was exactly what he portrayed himself to be.
posted by Afroblanco at 7:47 PM on March 3, 2009
This tape proves it. Nixon was exactly what he portrayed himself to be.
posted by Afroblanco at 7:47 PM on March 3, 2009
While Nixon's comments aren't that out of place for a Republican his age in the 1970s, that's not what's worrisome about the clip.
What's worrisome about it is that President Nixon has no idea what he's talking about, no idea that he doesn't know what he's talking about, and is fully confident that he knows what he's talking about.
In a position of power, this is extremely dangerous, as the last 8 years have shown.
There is not much to like about Nixon. However...
...however, unlike Bush, from time to time, Nixon could actually be smart. Nixon was ignorant on many issues where he didn't realize his ignorance. He was also smart on a number of issues where he had confidence. Only Nixon could go to China, as they say. And he was a brilliant politician and the kitchen debate with Khruschev will rightly go down in history.
What makes Bush so damning is that Bush has no successes to lay claim to. Not a single one. He was ignorant, ignorant of his ignorance, confident without competence, and did not do a single goddamn thing right.
So let Nixon rant about homosexuality. It's hard to stay mad at a corrupt competent guy after living through a corrupt incompetent guy.
posted by BrianBoyko at 8:02 PM on March 3, 2009 [4 favorites]
What's worrisome about it is that President Nixon has no idea what he's talking about, no idea that he doesn't know what he's talking about, and is fully confident that he knows what he's talking about.
In a position of power, this is extremely dangerous, as the last 8 years have shown.
There is not much to like about Nixon. However...
...however, unlike Bush, from time to time, Nixon could actually be smart. Nixon was ignorant on many issues where he didn't realize his ignorance. He was also smart on a number of issues where he had confidence. Only Nixon could go to China, as they say. And he was a brilliant politician and the kitchen debate with Khruschev will rightly go down in history.
What makes Bush so damning is that Bush has no successes to lay claim to. Not a single one. He was ignorant, ignorant of his ignorance, confident without competence, and did not do a single goddamn thing right.
So let Nixon rant about homosexuality. It's hard to stay mad at a corrupt competent guy after living through a corrupt incompetent guy.
posted by BrianBoyko at 8:02 PM on March 3, 2009 [4 favorites]
Wow, simply amazing. " The last six Roman emperors were fags."
posted by PHINC at 8:10 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by PHINC at 8:10 PM on March 3, 2009
Mister, we could use a man like Richard Nixon again.
posted by swell at 8:41 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by swell at 8:41 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
It's hard to stay mad at a corrupt competent guy after living through a corrupt incompetent guy.
I think that conundrum was what did in Hunter S. Thompson...
Richard Nixon is gone now and I am poorer for it. He was the real thing--a political monster straight out of Grendel and a very dangerous enemy. He could shake your hand and stab you in the back at the same time. He lied to his friends and betrayed the trust of his family. Not even Gerald Ford, the unhappy ex-president who pardoned Nixon and kept him out of prison, was immune to the evil fallout. Ford, who believes strongly in Heaven and Hell, has told more than one of his celebrity golf partners that I know I will go to hell, because I pardoned Richard Nixon."
http://www.counterpunch.org/thompson02212005.html
posted by geos at 9:01 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
I think that conundrum was what did in Hunter S. Thompson...
Richard Nixon is gone now and I am poorer for it. He was the real thing--a political monster straight out of Grendel and a very dangerous enemy. He could shake your hand and stab you in the back at the same time. He lied to his friends and betrayed the trust of his family. Not even Gerald Ford, the unhappy ex-president who pardoned Nixon and kept him out of prison, was immune to the evil fallout. Ford, who believes strongly in Heaven and Hell, has told more than one of his celebrity golf partners that I know I will go to hell, because I pardoned Richard Nixon."
http://www.counterpunch.org/thompson02212005.html
posted by geos at 9:01 PM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
The thing that kills me is that these guys had time to sit around and jaw about All In The Family? Goldbrickers, get your asses back to work.
posted by Xoebe at 10:04 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by Xoebe at 10:04 PM on March 3, 2009
Rogerbelle was played by none other than Anthony Geary -- Luke of General Hospital fame.
There are also bunches of YouTube videos showing guys trying to lift chairs (or more correctly, lift one and stand up).
posted by dhartung at 10:18 PM on March 3, 2009
There are also bunches of YouTube videos showing guys trying to lift chairs (or more correctly, lift one and stand up).
posted by dhartung at 10:18 PM on March 3, 2009
"14 Second Beep" is totally the name of my next band.
posted by freebird at 11:11 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by freebird at 11:11 PM on March 3, 2009
'the [unintelligible] Jews' is totally the name of mine.
posted by mazola at 11:42 PM on March 3, 2009
posted by mazola at 11:42 PM on March 3, 2009
Thank you, thank you, Nixon for installing that secret microphone. Please, please, someone tell me W did the same.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:41 AM on March 4, 2009
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:41 AM on March 4, 2009
HALDEMAN: He has this hippie son-in-law, and usually the general trend is to downgrade him and upgrade the son-in-law--make the square hard hat out to be bad.
I have worked in a factory and in all fairness, a square hard hat would be bad.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:04 AM on March 4, 2009
I have worked in a factory and in all fairness, a square hard hat would be bad.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:04 AM on March 4, 2009
So he talks about how great the Russians are for 'rooting them out', then in his next sentence talks about how the communists are forcing homosexuality onto society?
I believe his idea was that the Communists, whom he seemed to admire for their ruthlessness and lack of regard for their own citizens, had found a way to export homosexuality from Russia to the States as a way to corrupt and weaken American society. Much the way crusaders would fling plague-ridden corpses over city walls.
I'm going to listen to more of these recordings - the level of paranoia is just staggering. Especially as it is expressed in the course of otherwise very banal conversations.
posted by mammary16 at 4:52 PM on March 4, 2009
I believe his idea was that the Communists, whom he seemed to admire for their ruthlessness and lack of regard for their own citizens, had found a way to export homosexuality from Russia to the States as a way to corrupt and weaken American society. Much the way crusaders would fling plague-ridden corpses over city walls.
I'm going to listen to more of these recordings - the level of paranoia is just staggering. Especially as it is expressed in the course of otherwise very banal conversations.
posted by mammary16 at 4:52 PM on March 4, 2009
Boy, for as much as Nixon talked about turning the show off in disgust, he watched pretty much the entire thing.
posted by paisley henosis at 10:14 PM on March 4, 2009
posted by paisley henosis at 10:14 PM on March 4, 2009
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posted by turgid dahlia at 4:29 PM on March 3, 2009 [2 favorites]