Extreme Mortman

September 30th, 1986, … the White House press briefing room … Here's President Ronald Reagan …

I am pleased to announce that General Secretary Gorbachev and I will meet October 11th and 12th in Reykjavik, Iceland. The meeting was proposed by General Secretary Gorbachev, and I've accepted. And it will take place in the context of preparations for the General Secretary's visit to the United States, which was agreed to at Geneva in November of '85. And I might say the United States and the Soviet Union appreciate the willingness of the Government of Iceland to make this meeting in Reykjavik possible.

40 years ago this week, in October 1986, President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev met in Iceland.

What happened in Reykjavik?

Was the Iceland meeting, as some suggest, a huge success?

Or was it, as others say, a disastrous failure?

What was the most iconic moment then — and what do we remember now?

And were the Americans and the Soviets really, as a new movie about that meeting says in its title, on the brink of war?

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As we near the end of the 2026 mid-term election, we'll soon be enjoying a whole new crop of non-presidential candidate concession speeches. And that makes this an ideal time for the C-SPAN podcast "Extreme Mortman" to appreciate the bounty of concession speeches with which we've already been blessed.

Yes -- it's time to consider the losers:

Which losers were gracious?

Which losers were angry?

Which losers used foul language?

Who was bitter?

And who refused even to concede?

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1962 … The California governor race … Here's the loser:

But as I leave you, I want you to know - just think how much you're going to be missing me. You don't have Nixon to kick around anymore because gentlemen, this is my last press conference and I hope that what I will have said today will at least make television, radio, the press recognize that they have a right and a responsibility, if they're against a candidate, give him the shaft, but also recognize if they give him the shaft put one lonely reporter on the campaign who will report what the candidate says now and then.

Of course, Richard Nixon's famous "last press conference" in November 1962 was hardly his last press conference. And he sure got kicked around a whole lot more. But the notorious speech itself is a classic of an under-appreciated yet thoroughly enjoyable category of political rhetoric: the concession speech.

As we near the end of the 2026 mid-term election, we'll soon be enjoying a whole new crop of non-presidential candidate concession speeches. And that makes this an ideal time for the C-SPAN podcast "Extreme Mortman" to appreciate the bounty of concession speeches with which we've already been blessed.

Yes -- it's time to consider the losers:

Which losers were gracious?

Which losers were angry?

Which losers used foul language?

Who, like Nixon, was bitter?

And who, unlike Nixon, refused even to concede?

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Ten years ago, September 28, 2016, … Council Bluffs, Iowa.. Here's presidential candidate Donald Trump:

“Her staffers taking the fifth amendment. How about that. And her ring leader's getting immunity. Now, people taking the fifth amendment. Four people plus the guy who illegally did the server. You know, He put in the illegal server. So, there are five people taking the Fifth Amendment, like you see on the mob, right? You see the mob takes the Fifth. If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?”

Donald Trump was talking about Hillary Clinton … it was soon after her aides invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid testifying in a Congressional hearing into her e-mails.

Which other highly anticipated, high-profile hearings ended up with a star witness invoking the Fifth Amendment?

What language do they use?

And what do members of Congress say about witnesses claiming Fifth Amendment privileges?

Find out in the second part of a two-part special episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" – as we remember 19 notorious scandals and blockbuster hearings during which the Fifth Amendment was cited –hearings investigating government, business, politics, and sports – from the Joe McCarthy era—to Anthony Fauci.

Hear from many over two dozen star witnesses – or, more accurately, not hear from them – in "Extreme Mortman."

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The Fifth Amendment.

You've heard it invoked many times during Congressional hearings.

Like July 29th, 2026:

"Well, nothing says honesty like taking the fifth, huh, doc? Let's try something. What day of the week is it today?"

"On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution."

"What color tie are you wearing?"

" On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution."

"What color is the carpet in front of you?"

"On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution."

That was Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley – questioning Dr. Anthony Fauci … A hearing investigating Dr. Fauci's role in the COVID-19 pandemic…

In a three-hour hearing, Dr. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times.

And he joined a long list of famous and celebrity witnesses claiming Fifth Amendment privileges against testifying in a Congressional hearing.

Which other highly anticipated, high-profile hearings ended up with a star witness invoking the Fifth Amendment?

What language do the use?

And what do members of Congress say about witnesses claiming Fifth Amendment privileges? 

Find out in a special two-part episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" – as we remember 19 notorious scandals and blockbuster hearings during which the Fifth Amendment was cited –hearings investigating government, business, politics and sports – from the Joe McCarthy era—to Anthony Fauci.

Hear from many over two dozen star witnesses – or, more accurately, not hear from them – in "Extreme Mortman."

Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts.

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Thirty-five years ago this month — on the steps of the state capitol in Richmond Virginia — the nation's first elected black governor announced he was running for president.

"After many months of deliberation and hours and many, many hours of private thought and reflection on my commitment to Virginia and my obligation to my country, I have decided to run for the Presidency of the United States in 1992."

That was Doug Wilder ... September 13th, 1991...

What was unique about Doug Wilder's presidential campaign?

How far did he get?

How did he navigate both Bill Clinton and Jesse Jackson?

What was his appeal to conservatives?

And what did Doug Wilder say on the campaign trail in 1992 which politicians still say today?

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On March 23rd, 2000, Dolly Parton spoke at the National Press Club. The topic: Youth literacy. Here's how Dolly opened:

But this is quite a town, I have to tell you, being here in D.C. I'm not running for office, but I certainly have had a lot of politicians checking out my platform. Bet I could stir up something around here, with Bill Clinton, now that Hillary's in New York and all, maybe. Just joking. I mean, I shouldn't be making fun of my Southern brothers, should I?

That may be the closest Dolly Parton ever got to politics – or at least, publicly expressing a direct opinion on partisan politics.

But even if Dolly Parton avoided politics, politicians hardly avoided her – the connection: her hit timeless song 9 to 5.

A staple of many campaign playlists — and much political rhetoric.

Which female candidates played 9 to 5 in their campaign rallies?

Which male politicians appropriated 9 to 5 for their own political purposes?

And does any politician deserve a — brace yourself — presidential Parton?

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November 15th, 2011, … the George Bush Presidential Library Center … former first Lady Laura Bush joins another former first lady, her mother-in-law, Barbara Bush … It's a discussion on First Ladies… One topic: 9-11:

I remember the next day actually after September 11th, they set up a blood donation spot in the Old Executive Office Building and people literally lined up around the block, because they wanted to give something, and they could give their blood. Something so literal, and so I think that, you know, it was a terrible, terrible day, but also, I think, we saw the good of a lot of people, including those firemen and other people who went into the buildings.

That was Laura Bush right after the 10th anniversary of September 11th… Now it's the 25th anniversary.… And there are still many stories about that day of terror to remember, revisit, and retell.

One storyline on the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman": Laura Bush.

How did Laura Bush react in the immediate aftermath of 9-11?

What did she say and what did she do?

How did 9-11 change Laura Bush's long-term approach to the First Lady's office – and what was her legacy?

We find out from Anita McBride... an internationally recognized expert on the legacies of American first ladies and operations of the White House … Anita McBride was First Lady Laura Bush's Chief of Staff.

Hear Anita McBride discuss Laura Bush and 9/11 – plus her own experience working in the White House that day – in this week's "Extreme Mortman."

Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts.

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Here's an anniversary to celebrate: "Star Trek."

60 years since the iconic TV series began. The first episode: September 8, 1966.

And for many of those 60 years, in their floor speeches, members of Congress have quoted "Star Trek" ... Specifically, Captain Kirk's urgent request of Scottie: "Beam me up."

It was the President’s task force that said we must save Medicare. So, we did something radical. We said we would allow Medicare to grow at 7.2 percent. The President said, let us let it grow at 7.4 percent, and we were told we wanted to destroy the system. Well, I agree with Traficant. Mr. Speaker, if saving Medicare is being mean to senior citizens, beam me up, because I do not understand this place anymore.

No that wasn't the member of Congress most famously associated with "beam me up" - Ohio Democrat James Traficant.

That was Florida Republican Joe Scarbrough ... April 10th, 1997.

Which members of Congress other than James Traficant said in their floor speeches "Beam Me Up"?

Why did they want to be beamed up?

How many times did James Traficant end a floor speech with a plea to "beam me up"?

And what was James Traficant's own reason for ending a floor speech by pleading beam me up?

Find out in this week's episode of "Extreme Mortman" – as we celebrate 60 years of Star Trek – and boldly go where no podcast has gone before.

Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts.

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President Ronald Reagan was a strong anti-Communist. He also liked to tell jokes.  

So, he combined those two passions into one pursuit. Telling jokes that mocked and ridiculed Soviet Communism ...

I have a new hobby. I am collecting jokes. And these jokes are jokes that I can absolutely prove are written -- not written -- are invented by the people of the Soviet Union and told among themselves. And they reveal a great sense of humor that we would all find very simpatico with us, but they also reveal a certain cynicism about facets of their system.

That was President Reagan October 1988 ... speaking at the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles...

Why did President Reagan tell jokes about Communism?

And what did Soviet leader Mikhel Gorbachev – Reagan's Cold War adversary and summit partner -- think of those jokes?

Find out in this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman."

Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts.

What were President Reagan's favorite jokes about Communism?

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