Informationer

Contains two calls, placed by JFK in succession:

1: Sound recording of a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Assistant Secretary of Defense Arthur Sylvester. They discuss the purchase of furniture at Otis Air Force Base and wasteful spending. The recording begins in mid-conversation. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 23D, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-23D, Title: Telephone recordings: Dictation Belt 23D.

2. A recording of a phone call between President Kennedy and General Godfrey McHugh, the Air Force aide to the President. Ever sensitive to public opinion, President Kennedy was horrified to open the Washington Post to see a photograph of a navy aide standing next to an expensive new naval project -- a hospital bedroom that had been built at a base on Cape Cod, to be ready in case Jacqueline Kennedy went into labor with their son, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy.

Song: Com Truise, 'Idle Withdrawal'

Telephone conversation between LBJ and George Smathers, 8/1/1964, 11:00AM. Discussing Barry Goldwater's economic policies as antithetical to the "democratic type philosophy of economics" that made Americans (and America's business leaders) prosperous. Smathers, a Florida Senator known for anti-communism, strategizes with Johnson on how and when he will flip from being against medicare to for it after campaigning against it in 1962, and how it's better not to pass it until after Johnson defeats Goldwater as it'll give older voters a reason to support Johnson.

Song: "I Can See Through You (Blanck Mass Remix)" by The Horrors

Noon on Monday, November 4, 1968. Eve of the 1968 election. LBJ at his ranch, discusses with top advisers, Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Secretary of Defense Clark M. Clifford, how to respond to continued interference in Vietnam War peace talks by figures associated with the Nixon administration. LBJ was forced by Nixon and South Vietnamese diplomats to make a decision similar to one Obama apparently had to make about the 2016 election, about whether to make public intelligence of what might be treason by a Republican presidential candidate. Transcript/more background here: prde.upress.virginia.edu/conversations/4006128

Songs: Boards of Canada, 'Chromakey Dreamcoat' Jamie xx, 'Hold Tight' Trentemøller, 'Shades of Marble'

'Former Justice Department prosecutor: James Comey's October surprise is "indefensible"' Vox

"HAS THE F.B.I. GONE FULL BREITBART?" Vanity Fair

A definitive debunking in tweet form of Hillary email bullshit by T. R. Ramachandran (@yottapoint)

"More Surprises: FBI Releases Files On Bill Clinton's Pardon Of Marc Rich" NPR

Song Arcade Fire - Porno

8:56am Jan 2, 1973, Nixon and Chief Justice Warren Burger talk instant replay, Miller v California (on legality and definition of pornography) and an promise young justice named Rehnquist.

If you live in a swing state, vote for Hillary Clinton.

The second Literary Hangover! Recorded in spring 2016, Kara, Alex, Tyler, and I discuss Sinclair Lewis' novel Main Street, about a reform-minded woman in early 20th century small-town Minnesota. We reflect on the book as four midwestern transplants ourselves. Sinclair Lewis biographer on CSPAN in 2002 with my man Brian Lamb.

Board members of the Sinclair Lewis Interpretive Center and Museum in Sauk Centre, MN. Crappy onboard mic but some bio, and I'm fascinated by small town culture clubs.

NBC University Radio Play of Main Street Here's a good review by Jane Smiley,

Nixon and Kissinger push Admiral Moorer to increase bombing missions, growing impatient with mission cancellations blamed on bad weather. White House telephone tapes, April 3-5, 1972. Songs: "Weather Storm" by Massive Attack and "Close Harmony" by Tom Furse.

Full Nixon tapes available here.

Conversation No. 22-67

Date: April 3, 1972

Time: 3:19 pm - 3:33 pm

Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

Conversation No. 22-69

Date: April 3, 1972

Time: 7:12 pm - 7:19 pm

Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

Conversation No. 22-71

Date: April 3, 1972

Time: 7:24 pm - 7:26 pm

Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

Conversation No. 22-73

Date: April 4, 1972

Time: 9:24 am - 9:28 am

Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Adm. Thomas H. Moorer.

Conversation No. 22-77

Date: April 4, 1972

Time: 8:45 pm - 8:50 pm

Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

Conversation No. 22-80

Date: April 5, 1972

Time: 9:27 am - 9:32 am

Location: White House Telephone

Henry A. Kissinger talked with Adm. Thomas H. Moorer.

Conversation No. 22-90

Date: April 5, 1972

Time: 7:00 pm - 7:09 pm

Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

Hitchens: Orwell's list: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2002/09/26/orwells-list/ Timothy Garton Ash had a good article on the same: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2003/09/25/orwells-list/ Here's some other reviews

Isaac Asimov

http://www.newworker.org/ncptrory/1984.htm

Aldous Huxley

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/03/1984-v-brave-new-world.html

On Saturday, June 12th, 1972, President Nixon enjoyed one of his happiest days in the White House, celebrating the wedding of his daughter Tricia in the Rose Garden. A little after noon the following day, he received a call from his deputy National Security advisor Al Haig informing him of the Pentagon Papers leak, a major blow to the already unpopular Vietnam War.

Three calls included:

1. Deputy NSA Advisor Al Haig and Nixon, sometime between 12:18pm and 12:42pm, 6/13/71. (WHT 005-050)

2. Domestic Advisor John Ehrlichman the following day, 7:13 - 7:15 pm (WHT 005-068). Ehrlichman tells Nixon to send a warning to the NYT, advises him to call Attorney General John Mitchell who is anxious to do so.

3. Minutes later,7:19-7:22pm, Nixon calls Mitchell. National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger joins the call as well. (WHT 005-070)

Music: "Holes" by Mercury Rev

Beck - “Timebomb”

feat.

A very concerned Glenn Beck.

McCarthy withdraws amidst rumors.

Ben Carson tells a weird lie.

Nixon’s “Last Press Conference” featuring “Shout” by Tears for Fears.

Aphex Twin - "6 fly beats"

The Rakes - "Open Book"

White House Tape conversations between Richard Nixon and White House Counsel John Dean as they determine how to respond a request for Nixon to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings following his nomination of L. Patrick Gray as permanent Director of the FBI. With Watergate in the process of dooming his 2nd term, Nixon was eager to avoid speaking under oath. Gray was never approved.

March 14, 1973. Tapes 037-099 and 037-109

AJ and I briefly react to the 2nd GOP debate and touch on Bernie and gun control (it was exporting to mp3 as news of the Oregon shooting broke).