Hold that Co Ed
At 19, Lana Turner was made a star by the biggest studios in the business, the MGM Studios. Lana Turner glowed in this hilarious comedy as a dancing Co Ed. But the critics were skeptical when this movie was released in 1939, and soon they were enchanted with her looks and onscreen charms for decades. The screen writing of Albert Mannheim was based on Albert Treynor’s story which was set in a college. The musical ornamentation was given by Artie Shaw & his band, and directed by Sylvan Simon. Also co-starring with Turner were Richard Carlson, Ann Rutherford, Monty Woolley and Roscoe Karns. I am a big fan of Lana Turner and highly recommend this film to all her fans!
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Movie Reviewed: Next Time I Marry (1938), starring Lucille Ball
Screwball slapsticks of Lucille Ball from her early stages in career
I am a big fan of Lucille Ball and enjoyed her movies and television shows over the years. She is completely off-beat, on the screen, while performing the comedy act. My favorite movie is Next Time I Marry, which she co-stars with James Ellison.
This is a RKO’s comedy of 1938 which generates the zany saga of a slap-happy heiress and a pick-and-shovel hero. Ball marries a government project worker Ellison to make her eligible for $20 million inheritance; then fly to Reno, Nevada so that she can annul the marriage and then wed a titled foreigner Lee Bowman, and enjoy the inheritance with him. The frantic battling of the newlyweds eventually leads to real romance and to a whimsical cross-country diversion. This part of the story sounds awfully similar to Frank Capra’s 1934 classic, “It happened one night” starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.
I am a big fan of Lucille Ball and enjoyed her movies and television shows over the years. She is completely off-beat, on the screen, while performing the comedy act. My favorite movie is Next Time I Marry, which she co-stars with James Ellison.
This is a RKO’s comedy of 1938 which generates the zany saga of a slap-happy heiress and a pick-and-shovel hero. Ball marries a government project worker Ellison to make her eligible for $20 million inheritance; then fly to Reno, Nevada so that she can annul the marriage and then wed a titled foreigner Lee Bowman, and enjoy the inheritance with him. The frantic battling of the newlyweds eventually leads to real romance and to a whimsical cross-country diversion. This part of the story sounds awfully similar to Frank Capra’s 1934 classic, “It happened one night” starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Movie Reviewed: The Phantom of Paris (1931), starring John Gilbert and Leila Hyams
The adventures of a Phantom
Whatever this movie may have lacked, it wasn’t the plot. John Gilbert plays a magician falsely accused of murdering his girlfriend’s father played respectively by Leila Hyams and Aubrey Smith. After he escapes from the sight of police; his girlfriend unwittingly marries the real murderer (Ian Smith). Shortly after their wedding, her husband dies mysteriously and his dead body is carried to a plastic surgeon where John Gilbert impersonates her husband and comes back alive! Confused? But read on, John Gilbert and Ian Smith were most look-alike actors in the pre-code era of Hollywood, which further complicates the plot of the film!! John Meredith directed this concoction that also starred other notable actors like Lewis Stone, Jean Hersholt and Natalie Moorhead. I am a big fan of John Gilbert but disappointed with this movie.
Whatever this movie may have lacked, it wasn’t the plot. John Gilbert plays a magician falsely accused of murdering his girlfriend’s father played respectively by Leila Hyams and Aubrey Smith. After he escapes from the sight of police; his girlfriend unwittingly marries the real murderer (Ian Smith). Shortly after their wedding, her husband dies mysteriously and his dead body is carried to a plastic surgeon where John Gilbert impersonates her husband and comes back alive! Confused? But read on, John Gilbert and Ian Smith were most look-alike actors in the pre-code era of Hollywood, which further complicates the plot of the film!! John Meredith directed this concoction that also starred other notable actors like Lewis Stone, Jean Hersholt and Natalie Moorhead. I am a big fan of John Gilbert but disappointed with this movie.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Movie Reviewed: You can’t cheat an honest man, starring W.C. Fields
W.C. Fields and Bergen team up in this screwball comedy
W.C. Fields was lured away from Paramount Studios by a larger salary ($125,000 per film plus $25,000 for his story) played a circus owner fallen on hard times. This story was written by Charles Bogle (pseudo name for Fields). Also costarring in the film are Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy and Constance Moore as Fields’ daughter. Determined to bail out her father from financial mess she agrees to marry a boring rich man but gets embarrassed by her own father when he acts like a jerk at a high society reception. She abandons her plan and likes to wed Bergen whom she loved all along. The runaway parachute where Bergen and his dummy almost get lost doesn’t look so funny. This is a typical Fields movie where he does his best to make people laugh but doesn’t make the distance! Mary Forbes and Thurston Hall as the parents of the rich young man do their best.
W.C. Fields was lured away from Paramount Studios by a larger salary ($125,000 per film plus $25,000 for his story) played a circus owner fallen on hard times. This story was written by Charles Bogle (pseudo name for Fields). Also costarring in the film are Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy and Constance Moore as Fields’ daughter. Determined to bail out her father from financial mess she agrees to marry a boring rich man but gets embarrassed by her own father when he acts like a jerk at a high society reception. She abandons her plan and likes to wed Bergen whom she loved all along. The runaway parachute where Bergen and his dummy almost get lost doesn’t look so funny. This is a typical Fields movie where he does his best to make people laugh but doesn’t make the distance! Mary Forbes and Thurston Hall as the parents of the rich young man do their best.
Book Reviewed: A history of Indian philosophy - volume 5, by Surendranath Dasgupta
The history and philosophy of the Southern Schools of Saivism
This is one of the scholarly works of Surendranath Dasgupta. His work on Indian philosophy is published in five volumes, and each volume is devoted to the study of the particular school of thought of Indian Philosophy. In this volume, he focuses his study on the southern schools of Saivism, viz., Saiva Siddhanta, Vira-Saivism, philosophy of Srikantha, and Saiva philosophy. This book documents the ethical, mystical and philosophical ideas of the Southern Schools of Saivism.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: The earliest Sanskrit philosophical literature in which Saivism is mentioned is in a bhasya of Sankara on Brahma-Sutra II.2.37. Sankara refers to a doctrine called Siddhanta written by the God Mahesvara. It states that God, Lord Siva, also known as Pasupati, is both the instrumental and material cause of the world. In his bhasya, Sankara refers to one particular system of Saivism. But Saiva Philosophy was widely known long before eighth century A.D., (before the time of Sankara.) Different sects of Saivism also existed from ancient times; the Pasupata Saivism of Gujarat, Agamic Saivism of Tamil region, Pratyabhijna Saivism of Kashmir, and Vira-Saivism of Kannada speaking region of the South defines the length and breadth of Saivism in India. Major Siva temples in Nepal, Kashmir, Benares, Kathiawar, Calcutta and Ramesvaram illustrate the popularity of Saiva culture.
The concept of Pasupati may have evolved at the earliest times of Indus Valley Civilization. The statue of Siva sitting on a bull surrounded by snakes and other animals has been found in pre-Vedic times, and ancient Indians worshipped the lord of pasus (animals) or Pasupati. Siva is also mentioned in Vedas and Upanishads, especially Svetasvatara Upanishad, and also in Mahabharata and Puranas.
Siva Mahapurana refers to Saiva-Agama as the original instructions of Lord Siva, but unfortunately these texts are lost. Most writers of Saivism believed that Siva was the author of all Saiva literature which includes Agamas, the earliest scriptures of Saivism. There is a list of 28 Sivacaryas in Vayaviya-samhita of the Siva Mahapurana, which consists of 100,000 verses in seven sections and Siva is known to be its author. The gist of the Agama teaching is that all individual souls are infected with the impurities of Maya or karma. These are ultimately destroyed by the grace of God after being initiated into the worship of Siva. The Agama literature strongly supports a highly moralistic life coupled with the worship Lord Siva.
The doctrine of Pasupata-sutra provides the spiritual and traditional practices in the worship of Siva. This text has some metaphysical elements, but largely spiritual in nature. It is believed that Siva re-incarnated himself as Nakulisa and wrote Pasupata text. In the bhasya of Pasupata-sutra, sage Kaundinya vividly describes the spiritual path of Saiva life. Kaundinya is known to have written his bhasya of Pasupata anywhere between fourth and sixth century B.C.
Saiva philosophy of Srikantha is another subject widely discussed in this book. His ideas are expounded in the commentary on Brahma-sutra and later by Appaya Dixita. Srikantha illuminated his views by the interpretation of Brahma-sutra by accepting the supremacy of Upanishads, but he suggested that Lord Siva is the personal form of Brahman.
I enjoyed reading the vast literature covered in this book, especially Chapter XXXVI/VII about the philosophy of Saivism. This is an exhaustive review of the Saiva literature and the author expounds the interpretation of several scholars like Sankara, Srikantha and Appaya Dixita with respect to Brahma Sutra and Lord Siva as the Supreme Personality Godhead. I found the discussion very fascinating and deeply engrossing.
This is one of the scholarly works of Surendranath Dasgupta. His work on Indian philosophy is published in five volumes, and each volume is devoted to the study of the particular school of thought of Indian Philosophy. In this volume, he focuses his study on the southern schools of Saivism, viz., Saiva Siddhanta, Vira-Saivism, philosophy of Srikantha, and Saiva philosophy. This book documents the ethical, mystical and philosophical ideas of the Southern Schools of Saivism.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: The earliest Sanskrit philosophical literature in which Saivism is mentioned is in a bhasya of Sankara on Brahma-Sutra II.2.37. Sankara refers to a doctrine called Siddhanta written by the God Mahesvara. It states that God, Lord Siva, also known as Pasupati, is both the instrumental and material cause of the world. In his bhasya, Sankara refers to one particular system of Saivism. But Saiva Philosophy was widely known long before eighth century A.D., (before the time of Sankara.) Different sects of Saivism also existed from ancient times; the Pasupata Saivism of Gujarat, Agamic Saivism of Tamil region, Pratyabhijna Saivism of Kashmir, and Vira-Saivism of Kannada speaking region of the South defines the length and breadth of Saivism in India. Major Siva temples in Nepal, Kashmir, Benares, Kathiawar, Calcutta and Ramesvaram illustrate the popularity of Saiva culture.
The concept of Pasupati may have evolved at the earliest times of Indus Valley Civilization. The statue of Siva sitting on a bull surrounded by snakes and other animals has been found in pre-Vedic times, and ancient Indians worshipped the lord of pasus (animals) or Pasupati. Siva is also mentioned in Vedas and Upanishads, especially Svetasvatara Upanishad, and also in Mahabharata and Puranas.
Siva Mahapurana refers to Saiva-Agama as the original instructions of Lord Siva, but unfortunately these texts are lost. Most writers of Saivism believed that Siva was the author of all Saiva literature which includes Agamas, the earliest scriptures of Saivism. There is a list of 28 Sivacaryas in Vayaviya-samhita of the Siva Mahapurana, which consists of 100,000 verses in seven sections and Siva is known to be its author. The gist of the Agama teaching is that all individual souls are infected with the impurities of Maya or karma. These are ultimately destroyed by the grace of God after being initiated into the worship of Siva. The Agama literature strongly supports a highly moralistic life coupled with the worship Lord Siva.
The doctrine of Pasupata-sutra provides the spiritual and traditional practices in the worship of Siva. This text has some metaphysical elements, but largely spiritual in nature. It is believed that Siva re-incarnated himself as Nakulisa and wrote Pasupata text. In the bhasya of Pasupata-sutra, sage Kaundinya vividly describes the spiritual path of Saiva life. Kaundinya is known to have written his bhasya of Pasupata anywhere between fourth and sixth century B.C.
Saiva philosophy of Srikantha is another subject widely discussed in this book. His ideas are expounded in the commentary on Brahma-sutra and later by Appaya Dixita. Srikantha illuminated his views by the interpretation of Brahma-sutra by accepting the supremacy of Upanishads, but he suggested that Lord Siva is the personal form of Brahman.
I enjoyed reading the vast literature covered in this book, especially Chapter XXXVI/VII about the philosophy of Saivism. This is an exhaustive review of the Saiva literature and the author expounds the interpretation of several scholars like Sankara, Srikantha and Appaya Dixita with respect to Brahma Sutra and Lord Siva as the Supreme Personality Godhead. I found the discussion very fascinating and deeply engrossing.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Movie reviewed: It’s a Gift (1934), starring W.C. Fields and Kathleen Howard
An off-beat screwball slapstick and the best work of W. C. Fields (five stars)
This is an absolutely wonderful screwball slapstick and one of the best of W.C. Fields. The movie goers loved the magical work of the great genius who could make people laugh despite their troubles at the height of Great Depression. When it was released, the critics were not so enthusiastic about the story. A contemporary review from 'Argus', The Literary Digest of 1935 was critical and said that "It is clumsy, crude and quite amateurish in its appearance.” The film is about the life of a grocery store owner and his daily battles with a shrewd wife, an incompetent assistant, annoying children, customers, and salesmen. W. C. Fields' later work, “The Bank Dick,” is another example for a man’s battle against his domestic entrapment and the abuses he faces!
The story of the film was originally written by J.P. McEvoy and Charles Bogle (pseudonym for W.C. Fields). Fields had filmed the story as silent film under the name of “It is the Army Game” in 1926. But it was really a string of gags and situations perfected by Fields in his decades of vaudeville, Ziegfeld Follies, and Movie Shorts, including the classic porch scene in which he sleeps after an argument with his wife. The rosy-nosed comic pulled off rare feats in the film as a laugh-rising character. In the supporting role, Kathleen Howard as a demanding wife offers an excellent performance, and so is Jean Rouverol as Fields’ daughter who drives him crazy. This was a William Le Baron’s low-budget film but ended up earning sizeable revenue: Highly recommended!
This is an absolutely wonderful screwball slapstick and one of the best of W.C. Fields. The movie goers loved the magical work of the great genius who could make people laugh despite their troubles at the height of Great Depression. When it was released, the critics were not so enthusiastic about the story. A contemporary review from 'Argus', The Literary Digest of 1935 was critical and said that "It is clumsy, crude and quite amateurish in its appearance.” The film is about the life of a grocery store owner and his daily battles with a shrewd wife, an incompetent assistant, annoying children, customers, and salesmen. W. C. Fields' later work, “The Bank Dick,” is another example for a man’s battle against his domestic entrapment and the abuses he faces!
The story of the film was originally written by J.P. McEvoy and Charles Bogle (pseudonym for W.C. Fields). Fields had filmed the story as silent film under the name of “It is the Army Game” in 1926. But it was really a string of gags and situations perfected by Fields in his decades of vaudeville, Ziegfeld Follies, and Movie Shorts, including the classic porch scene in which he sleeps after an argument with his wife. The rosy-nosed comic pulled off rare feats in the film as a laugh-rising character. In the supporting role, Kathleen Howard as a demanding wife offers an excellent performance, and so is Jean Rouverol as Fields’ daughter who drives him crazy. This was a William Le Baron’s low-budget film but ended up earning sizeable revenue: Highly recommended!
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Book Reviewed: Where the Bodies Were Buried: Whitey Bulger and the World That Made Him, by T. J. English
An intimate view of Whitey Bulger’s trial
This book examines the trial of Boston's notorious godfather Whitey Bulger. This is one among many books that came out during the life of the famous Boston outlaw, but this work doesn't add anything new to the stories we already know. The interviews were conducted by the author in a fashion similar to Bob Woodward-Carl Bernstein Watergate investigation. Whitey Bulger knew his trade well and he was good in using the law-enforcement in his favor. While working as an informant for the FBI, he fed them wrong information about his competitors in the Boston under world. He cleverly sized them up to his own advantage, and gaining immunity from prosecution by the law-enforcement. He achieved the kind of power and authority that Italian mafia took generations to achieve and solidify.
The 2014 documentary film "Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger" by Joe Berlinger also focuses on Whitey Bulger's trials. The 2015 film "Black Mass" starring Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger chronicles Bulger's years as an FBI informant, and his manipulation of the agency to eradicate his rivals. The 2006 film "Departed" directed by Martin Scorsese is another film that focused on how FBI agent John Connolly and Massachusetts state trooper William "Billy" Costigan unwittingly helped Whitey Bulger. The Scorsese film is star-studded and highly rewarded by the Academy with numerous awards during 79th Academy Awards ceremonies.
The book is essentially a repetition of much published work and the material is already covered in the two Hollywood movies.
This book examines the trial of Boston's notorious godfather Whitey Bulger. This is one among many books that came out during the life of the famous Boston outlaw, but this work doesn't add anything new to the stories we already know. The interviews were conducted by the author in a fashion similar to Bob Woodward-Carl Bernstein Watergate investigation. Whitey Bulger knew his trade well and he was good in using the law-enforcement in his favor. While working as an informant for the FBI, he fed them wrong information about his competitors in the Boston under world. He cleverly sized them up to his own advantage, and gaining immunity from prosecution by the law-enforcement. He achieved the kind of power and authority that Italian mafia took generations to achieve and solidify.
The 2014 documentary film "Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger" by Joe Berlinger also focuses on Whitey Bulger's trials. The 2015 film "Black Mass" starring Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger chronicles Bulger's years as an FBI informant, and his manipulation of the agency to eradicate his rivals. The 2006 film "Departed" directed by Martin Scorsese is another film that focused on how FBI agent John Connolly and Massachusetts state trooper William "Billy" Costigan unwittingly helped Whitey Bulger. The Scorsese film is star-studded and highly rewarded by the Academy with numerous awards during 79th Academy Awards ceremonies.
The book is essentially a repetition of much published work and the material is already covered in the two Hollywood movies.
Book Reviewed: The Last Season: A Father, a Son, and a Lifetime of College Football, by Stuart Stevens
Bonding on Gridiron: The story of a father and son
This is a touching tale of a father and son bonding while growing in Mississippi and spending the best moments of the author’s life watching the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss Rebels) football games on Saturdays with his dad. It was not just a game, but it was a ritual, a culture, a religion, and a special moment for father and son to bond and learn about life while growing up. After years of physical separation from his family, the author looks back and remembers what he missed all his adult life. His career had taken him to different parts of the world for so long that he couldn’t continue anymore. He decides to go back to his old roots to be with his 95 year old man to do it all over again: The Last Season. This is a touching book largely based on the author’s fine memory of his childhood. It also documents historical facts of 1960s Mississippi, civil rights movement and the tensions that followed. The book reads effortlessly and I recommend this to anyone who bonded with their fathers watching football/baseball/basketball or any other sports.
This is a touching tale of a father and son bonding while growing in Mississippi and spending the best moments of the author’s life watching the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss Rebels) football games on Saturdays with his dad. It was not just a game, but it was a ritual, a culture, a religion, and a special moment for father and son to bond and learn about life while growing up. After years of physical separation from his family, the author looks back and remembers what he missed all his adult life. His career had taken him to different parts of the world for so long that he couldn’t continue anymore. He decides to go back to his old roots to be with his 95 year old man to do it all over again: The Last Season. This is a touching book largely based on the author’s fine memory of his childhood. It also documents historical facts of 1960s Mississippi, civil rights movement and the tensions that followed. The book reads effortlessly and I recommend this to anyone who bonded with their fathers watching football/baseball/basketball or any other sports.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Book Reviewed: Objective Troy, a terrorist, a president, and the rise of the drone, by Scot Shane
An investigative report on Obama’s handling of Islamic terrorist Anwar Al-Awlaki (four stars)
This book describes the rise and fall of one of most wanted terrorist Anwar Al-Awlaki, and how his killing became so controversial, and bitter exchange of words between the supporters of Obama and the republicans. Why did the handling of Awlaki, a neutralized American citizen, a Muslim who vowed to destroy America is so extra-judicial? The fact that he was an American citizen makes all the difference. No criminal charges were filed against him, and he was not given due process where he would have had an opportunity to defend himself in a court of law. But for many Americans it did not matter, they welcomed his demise since he was sending terrorists to attack America. In the media it sparked a debate about this unsettling precedent where law, the constitution and political process were in a collision course.
Barack Obama’s campaign during his bid to the White House criticized the excesses of George W. Bush’s counterterrorism efforts. He was especially critical of Bush’s targeted killing of Muslim terrorists planning to attack America. At the end, Obama embraces the same ideology! Awlaki’s active life spanned four presidencies and it raised the dangers of both terrorism on U.S. soil and American response to it. In the process it defined the nature of conflict between America and the Islamic organizations like ISIS, Al Qaeda, Taliban and others that support terrorism.
This book describes the rise and fall of one of most wanted terrorist Anwar Al-Awlaki, and how his killing became so controversial, and bitter exchange of words between the supporters of Obama and the republicans. Why did the handling of Awlaki, a neutralized American citizen, a Muslim who vowed to destroy America is so extra-judicial? The fact that he was an American citizen makes all the difference. No criminal charges were filed against him, and he was not given due process where he would have had an opportunity to defend himself in a court of law. But for many Americans it did not matter, they welcomed his demise since he was sending terrorists to attack America. In the media it sparked a debate about this unsettling precedent where law, the constitution and political process were in a collision course.
Barack Obama’s campaign during his bid to the White House criticized the excesses of George W. Bush’s counterterrorism efforts. He was especially critical of Bush’s targeted killing of Muslim terrorists planning to attack America. At the end, Obama embraces the same ideology! Awlaki’s active life spanned four presidencies and it raised the dangers of both terrorism on U.S. soil and American response to it. In the process it defined the nature of conflict between America and the Islamic organizations like ISIS, Al Qaeda, Taliban and others that support terrorism.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Book Reviewed: Nixon Tapes: 1973, by Douglas Brinkley
Nixon 1973 (Jan to April): A reflection on the tapings of the conversation with his “inner circle”
Anyone interested in the history of Nixon’s presidency, Water Gate Scandal or the Nixon’s tapes, this book makes a fascinating reading as it transcribes hours of recorded conversation with Nixon’s “inner circle” that included many White House Staff. The taped conversation highlights the troubled period of Jan to April 1973. From this book we learn that during much of this period, he was obsessed with Water Gate and looking for ways and means to cover it up. Even the peace agreement with Vietnam took a lower seat in these private conversations. It gives a closer look at Nixon, as a man in deep trouble with the law and nothing else mattered to him except get out of it safely! Some of his comments on other domestic issues such as social, political or economic factors were mean and perhaps irresponsible. On the question of abortion, the president seems to support abortion in cases of incest and unwanted interracial pregnancies!
On 2/23/1973, Nixon observed that a cover-up of the Water Gate Scandal is the best strategy, and blame the whole fiasco on former attorney general John Mitchell. On 3/13/1972, Nixon and John Dean worry about the money laundering of funds coming from Mexico and the consequences of posting an operative in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts to investigate Senator Ted Kennedy. On 3/21/1972, Nixon approves the idea of payments in the form of hush money up to $1 million. The FBI official Howard Hunt, who figures prominently in Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s Water Gate investigations, a chief link between the White House and Water Gate burglars was paid $75,000 within a day! That constituted obstruction of justice and the beginning of the end of Nixon’s presidency. This is a highly engrossing work and historically an authoritative document about Nixon and his cohorts: Highly recommended.
Anyone interested in the history of Nixon’s presidency, Water Gate Scandal or the Nixon’s tapes, this book makes a fascinating reading as it transcribes hours of recorded conversation with Nixon’s “inner circle” that included many White House Staff. The taped conversation highlights the troubled period of Jan to April 1973. From this book we learn that during much of this period, he was obsessed with Water Gate and looking for ways and means to cover it up. Even the peace agreement with Vietnam took a lower seat in these private conversations. It gives a closer look at Nixon, as a man in deep trouble with the law and nothing else mattered to him except get out of it safely! Some of his comments on other domestic issues such as social, political or economic factors were mean and perhaps irresponsible. On the question of abortion, the president seems to support abortion in cases of incest and unwanted interracial pregnancies!
On 2/23/1973, Nixon observed that a cover-up of the Water Gate Scandal is the best strategy, and blame the whole fiasco on former attorney general John Mitchell. On 3/13/1972, Nixon and John Dean worry about the money laundering of funds coming from Mexico and the consequences of posting an operative in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts to investigate Senator Ted Kennedy. On 3/21/1972, Nixon approves the idea of payments in the form of hush money up to $1 million. The FBI official Howard Hunt, who figures prominently in Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s Water Gate investigations, a chief link between the White House and Water Gate burglars was paid $75,000 within a day! That constituted obstruction of justice and the beginning of the end of Nixon’s presidency. This is a highly engrossing work and historically an authoritative document about Nixon and his cohorts: Highly recommended.
Book Reviewed: Nixon Tapes: 1973, by Douglas Brinkley
Nixon 1973 (Jan to April): A reflection on the tapings of the conversation with his “inner circle”
Anyone interested in the history of Nixon’s presidency, Water Gate Scandal or the Nixon’s tapes, this book makes a fascinating reading as it transcribes hours of recorded conversation with Nixon’s “inner circle” that included many White House Staff. The taped conversation highlights the troubled period of Jan to April 1973. From this book we learn that during much of this period, he was obsessed with Water Gate and looking for ways and means to cover it up. Even the peace agreement with Vietnam took a lower seat in these private conversations. It gives a closer look at Nixon, as a man in deep trouble with the law and nothing else mattered to him except get out of it safely! Some of his comments on other domestic issues such as social, political or economic factors were mean and perhaps irresponsible. On the question of abortion, the president seems to support abortion in cases of incest and unwanted interracial pregnancies!
On 2/23/1973, Nixon observed that a cover-up of the Water Gate Scandal is the best strategy, and blame the whole fiasco on former attorney general John Mitchell. On 3/13/1972, Nixon and John Dean worry about the money laundering of funds coming from Mexico and the consequences of posting an operative in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts to investigate Senator Ted Kennedy. On 3/21/1972, Nixon approves the idea of payments in the form of hush money up to $1 million. The FBI official Howard Hunt, who figures prominently in Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s Water Gate investigations, a chief link between the White House and Water Gate burglars was paid $75,000 within a day! That constituted obstruction of justice and the beginning of the end of Nixon’s presidency. This is a highly engrossing work and historically an authoritative document about Nixon and his cohorts: Highly recommended.
Anyone interested in the history of Nixon’s presidency, Water Gate Scandal or the Nixon’s tapes, this book makes a fascinating reading as it transcribes hours of recorded conversation with Nixon’s “inner circle” that included many White House Staff. The taped conversation highlights the troubled period of Jan to April 1973. From this book we learn that during much of this period, he was obsessed with Water Gate and looking for ways and means to cover it up. Even the peace agreement with Vietnam took a lower seat in these private conversations. It gives a closer look at Nixon, as a man in deep trouble with the law and nothing else mattered to him except get out of it safely! Some of his comments on other domestic issues such as social, political or economic factors were mean and perhaps irresponsible. On the question of abortion, the president seems to support abortion in cases of incest and unwanted interracial pregnancies!
On 2/23/1973, Nixon observed that a cover-up of the Water Gate Scandal is the best strategy, and blame the whole fiasco on former attorney general John Mitchell. On 3/13/1972, Nixon and John Dean worry about the money laundering of funds coming from Mexico and the consequences of posting an operative in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts to investigate Senator Ted Kennedy. On 3/21/1972, Nixon approves the idea of payments in the form of hush money up to $1 million. The FBI official Howard Hunt, who figures prominently in Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s Water Gate investigations, a chief link between the White House and Water Gate burglars was paid $75,000 within a day! That constituted obstruction of justice and the beginning of the end of Nixon’s presidency. This is a highly engrossing work and historically an authoritative document about Nixon and his cohorts: Highly recommended.
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