Thirteen Days

[H2O Man]

One of life's greatest pleasures is turning off the tv and computer, and reading a good book. This weekend, the Guernsey Memorial Library in Norwich, NY held its annual book sale. The selection of reading material I was able to obtain provides not only a welcome break from George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, and the Sean Hannitys .... but a stark contrast, as well.

The first book I picked up was a copy of Senator Robert Kennedy's "Thirteen Days." This copy of the 1969 book was still in its original wrapper. I still have a tie clip that Robert handed out on the courthouse steps, a couple hundred feet away from the library, in 1964. It felt good to open this crisp, like-new book, and to read one of Robert's favorite quotes. It is from Keat's "The Fall of Hyperion":

"Who feel the giant agony of the world,
And more, like slaves to poor humanity,
Labor for mortal good ...."

As the television has been reporting on Bush, Rice, and other administration officials attempts to confront Iran on its nuclear program, a number of reasonable people on the internet have noted how different the Kennedy brothers were in their approach to potentially deadly conflict. As I read the first chapters, the differences in character between the Kennedys and Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld stand out.

The second book is W. Averell Harriman's 1975 "Special Envoy." The book is described as the memories of last of the major participants in WW2's highest levels of planning. Although I have never cared for Harriman, he was certainly one of the most influential American politicians from the past century. Again, while one may not approve of his poliicies, he was clearly far more capable than the clowns in the present administration. (I also find it interesting that he autographed the book, and wrote a brief note to a local political figure in it.)

Next was "Diaries of Mario M. Cuomo: The Campaign for Governor," from 1984. I have always admired Governor Cuomo, and believe that he delivered one of the greatest political speeches of our time at the democratic convention. But more, I admired his ability to tell the truth in the heat of a political debate. I had the opportunity to met Governor Cuomo a few times, to discuss Native American burial protection issues. The first time was in Norwich.

I also found a copy of George Seldes's "Witness to a Century." The book was published in 1987, when Seldes was 96 years old. I'm fascinated by the memories of a man who spanned the centuries, especially when the sub-title is: "Encounters With the Noted, the Notorious, and the Three SOBs." I'm particularly interested in his meeting with William Jennings Bryan. I do not think you can find many things as thought-provoking on tv today, with the exception of Link TV and Bill Moyers.

Three books remind me of more capable journalists than most found today: "Hold On, Mr. President," by Sam Donaldson (1987); "American Moments," by Charles Kuralt (1998); and "The Greatest Generation," by Tom Brokow (1998) are offer enjoyable reading.

Three books on education remind me of the promise our schools actually have. "Political Ideology," by Robert Lane (1962); "The Ascent of Man," by J. Bronowski (1973); and especially "Free Schools," by Jonathan Kozol (1972), the author of "Death at an Early Age," make me realize that we need to not only reclaim the House and Senate, but the school boards as well.

I also bought Michael Beschloss's "The Crisis Years: Kennedy and Khrushchev 1960-1963." It quotes Chip Bohlen, who had been in Washington on the first of those "Thirteen Days" that RFK describes, but then went to Paris. It was from Paris where he spoke on November 22, 1963: "There was an unknown quality about Kennedy, despite all his realism, that gave you infinite hope that somehow or other he was going to change the course of history."

One of my favorite RFK quotes notes that, "As Erik Erikson tells us, the archetype of human progress is in the story of Moses, who brought his people within sight of the promised land and then died, leaving to Joshua the leadership in achieving goals that both completely shared."

And one of his favorite lines from Tennyson:

"Come my friends,
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world."

[Me.]

1. Who Are The 3 SOBs?

As for Mario Cuomo, he is a silver tongued devil and I mean that in the most admiring of ways.

[Sal Minella]

6. My guess: Stalin, Churchill and FDR?

[H2O Man]

10. I believe so. n/t

[WiseButAngrySara]

2. Wonderful post H2OMan! You whet my appetite. knr. ....n/t

[cassiepriam]

3. I keep thinking of the Cuban Missile Crisis and how JFK handled

it.

Is my memory correct?:

The war hawks, including Bobby, were pressuring a hard line, wanting a show down with the USSR. And the decision had to be made in a matter of days. And JFK after much soul searching was able to say no, we are going to do this another way. He stood up to many of his own advisers and cabinet. And he let Khrushchev save face by capitulating on the Turkish missiles. It didn't matter, JFK had saved us from a possible nuclear war.

How would Bush have handled the CMC???

[Horse with no Name]

8. One of two ways

1. There would be no Cuba
2. There would be no US

On edit let me explain. I know the Cuban Missile Crisis was about Russia--however, Bush is too stupid to have realized that. Just like Osama and Saddam---et al.

[cassiepriam]

13. There would be no planet. At least few humans left.

Which is exactly where Bush is taking us now :(

[H2O Man]

11. Robert was a hawk

for about 24-36 hours. Then the change started. He was involved in "unofficial" communications with a Soviet official, and he became fully aware that systems take on a life of their own -- and that even good and honest people can loose control of situations. We often associate Robert's journey as having begun when his brother died, but it can more accurately be traced to the CMC.

[cassiepriam]

12. Yes Bobby was a hawk at first.. Several points:

(and yes I had forgotten the piece about Bobby's back channel communications with a Soviet official. The CMC was was really quite a story.)

1. JFK had the pressure from his own brother, a man he trusted, to go to war. And JFK had other trusted advisers who were pro-war. But he was still able to come to the correct decision and do the right thing. JFK apparently was very bright, an independent thinker, and very quickly could see the consequences of taking aggressive action. Also able to overcome peer pressure and group think.(Remember Lemay's pressure?)

I know JFK was not perfect, but I always thought that this episode showed his brilliance, and moral compass. He had his eye on the ball, the American people, and indeed the welfare of the planet.

2. I always thought that JFK helped his brother grow up during this episode and taught him some things about being a leader.

The strangest thing, the day that Bush was "elected" the first time, the CMC was in my head all day, and wondered how Bush would do with that scenario and I felt very sad. I thought it strange at the time.
Now I don't.

[DrDebug]

15. The hawks even tried to double cross JFK

They did it by launching guerilla attacks on Cuba (Alpha 66) using Poppy Bush's oil platforms for their supplies and by trying to taunt the Russian so they would attack.

The real irony is that JFK and Khrushchev both resolved the conflict by overruling their own armies and through secret negotiations because both JFK and Khrushchev had a group in their military who wanted to push on.

As far as Bush goes, Poppy Bush aided guerilla attacks while the world was close to nuclear disaster. Poppy wanted a nuclear war back then. Never forget that because that is how dangerous the Bushes are.

[cassiepriam]

16. So many ironies, now the army is trying to overrule the prez

who is another Bush trying to start a war...

Surreal....

[brer cat]

4. Great selection, H20man

Your taste is similar to mine, and I enjoyed the sharing of your finds. If the signed Herriman is in good condition, it's probably worth $50 plus, btw.

[Ksec]

5. Everyone needs a way to get away from the rat race

Reading is a good way. Lately the way Ive been unwinding is doing lots of hiking and mushroom hunting. The weather has been excellent. The mushroom hunting not so. But I did see a fawn and also saw two painted box turtles doing the dirty. Thats a first . Spring is great.

As far as RFK and JFK. Could you imagine if they had been able to complete the lives that were cut so short? I wonder what great things they could have done.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Great post. Thank you H20 Man

[Mythsaje]

9. Or, alternately,

turning on the TV and writing a good book. :D

But if you're going to turn off the TV, I'd add my books to the list.

Couldn't help it.

[stop the bleeding]

14. Some day

when the dust settles a bit in my life I too will be able to enjoy more books over tv.