Category: REMEMBERED HISTORY/NOT 100% FACTUAL/IN THE REALM OF FACTUAL/HONESTLY REPORTED FROM PAPA’S MEMORIES (Page 4 of 7)

The citizens of the US are in the midst of great confusion over the shooting down of balloons/objects in the last ten days or so. It is a potentially very scary/serious situation that has been fumbled into chaos by leaders who miss a passing grade on simple transparency. It is a fiasco that gives Papa regret that I wasted a post on the “Keystone Kops”. To save myself I remembered another movie/term that seems to fit “Balloon Gate.”

My mind went to the memory of a silly Don Knotts westen movie. Jets criss crossing in the air and firing $400,000 missles at stuff that is floating around North America (one miss) led me to think we might be better off with high flying Sopwith Camels pilots who are armed with bows/arrows or shotguns to deflate blimps. The function could best be outsourced to hunters. My silly thoughts reminded me of the old movie cited above. However, my brilliance vanished when the reality of end of life reared its inevitable head. Is Papa lossing it?

“The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight” movie not only didn’t feature Don Knotts; it wasn’t even a western. It was a gangster movie. There is a lesson here. There will be times that you are absolutely positive that certain things happened becasue you remember them happening. Memories can be tricky. I’ve talked to people about events witnessed by both parties and it turns out that our recall is not quite the same. Some parts might be remembered the same but other details differ. Once a pal and I talked about a classmate falling out of a tree. One version ended with a broken arm and the other resulted in a fractured leg. Old memories fade and I suspect get wrapped into similar events/people/circumstances. Portions of events from a long time ago may also have been more important to one person while another was struck by a different portion. If you ever in the situation where your memory/testimony will be needed I suggest writing the facts down close to the time of the event. Short term memory is usually better but it can fade or be blended with time.

Balloongate’s trigger for Papa ended up wide of the mark. But, my memory bank still retained a small dposit. There was a silly western movie with Don Knotts. (“Shakiest Gun In The West”) And, there was a western movie called “Over The Hill Gang.” There’s a ton of blending going on in Papa’s brain.

Papa had a security clearance as a Judge Advocate many years ago. It was primarily used when in Vietnam for work on various investigations/war crime issues. The classified documents that I accessed were secret and below; mostly below. However, the handling of any classified material was treated very seriously. The documents were stored in a safe. A security officer could get a document that I needed for my work. I had to sign a log/receipt each time the document was in my possession. I kept it in my ofice until I returned it to the security officer for safekeeping. I did not leave the document on my desk if I went to lunch etc. It had to be returned to the safe. Any document was traced to and from me whenever it left or was returned to the safe. Security rules were clearly understood.

A good analogy is one I used when explaining the terms of a mortgage to clients at a real estate closing. Notes and mortgages have lots of clauses. Sign these papers if you want the lender’s money. It’s all weighted in the lender’s favor. If you don’t pay back they can come down on you like a ton of bricks. That is how I viewed the consequences if I mishandled classified material. It is simple,and direct. Yet, it is astounding that folks get sideways when dealing with classified documents. Can’t we expect professionals to be careful?

In the last two months the nation finds itself faced with both supposed lead candidate for President in 2024 under a possible crimminal investigation for classified material related issues. Duh! Papa once expressed a hope that the 2024 candidates not be age eligible for medicare. Now, I add hope for a sliver of common sense responsibility. Be judicious. Follow the rules.

Both potential crimminals are working hard to argue that what the other guy did is worse than what they did. The past President has a for me to know and you to find out what documents I might have defense supplemented by I can do whatever I want with my documents. Our current President’s defense may be that the near six years retention of material ( who knows where and seen by whom) doesn’t matter if, behind closed doors, his team in the last two months has been sorting through stuff and turning over what they deem is important to the proper authorities. Or, I’ve already seen a few media hints that in a hurry clericals may have inadvertently scattered classified material here and there. It’s hard to get decent worker bee help nowadays. One does wonder where the keepers of the classified documents have been for 5-6 years. (Is a document missing if the guys with the keys don’t know it’s missing?) I do know that I’d have had all hell to pay if I didn’t return classified material to the safe; that very day.

It’s all enough to make Papa wonder if we have a shortage of a ton of bricks for all.

You may or may not become more than casual fans of the NFL. Howver, there are many who are fanatics for professional football. It wasn’t always so. In the early twentieth century most football fans preferred college football and to an extent looked down on players who competed for money. Your own great-grandfather sometimes poo-pooed the NFL and didn’t give it much mind, even during the Packer glory years of the 1960’s.

Television super-charged the popularity of NFL football. A recent “day in history” article reminded me of the “Greatest Game Ever Played” in 1958. The Baltimore Colts defeated the NY Giants in sudden death overtime. It was the first sudden death game and it was seen by millions watching one of the first nationally televised games. Papa was already on board as a fan. The fact that a great Wisconsin player with a great nickname scored the winning touchdown made the game all the more memorable. TV contracts and money has flowed and increased ever since. It has exploded into a billions of dollars industry.

For perspective, an eighth grade classmate and I decided, on the morning of a Packer game, to bike to County Stadium to watch a game. Yes, walkup tickets were available. I can’t imagine having had more than a few bucks in my jeans so I assume the ticket was rather cheap. In those days we simply left our bikes leaning on a fence or whatnot during the game. I assume this was in 1956 as we were in the same school until the 8th grade. I do recall the game involved Tobin Rote and a new guy named Unitas as quarterbacks. I think the Pack won.

For further perspective, the 1939 NFL Championship game sold tickets from between $1.10 to $4.40. This I looked up. It also provides a good trivia question if you ever need one. The victorious Packers beat the NY Giants to be NFL champs in Papa’s hometown; West Allis, Wisconsin. ( Of course this trivia question would make sense only if others had ever heard of West Allis. ) I’ve always loved the contrast between the huge population monster of New York vs, little Green Bay. That fondness was reversed for players from the “Big City.” Wisconsinites were “inhospitalble mugs” per the NY Giants captain due to perceived slights. Enough to get locals dander up as also happened in1957: but that is a different story, a different NY player and sport.

December 7th marks a history event that stirred America to action against the tyranny of the Axis. If you get a chance, watch the movie “Tora, Tora Tora”. I think I first saw that movie while in Vietnam. It’s quite accurate. Hollywood made many films that reflect the drama the sneak attack by Japan caused. That will always be in the forefront of my mind.

However, on December 7, 1988 Papa had his torso opened from top to belly by the loving and caring doctors at the same hospital in which I was born. The world’s greatest surgeon, in my humble opinion, performed a quadruple bypass on my heart. That repair job outlasted his career. It’s my understanding he retired a few years ago. At the time, doctors were predicting 8 to 10 year expectations for heart bypasses. Plus 24 and counting is good by me. My fondest memory of my surgeon was his jokes. He came armed with one each day. He always extracted a belly laugh. Perhaps he wanted me to cough and gag on humor so that my lungs cleared. Or, perhaps he delighted in torturing me as an attorney. At university there was often friendly banter between law school and medical school athletic contests.

He came with lawyer jokes of course. “What’s the difference between a dead snake and a dead lawyer on an interstate highway? ……Skid marks in front of the snake.” Of course, I gave some medical humor right back. (I also found that lying to nurses/staff about fuzzy vision starting to clear can get a rise out of them. They want to take you seriously.)

A medical procedure often draws out unsolicited commenst/opinions from friends/relatives/visitors. One such pal said maybe I should worry because my surgeon only did one bypass with the left mammery artery. He said his buddy so and so had the best of the best and had both a right and left used for the re-routing of two bypasses. Good, now Papa had something to worry about. I couldn’t resist so I asked. The actual best doctor in the world looked at me and said, “The right artery is a little bit of a stretch.” Then he leaned back a tad and laughed, “Besides we need to save it for another day.”

When Papa says gouge he means gouge. Many years later a cardiologist at the VA hurried out of my examination room. She returned with a tape measure. Saying that other younger doctors would want to know she measured my chest and leg scars. One is from the ankle to nearly where it counts to get hit. Nowadays I guess little bitsey cuts are made. A racetrack wag up in Inverness claims his by pass was done while the heart was beating. I like a good joke but seriously; a surgeon with a sharp knife has to have a steady hand while a heart is quivering? (Papa doesn’t ask him for betting advice.)Reminds me of my hip replacement without anesthesia. The anesthesiologist and I were talking when I moved my shoulder. He said, “Stay still. Be careful. They have sharp instrumnets down there.” December 7th is a memorable date for me on a personal basis. When you need medical treatment look for a competent physician. One with a sense of humor is a bonus. For some reason I’ve found hospitals can provide unexpected sources of humor. I believe humor cures.

Papa was reminded of this question upon seeing the name of the new mayor of Tapei, Taiwan. Memories from the 1950’s returned to me. China going communist in 1949 was a jolt to the US. Sun Yat-Sen’s dream of democracy in China had been short lived. Like most countries, the minds of the people had not yet provided enough fertile ground for freedom. The US had supprted Chiang Kai Shek as leader of China for many years. There was probably an unrealistic element of assuming he led a stable government as China fought against Japan’s invasion in World War Two. China in the eyes of FDR was a member of the Big Four. After Pearl Harbor the Ameican led “Fighting Tigers” became operational in China. Our countries seemed close. (Watch “Forty Seconds Over Tokyo” to understand why I feel good towards those who save Ted Lawson.) The Nationalists and Communists in China seemingly cooperated in the struggle against Japan. Russia of course had long term connections to the Communists and after the second World War re-cemented relations; including in Manchuria and helping the revolt. Poof! China was lost and Chiang Kai Shek’s government fled to Taiwan.

I think it’s fair to assume that many in the US were shocked when the Nationalist government didn’t prevail in the civil war with the communists. It does appear that folks in the goverment had misread the situation. It wasn’t a far leap to wonder if someone could have done something to save China. Stalin gained influence with his communist compatriots of course and that added an additional question of whether anyone in the US had perhaps turned a blind eye to the situation; or heaven forbid, sympathized with the communist advance. Much of this became tied up in the Red Scare atmosphere in the US at the time. The Soviets were expanding at an alarming clip.

Now it seems popular to poo poo the 1950’s mentality about the dangers of communisim. However, the harsh dictatorship behind the Iron Curtain, the Soviet sponsored spread of revolution in various countries and the theft of nuclear technology were quite real. And, there were indeed some communists in America. Probably a lot fewer than believed if past “card carrying membership” was a major qualifying criteria. Papa once wrote that many in the generation of young adults in the 1920’s/30’s never met an “ism” they didn’t like or embrace. People still are making similar mistakes today. Marxism/communism/mysticism/totalitarnism/and even Eugenicsism maintain holds on some folks. (Side note: It was after all the crazy 60’s but Eugenics almost got Papa and his head shape.)

Most who dallied with communism in the years leading up to World War Two had probably moved on in the 1940’s/1950’s but they did leave a trail. Enter politicians looking for answers. Who lost China was one such question. So, in my youth a ton of energy was spent searching for communist spies. Again, there were some. But, the political side of the search became overbearing. There were more than one but my home state out did them all with Senator Joe McCarthy. I was young but I do recall “Joe must go!” signs around town. It was a big topic. As were the McCarthy/Army hearings on TV. Eventually, the internal hunt died down and US policy became one of “containment” of the communist threat.

(Another side note: After McCarthy’s death a special election was held. For years my brothers and I parked cars on a vacant lot across from the Wisconsin State Fair. Auto races and the fair itself drew big crowds. We made good money at 25-50 cents a car. And, up the block, if Grand Dad didn’t have a wake/funeral, we could also park cars on his paved lot. It was a slow funeral day when then candidate Bill Proxmire came to the funeral home to park. 75 cents was the going rate for a paved spot. However, he wanted to park a station wagon with a huge campaign sign at the corner; on the front lawn of the funeral home. Directly across the street from the fair’s main gate! Lots of traffic at that corner. We boys looked at each other and concluded there was no reason to ask permission fom Grand Dad. It was just a lawn. $5.00 was offered and pocketed for that prime location. For the rest of his senatorial career Proxmire seldom spent too much more on his campaigns. I think I met him another 10 times; he’d just show up at places around the state and shake hands. At the entrance of the Flower Show was a lead pipe cinch if one wanted to meet him.)

As for China, the current communists continue with the ism’s usual brutality and iron fist rule. They threaten and spy and conjole and are a looming threat to the US. But, first China may have its eye on Taiwan. The small island nation, free since 1949 may become a sitting duck. In 1979 the US withdrew from a defense treaty. Free China was abandoned in Papa’s view as another result of lost focus from the 1960’s and 1970’s of our own interests and security. Too often the US gets off and back on a wobbly coaster that veers away from a common sense concept of strength stopping aggression at the wrong times. These are my thoughts as the Generalissomo’s great-grandson becomes mayor of Taipei.

In 1951, General Douglas MacArthur said good-bye in an address to a joint session of Congress. I remember images of that speech. We did not yet have a television at home so I assume I saw him during a school assembly that included a recent newsreel. Newreels were short films that highlighted events from a few weeks ago. They were a standard feature at movie theaters. By the time they were shown at school during our bi-weekly or monthly gathering, the news was a tad stale. Nonetheless a few were very memorable to me. (Such as Roger Bannister breaking the four minute mile.)

General MacArthur was a well known hero from World War Two. As a boy the names of the men who had led the nation to victory were well known to me. Eisenhower, Bradley, Doolittle and Patton. Right up there was “I shall return” MacArthur. Plus he and his family had a Milwaukee connection. Later in life Papa often parked in a garage under MacArthur Squre when visiting the county courthouse.

I remember a sense of sorrow at the 1951 speech. I didn’t know the full details but some felt he had been treated unfairly/forced to retire. That a bona fide war hero was fired by the President mystified me at that age. A bittersweet moment to be sure. Near the end of the speech he said “old soldiers never die; they just fade away.” That phrase stuck with me. The words came at the end of a storied fifty-two year military career.

Sometimes Papa thinks “fading away” is not a bad idea. Currently, a second special counsel investigation, that follows a specific 1/6 congressional investigation and two prior congressional impeachments against President Trump was announced this morning. Five bites at the apple by my count. An inviting target but is there any doubt why he feels like a victim? He has at times been his own worst enemy but it has been six years of panting pursuit. Not just for him but also for the nation. Will the media or politicians ever tire of stoking their contempt to a boil? Of course, he will defend. Fight. For whatever reason, it’s an environment he enjoys. Media will be happy for profits from the story without end. Democrats may wish him to be the Presidential Election opponent in 2024. If he needs an infusion of cash to secure the nomination will there be a cynical “cutesy two”? It worked this election cycle. Or, is that playing too close to the fire? Soon the republicans will start some counter investigations. Any such action will undoubtedly draw the ire of the “5” side. It’s all partisan is a claim that is not too hard to predict.

I fear there will be no “fade away” in your childhood memories of 2016-2024.

When you reach a certain age you will be eligible to vote. That is a special right you will have that needs to be honored and protected. It is important that you exercise that right as an informed citizen. You will be surprised at how many folks simply don’t bother to vote. However, the number of uninformed folks about the issues confronting our functional democracy should also dismay you. Uniformed voters can become easy prey for emotional pleas of politicians. (Fear tops that list.) For that reason low participation rates in elections has seldom bothered me. I’d prefer to have voters who are interested, hopefully informed on issues and take the time/effort to vote being the ones who help make the decisions.

The question of a “wasted vote” most often is discussed in regard to third party candidates. The United States has two primary political parties. Votes for third party candidates, especially at the national level, are often depicted as wasted votes. Papa has, by such a cynical viewpoint, wasted a Presidential election vote more than twice. When confronted by a “lesser of two evils” choice here is how I choose to go forward. If I can’t simply decide which candidate is worse/better I opt out of of voting for a candidate not worthy of my vote. My responsibility as a voter, as I see it, is not to pick a winner from two losers. I vote for an indiviual who I believe can do the job. I fullfill my participation. The process is not simply one of math where I need to vote for/cheer for a major candidate. If the final results of an election are 52% to 46% to 2%; are only the 52% of votes valued? 48% wasted for not backing a winner? It is always easy for partisians to label the 2% as wasted.

The dominance of our two party system sets the stage for a perceived wasted vote by the 2% in my example. It is a main block to thrid party advancement. The “main attraction” focus of elections possibly mutes good ideas/policies that third parties have. It won’t happen in my lifetime but a competitive third political party could rise up during yours. The number of voters who self-describe as “independent” is growing. Perhaps as the two main parties isolate to their extreme edges a yearning for a moderate center will emerge. Just as likely is that the two parties will continue to give lip service to moderation as a draw for independents in order to retain power. That is unless the crazies in one (or both) party drives the experiement in democracy off the cliff.

I do not write on this subject because we are close to the last election. It is because today is Veteran’s Day. When Papa was young all males were potential soldiers. The US had a draft until 1973. Selection for the draft was not a slam dunk for most young men. It was more of an obstacle to be dealt with before getting on with life. Elvis Presley was a good example. He was drafted. Many other men volunteered so that they could pick a branch of service or miitary specialty. Many entered the National Guard or Reserve units to satisfy their service requirement. A few Green Bay Packers who had to get a weekend pass to play in championship games were famous examples. Deferments for school or some employment fields were available to most who applied. But, in the end all males had to navigate the Selective Service hurdle. Most did this in an honorable fashion.

However, a small number outright dodged the draft, as well as accepatble military service. They did that to avoid any chance of going to Vietnam. I held/hold such persons in low esteem. I understood we all were in the same boat and needed to navigate the draft before getting on with life. Most college guys I knew made calculations that suited them and their goals. The formula was the same at age 18 as it was a few years later. For those who dodged I felt that act would possibly catch up to them with negative consequences. Most of the country doesn’t see it that way and has moved on. However, it’d be nice if dodgers wondered if a man died or was injured in the place they would have occupied. Probably unlikely knowing the character of dodgers. It is painful that some achieved high positions in life; including running for/being President. A few earn special conyempt by denigrating those who did serve or thump their chests as if they also served. I don’t recall seeing any of them over there.

Yep, at times there are valid reasons to vote for candidates not from one of the two primary parties. Not a wasted vote. Sometimes 2-6% is a conscious vote.

No, Papa is not headed in the direction you might think from this title. Still on politics. Current Affairs in the context of history has always held my interest. Television reporting of election results in the 1950’s was more or less straightforward. Votes counted, votes received, precincts outstanding, winners, losers, leaders and laggers; newscasters gave viewers statistics. Through the years election coverage has expanded beyond mere numbers to include in-depth analysis and predictions, not to mention post mortems. Papa still enjoys it but his grain of salt listening to various “talking heads” has expanded into a huge lump. However, I will be watching next Tuesday.

A main interest will be how the democrat party’s “cutesy” game turns out. Especially in the state of New Hampshire. Talking heads tell us that control of the US Senate hangs in the balance on November 8th. Drama! In an effort to ensure democracy flourishes, democrat funds were pumped to assist a supposedly “extremist” republican candidate in the New Hampshire’s primary. They wanted an easier opponent for the incumbent. Find an outsider who liked Trump and had questions about the 2020 election outcome and that candidtate could become easy pickings next Tuesday. ( Is an extremist only in the eye of the beholder?) 3.2 million dollars well spent? OOPS! That contest is now neck and neck. The seat could still be lost to a Republican. (Darn! It worked for Claire McCaskill.)

The New Hampshire race is not the only 2022 primary election is which cross-over money from the democrat party was spent to prop up what the party viewed as a questionable candidate/opponent. It’ll take some research to identify other races of less import that might be mentioned during a Tuesday newscast. (Papa’s best research tools so far: Wahington Post, NPR and Bloomberg.) One election that will not need watching or research is for govenor of Illinois. 30+ million dollars spent to maniulate a patsy must make that seat rather valuable. Papa is not sure why any republican needed help to become a defeated one in The Land Of Lincoln by a democrat. Not being a conspiracy nut myself, there is that rumor out there that many new born babies in Illinois have a chip embedded in an index finger by the MWFF* that automatically flicks any switch that has a “d” near to it.

Best to reject unfounded rumors. What is important is to vote to save democracy. At least that is a top issue according to some political pros for the 2022 mid-term elections. Papa needs to do some thinking. It is critical to oppose extremists. However, occasionally it’s okay to give them a small boost in a primary so they can have a bigger platform in the main election to broadcast their views? Perhaps fostering free speech for nut jobs is the ultimate goal of cross over money? I thought that the internet already supplied that outlet.

Crossover money registers a faint memory of a party’s objections to Wisconsin’s open primary system. (Papa likes that system created around 1905.) The Badger State registers voters without party designation. Back home misguided policies somehow developed that convention delegates follow the state’s primary results. That viewpoint bumped into a sentiment against “cross over voters” participating in democracy. So much so that a US Supreme Court case rose up from the democrats 1980 refusal to seat Wisconsin’s delegation. Apples and oranges to some extent of course. Yet, why hold a primary if it is doesn’t have meaning? And, who pays the cost of such unecessary elections? If Wisconsin was trying to undo “smoke filled back room party politics,” are primaries simply window dressing? So much to think about on a rainy day.

*Maternity Ward Freedom Fighters

So said the banner headline of the November 3rd, 1948 Chicago Daily Tribune. Papa was around on that date but I didn’t become aware of the headline’s significance until the 1950’s when my interest in current affairs and journalism began. You see President Truman pulled an election upset of the New York Governor on November 2nd. Due to time contraints in setting type and printing their first edition, the newspaper relied on polling and its own political expert to assume a Dewey win. Truman obtained a copy of the newspaper with the incorrect headline and his photo with it became very famous. He had a broad smile on his face. I’d say he was beaming.

Such mistakes/assumptions are rather rare but nonetheless embarrassing. I do recall my journalism teacher stressing the importance of checking the facts before publishing in the school newspaper. Professional newspapers failed in 1916 when it was reported that President Wilson did not win. Or, in 1960 when JFK was declared the winner in California. Ditto Al Gore in Florida in 2000 which I believe was television rather than newspaper. Back to print media, Hillary Clinton’s photo was featured as President on the cover of some Newsweek issues in 2016. It’s election season so we might watch for mis-calls of winners and losers next week.

BTW: I met Governor Dewey twice. He was a very nice man. He was gracious to me when I visited his law office in New York City. He was a friend of Nana’s family. He had a huge office with massive windows looking out over the city. I was a young lawyer but the discussion that stuck with me was his comment that he was keeping an eye on the construction of two side by side towers. He pointed out the site and described the work progress to date. He had a better view than any sidewalk superintendent but his interest/pride in the project was genuine. I also saw him at our wedding. When 9/11 happened, my vision of him pointing and gesturing out his window towards the towers increased the poignancy of the day for me.