Jessica, you must be a follower of Heather Cox Richardson - right? She has kept me calm along with you by just doing just that - referencing an historical moment and its parallels. It is clear there truly is nothing new since the Roman’s. If you haven’t read Yuval Noah Harari’s four books - beginning with Sapiens it will round off the even broader picture of the history of humans and how we got here. Insanely fascinating. Thank you for each and everyone of your newsletters.
Dear Jess, I so appreciate your scholarship! That gives so much heft and credibility to how you lead this community. I was 13 in 1968, living in the SF Bay Area, dad a prof at UC Berkeley (trying to avoid tear gas regularly). My memory of that time is cloudy and fraught. I remember how alarmed my progressive Democrat parents were as the assassinations mounted up and social order deteriorated (as they worked to manage their four young children and everything else). I look forward to diving into the references you have given us. I think Lawrence O’Donnell also wrote a book about 1968. I wonder if anyone has read that.
It is a FASCINATING year and well worth the study. Start with the five-part "The Rest is History" podcast series about 1968. It's wonderful! I linked to it in the intro.
I too read Lawrence O'Donnell's book. I've been blabbing about it to everyone. It's that good.
I graduated from high school in 1968. Whew! I thought the world was coming to an end. What I tell my kids is that this is what it felt like in the 60's. I too take solace in the fact that we got past that time. But it was so very painful and shocking.
I also take comfort in reading history. Delving into other dark times and learning how people navigated through them reassures me. I unintentionally (subconsciously?) started reading books about the Civil War/Lincoln in the months before the election. Even with fiction, I am deep into the historically accurate Cadfael series by Ellis Peters, set during The Anarchy of 12th Century England. There are descriptions of that civil war between royals, and the affects on people who are just trying to live their daily lives, that feel eerily fitting to now
I was there in Vietnam from August 67 to September 1968. The news of King’s assassination as well as Kennedy’s hit us all hard there. I was there during Tet, it was quite a month. I remember coming home and felt the violence towards American soldiers when we returned. Our country was upside down and inside out. The history being made at that time is somewhat comparable to today’s mess. We made it through it though and came out ok. There was a lot of work that got done to help straighten things out, from both political parties. Let’s be clear, we have a lot of work to do in the coming months. Keep the MAGA’ s in line as much as possible and count on each other for support. We made it through the Vietnam crisis and we will make it through this crisis too.
Thank you for your sacrifice, Frank. It was indeed a terrible time. I lived through it as well but it's only in retrospect that I'm realizing how awful it truly was.
Not sure Lady Bird did not know, from her journals it was a lot more calculated. This podcast is a facinating history from her writings. https://abcaudio.com/podcasts/in-plain-sight/
I also recently read this one on a riot in NYC right after Kent State. The book is very much from a conservative viewpoint of the protests but I found that a lot of those same critiques coming through by conservatives today. It left me a lot to think about in how an event can be seen from different perspectives and how it gets spun. The other thing is that the events depicted after Kent state are not remembered even by my survey of folks that lived in NY and were teens at the time. https://www.amazon.com/Hardhat-Riot-Nixon-Working-Class-Revolution/dp/0190064714
I got an idea the other day and have begun to suggest it to various advocacy groups. Everyone is asking how we break through the Fox News bubble. Well, here's a suggestion: postcards to Republicans and Independents with the truth about what Trump is doing.
Since the infrastructure for this already exists, it seems an easy thing to do. It's just a question of obtaining lists and getting the messaging right. (I have some ideas about this but I am not an expert on persuading people.) I hope you like this idea and will help me push it. I have already contacted Field Team 6. What do you think?
I mean, it’s interesting? I’d be curious to hear what others think. I like your thinking—it’s outside of the box and we need that. What sort of message?
Another idea is some sort of graphic or cartoon. And still another idea is an offer of help with a particular problem. I know these are vague but I offer them as jumping off points for discussion. 😀
Thank you! I'm encouraged by your response. I'm not sure about the messaging. I'm not sure how to get through to people like that. You don't want to turn them off, so nothing condescending. Maybe a "Did you know that..." approach? This is beyond my expertise.
Jessica—if you would like to read one more book about 1968, I’ll send you my memoir. That was the year I joined the auto-war movement in San Francisco. The year my belief in the blind patriotism I was taught in my childhood fell away.
How you manage so much reading with all you do for CW,CW, is amazing. I'm also a huge fan of the Caro bios of Lyndon Johnson. Have you seen the film Turn Every Page featuring Robert Caro and his long-time editor, Robert Gottlieb. It's by Gottlieb's daughter and is a masterpiece.
Thanks for another excellent post, with good reading suggestions and action items too. I was able to reach the House committee about Gaetz, both of my Senators, and add my name to the letter to Jack Smith. I also wrote to President Biden, asking him to issue pardons to Jack Smith and his team and to award Jack Smith the Presidential Medal of Freedom (very easy at www.whitehouse.gov/contact).
Jessica, you are always a source for encouragement to stay in the fight and you link ways to do so. I have brought women and ally men to the conversation here 💙.
Jess, I appreciate your take and leadership. I have been concerned about the 2024 election's integrity. Upon reading some solid writing from many sources here on Substack of compiled data anomilies and irregular incidents, I requested President Biden and Vice President Harris conduct a forensic audit of the 2024 election. Time is of the essence. My letter was:
Dear …,
I urge you to initiate a Forensic Audit of the 2024 election to investigate Musk-generated bullet ballots, Russian hacking incidents and voter suppression and roster interference.
Numerous credible sources are alarmed. I quote Jackie Singh, whom you know, "as someone who has worked to safeguard our democracy, I believe that a forensic audit is necessary to ensure that every vote is accurately counted and public trust is restored. I respectfully ask for your leadership in initiating this vital process." I add my plea to hers.
We need to know the truth of the questionable result of this election, a process regularly done for electoral hygiene in most countries.
Please initiated the forensic audit of the 2024 election now.
HI EVERYONE I MEANT ROBERT CARO NOT MICHAEL! Gah! Sloppy careless error. I actually do know his name. No need to email me! Thanks!
Jessica, you must be a follower of Heather Cox Richardson - right? She has kept me calm along with you by just doing just that - referencing an historical moment and its parallels. It is clear there truly is nothing new since the Roman’s. If you haven’t read Yuval Noah Harari’s four books - beginning with Sapiens it will round off the even broader picture of the history of humans and how we got here. Insanely fascinating. Thank you for each and everyone of your newsletters.
And yes I do indeed read HCR. She’s a mainstay.
Ooh that sounds amazing! I will add it to my list! Thank you!
Thank you for the encouraging words, and historical info!
Absolutely!
Dear Jess, I so appreciate your scholarship! That gives so much heft and credibility to how you lead this community. I was 13 in 1968, living in the SF Bay Area, dad a prof at UC Berkeley (trying to avoid tear gas regularly). My memory of that time is cloudy and fraught. I remember how alarmed my progressive Democrat parents were as the assassinations mounted up and social order deteriorated (as they worked to manage their four young children and everything else). I look forward to diving into the references you have given us. I think Lawrence O’Donnell also wrote a book about 1968. I wonder if anyone has read that.
It is a FASCINATING year and well worth the study. Start with the five-part "The Rest is History" podcast series about 1968. It's wonderful! I linked to it in the intro.
I too read Lawrence O'Donnell's book. I've been blabbing about it to everyone. It's that good.
I graduated from high school in 1968. Whew! I thought the world was coming to an end. What I tell my kids is that this is what it felt like in the 60's. I too take solace in the fact that we got past that time. But it was so very painful and shocking.
I have, it's called Playing with Fire, and it's excellent. Brought back a lot of memories.
Just put it on hold at the library! Thx!!
I also take comfort in reading history. Delving into other dark times and learning how people navigated through them reassures me. I unintentionally (subconsciously?) started reading books about the Civil War/Lincoln in the months before the election. Even with fiction, I am deep into the historically accurate Cadfael series by Ellis Peters, set during The Anarchy of 12th Century England. There are descriptions of that civil war between royals, and the affects on people who are just trying to live their daily lives, that feel eerily fitting to now
Great series! Written by Edith Pargeter during a time when female authors used pen names because women were not supposed to be writers.
Agreed. We really like that series, also the TV series based on it.
Ooh that sounds great!
I was there in Vietnam from August 67 to September 1968. The news of King’s assassination as well as Kennedy’s hit us all hard there. I was there during Tet, it was quite a month. I remember coming home and felt the violence towards American soldiers when we returned. Our country was upside down and inside out. The history being made at that time is somewhat comparable to today’s mess. We made it through it though and came out ok. There was a lot of work that got done to help straighten things out, from both political parties. Let’s be clear, we have a lot of work to do in the coming months. Keep the MAGA’ s in line as much as possible and count on each other for support. We made it through the Vietnam crisis and we will make it through this crisis too.
Thank you for your service. I can’t even imagine what you’ve lived through.
Thank you for your sacrifice, Frank. It was indeed a terrible time. I lived through it as well but it's only in retrospect that I'm realizing how awful it truly was.
If you enjoyed Founding Fathers by Joesph Ellis if you haven’t read it The Quartet by him as well
I'll look for it!
Not sure Lady Bird did not know, from her journals it was a lot more calculated. This podcast is a facinating history from her writings. https://abcaudio.com/podcasts/in-plain-sight/
I also recently read this one on a riot in NYC right after Kent State. The book is very much from a conservative viewpoint of the protests but I found that a lot of those same critiques coming through by conservatives today. It left me a lot to think about in how an event can be seen from different perspectives and how it gets spun. The other thing is that the events depicted after Kent state are not remembered even by my survey of folks that lived in NY and were teens at the time. https://www.amazon.com/Hardhat-Riot-Nixon-Working-Class-Revolution/dp/0190064714
Yeah interesting parallels there as well. Student protesters were deeply unpopular at the time it seems?
Jess,
I got an idea the other day and have begun to suggest it to various advocacy groups. Everyone is asking how we break through the Fox News bubble. Well, here's a suggestion: postcards to Republicans and Independents with the truth about what Trump is doing.
Since the infrastructure for this already exists, it seems an easy thing to do. It's just a question of obtaining lists and getting the messaging right. (I have some ideas about this but I am not an expert on persuading people.) I hope you like this idea and will help me push it. I have already contacted Field Team 6. What do you think?
I mean, it’s interesting? I’d be curious to hear what others think. I like your thinking—it’s outside of the box and we need that. What sort of message?
Another idea is some sort of graphic or cartoon. And still another idea is an offer of help with a particular problem. I know these are vague but I offer them as jumping off points for discussion. 😀
Thank you! I'm encouraged by your response. I'm not sure about the messaging. I'm not sure how to get through to people like that. You don't want to turn them off, so nothing condescending. Maybe a "Did you know that..." approach? This is beyond my expertise.
Jessica—if you would like to read one more book about 1968, I’ll send you my memoir. That was the year I joined the auto-war movement in San Francisco. The year my belief in the blind patriotism I was taught in my childhood fell away.
Great to "see" you in NC today. Carry on!
Yes! Great meeting, right?
How you manage so much reading with all you do for CW,CW, is amazing. I'm also a huge fan of the Caro bios of Lyndon Johnson. Have you seen the film Turn Every Page featuring Robert Caro and his long-time editor, Robert Gottlieb. It's by Gottlieb's daughter and is a masterpiece.
No! And I keep meaning to watch it! Where did you stream it?
Thanks for another excellent post, with good reading suggestions and action items too. I was able to reach the House committee about Gaetz, both of my Senators, and add my name to the letter to Jack Smith. I also wrote to President Biden, asking him to issue pardons to Jack Smith and his team and to award Jack Smith the Presidential Medal of Freedom (very easy at www.whitehouse.gov/contact).
Amazing thank you!
I tried to use your link to sign the thank-you letter to Jack Smith, but it did not work.
It might be my system. But could you please check the link to see if it is correct? Jack Smith
needs to know his efforts were appreciated and that there are many of us who will stand with
him if he gets blowback from corrupt Trump and cronies!
It's not a link it's an email address. Just copy and paste it into the TO: field of your email?
I hope I did it right.
Jessica, you are always a source for encouragement to stay in the fight and you link ways to do so. I have brought women and ally men to the conversation here 💙.
Thank you!
Jess, I appreciate your take and leadership. I have been concerned about the 2024 election's integrity. Upon reading some solid writing from many sources here on Substack of compiled data anomilies and irregular incidents, I requested President Biden and Vice President Harris conduct a forensic audit of the 2024 election. Time is of the essence. My letter was:
Dear …,
I urge you to initiate a Forensic Audit of the 2024 election to investigate Musk-generated bullet ballots, Russian hacking incidents and voter suppression and roster interference.
Numerous credible sources are alarmed. I quote Jackie Singh, whom you know, "as someone who has worked to safeguard our democracy, I believe that a forensic audit is necessary to ensure that every vote is accurately counted and public trust is restored. I respectfully ask for your leadership in initiating this vital process." I add my plea to hers.
We need to know the truth of the questionable result of this election, a process regularly done for electoral hygiene in most countries.
Please initiated the forensic audit of the 2024 election now.
Thank you.