DAVID BRINKLEY'S JOURNAL: INSIDE JIMMY HOFFA (TV)
Summary
One in this series of public affairs programs hosted by David Brinkley. This program examines Jimmy Hoffa, president of the controversial and powerful Teamsters Union. Footage of Hoffa speaking at meetings and chatting with Teamsters Union members depict the labor leader as a charismatic orator who, despite myriad accusations of graft, enjoys the emotional, vocal support of his constituents -- who share his belief in the persecution of the Union by a collusion of the press and the U.S. government, headed by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Footage of speeches made by like-minded local Teamsters leaders is also shown. Additional footage depicts a meeting of Voice of the Teamsters, a disgruntled group of anti-Hoffa union members, whose hatred of their president is made explicit with a ceremonial coffin bearing Hoffa's name and with comparisons of Hoffa to Hitler and Mussolini. Philadelphia Teamsters boss Ray Cohen speaks in defense of Hoffa and refutes the claims of strong-arm intimidation tactics recounted by Voice of the Teamsters. Brinkley then conducts an interview with the wary Hoffa (who reportedly referred to Brinkley as a "jerk"), who discusses the following topics, among others: his conception of himself as average and ordinary; his belief that life is a "jungle" and that ethics are subjective; his hatred of the rampant hypocrisy in Washington, D.C.; his belief that Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy is carrying out a vendetta against him; his grudging admiration of Robert F. Kennedy's determination; his belief that the general public supports him and the Teamsters; his belief that the press has been "100 percent unfair" to him; his contention that the methods used in congressional hearings are unfair; improprieties committed by his predecessor; his lack of interest in money; and his desire to get back into the AFL-CIO. Includes commercials.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by The Marc Haas and Helen Hotze Haas Foundation, 1997.
Preservation of the Post–World War II American Television Documentary Collection is supported in part by a Federal Save America’s Treasures grant administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: April 1, 1963 Monday 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:10
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T84:0203
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Teamsters; Trade-unions
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1961-1963
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Xerox Corporation
CREDITS
- Ted Yates … Producer, Direction (Misc.), Film Directed by
- Stuart Schulberg … Producer
- Carl Robinson … Production (Misc.), Production Manager
- Robert Rogers … Production (Misc.), Production Consultant
- Frank Slingland … Director
- Leon Chromax … Direction (Misc.), Technical Director
- Jack Pfautz … Direction (Misc.), Associate Director
- David Brinkley … Host, Interviewer
- Hoffa, James R. "Jimmy" … Guest
- Ray Cohen … Guest
- Robert F. Kennedy