FIRING LINE: TEN YEARS OF FIRING LINE: 1966-76 (TV)
Summary
One in this talk/interview series hosted by William F. Buckley, Jr. This edition celebrates the tenth anniversary of the series with a selection of clips from memorable and significant editions. Buckley begins by explaining that the idea behind the series has been to provide an exchange of opinions, with special emphasis given to the conservative point of view on matters of public opinion. In the first group of clips, focusing on the period of dŽtente, Buckley shows writer Alexandr Solzhenitsyn (1976) ridiculing both nuclear war and attempts at dŽtente, William Teller (1971) hinting at his work on the hydrogen bomb, and Henry Kissinger (1975) predicting a change in Marxist ideology. To portray the nation's anti-Vietnam War movement, Buckley selects clips of Timothy Leary (1967) with his "turn on, tune in, drop out" message, Eldridge Cleaver (1969) lambasting those involved in the "machinery of oppression," William Kunstler (1971) defending his justification of protest via arson, Norman Thomas (1966) speaking in the series' first edition and his last television appearance, Dean Rusk (1974) discussing the mistakes he made as Secretary of State during the Vietnam War, Muhammed Ali (1968) talking about his conversion to the Muslim religion, and Allen Ginsberg (1968) insisting on the racist nature of the Vietnam War and chanting a Hari Krishna tune. Editions dealing with the civil-rights movement featured Julian Bond (1974), John Lewis (1974), Jesse Jackson (1971), and Ron Dellums (1971). Many of the programs in this era dealt with Richard M. Nixon and his presidency, and Buckley refers to the following appearances on the program: Nixon himself (1967), commenting on decentralization of government, development of the private sector, and "unexciting" programs backed by conservatives; Hubert Humphrey (1973), discussing Nixon's personality and how it affects the office of the president; Eugene McCarthy (1974), criticizing Nixon's sending troops into Cambodia without Congressional approval; Governor Jimmy Carter (1973), practicing a restructured Southern accent while defending federal authority over state power; Elliot Richardson (1974), talking soon after his resigation as attorney general; E. Howard Hunt (1974), discussing Nixon's involvement in Watergate; and Gerald R. Ford (1974), talking about the Nixon impeachment hearings. Finally, Buckley ends this retrospective with an atypical edition in which pianist Rosalyn Tureck (1970) performs and comments on the public's hesitation to embrace certain forms of classical music.
(Network affiliation varies; this program was also syndicated from 1966 to 1971 and from 1975 to 1977.)
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Theodore R. Stanley.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: October 22, 1976
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:50
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:08419
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Conservatism; Detente; Vietnam War; Watergate; Civil Rights; Pianists; Music; African-American Collection - News/Talk
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-1999
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Warren Steibel … Executive Producer
- Ann Delaney … Producer
- Paul Sweeney … Associate Producer
- Larry Lancit … Director
- George Kahookele … Direction (Misc.), Assistant Director
- Robin Wu … Researcher
- William F. Buckley, Jr. … Host, Interviewer
- Ali, Muhammad (See also: Clay, Cassius)
- Julian Bond
- Jimmy Carter
- Eldridge Cleaver
- Ron Dellums
- Gerald R. Ford
- Allen Ginsberg
- Hubert Humphrey
- E. Howard Hunt
- Jesse Jackson
- Henry Kissinger
- William Kunstler
- Timothy Leary
- John Lewis
- Eugene McCarthy
- Richard M. Nixon
- Elliot Richardson
- Dean Rusk
- Alexandr Solzhenitsyn
- William Teller
- Norman Thomas
- Rosalyn Tureck