Ben Bradlee Dead

[Tracy Riddle]

It doesn't say much for the US that most people in the political/media/academic classes are content with myths and fairy tales. The official story of Watergate remains a favorite bedtime story for many liberals, while right-wingers operate at that level of thinking constantly (Saint Ronnie the Tax Killer, who actually raised taxes several times).

[Magda Hassan]

It doesn't say much for the US that most people in the political/media/academic classes are content with myths and fairy tales. The official story of Watergate remains a favorite bedtime story for many liberals, while right-wingers operate at that level of thinking constantly (Saint Ronnie the Tax Killer, who actually raised taxes several times).

Couldn't agree more. It is like the whole of the so called intellectual classes are asleep or out to lunch.

[Albert Doyle]

Ben Bradlee played his expected role for the shadow party while his sister in law was wacked.

[Jim DiEugenio]

All three of the episodes I mentioned above are pretty bad concerning Bradlee.

The disguising of his status and the quiet smear about who Kennedy was in his book.

The failure to do anything about his alleged friend's death. And his actual work to disguise it. See, he was editor when the Post ran the editorial saying even if the HSCA was right, the guy on the GK probably was unrelated to Oswald at all. Meaning it was just a coincidence. In Talbot's book, when Bradlee says he was a guy on the make and didn't want to risk anything in 1964, I mean what about 1978 Ben? YOu were not on the way up anymore then. You were at the top? So why were you still part of the cover up then?

But the one that sticks in my craw the most today is what he and the Post did on Watergate.

"It doesn't say much for the US that most people in the political/media/academic classes are content with myths and fairy tales. The official story of Watergate remains a favorite bedtime story for many liberals, while right-wingers operate at that level of thinking constantly (Saint Ronnie the Tax Killer, who actually raised taxes several times)."

Why does it bug me so to this day?

At the time Woodward's book came out, and then the Redford film, I had already graduated from college. But even at that, I still swallowed that story about two intrepid reporters egged on by the crusading liberal editor at the Post. It said: the system actually worked. Sam Ervin became a hero, as did Jaworksi. But most of all it was WoodStein and Bradlee and Kate Graham backing them. They finally brought down that evil Nixon. Which was part of the allure of course. Anyone with any progressive ideals despised Tricky Dick.

I was so happy Nixon got his due, that I was not being wise. I failed to ask myself the obvious (much larger) question: Why would Bradlee and the Post go after Watergate tooth and nail for two straight years, but Benjy would not utter a peep about the bizarre circumstances surrounding his pal Jack Kennedy's murder?

If I had asked myself that question, then I would have understood Watergate sooner. I would not have had to wait until I read Secret Agenda, one of the most important books of the era. I would have asked myself more about McCord's actions that night they got caught. I would have also looked more into this background.

See, McCord was a security specialist for awhile at Langley. But he was also an operator. In fact, he is mentioned briefly in Prouty's book, The Secret Team. The idea that someone with that CIA/espionage/black bag background would retape the door after he knew the security guard had already been there once to take it off, that was just too much to swallow with someone like McCord. Especially in light of the fact that when the Cubans found out the tape was stripped, they wanted to abort the mission. It was McCord who wanted to continue. But further, when the Cubans asked McCord if he had removed the tape from the door after the burglary crew had gone inside, McCord said he had. He had not. That was almost telling the security guard, "Hey, something is going on here. Its not custodial work." And after the guard drops the dime, then the CIA friendly cop, Shoffler, just happens to be working late that night when his whole family is on vacation in Pennsylvania? And its he who answers the call.

And then Hunt collects the Cubans belongings and does not store their gym bags in a locker? He leaves them in the hotel room. After he fails to collect their hotel keys from them? And in those belongings that were so easily traced is a notebook with Hunt's name and phone number inside. And next to his name it says, "W. House" But further, Hunt paid the Cubans in sequentially numbered currency. The money would lead from Miami to Mexico City back to CREEP. And you are going to tell me no one at the Post smelled a set up?

But if that was not enough, how about McCord's letters to both CIA and the White House? He writes: Every tree in the forest will fall if Nixon fires Helms. Which Nixon did. And four months later, on the eve of trial, with the cover up still holding, its McCord who writes the letter to Sirica telling him perjury has been committed, and pointing his finger at the White House. As did Hunt.

Then came the Senate hearings with McCord and Hunt denying they ever worked together or even knew each other in the CIA. I mean talk about laughable. But, egged on by the Post, the MSM bought this shit. I should add, that other CIA slut, Sy Hersh was part of the NY Times coverage of Watergate. It was just as bad if not worse.

Now, Bradlee, Woodward nor Bernstein never sniffed any of this? I don't think so. In fact, I think Bernstein understood it later. Which is why he left the Post shortly after and wrote his great article "The CIA and the Media" for Rolling Stone. Although he could never admit it, that was his way of saying he now understood he had been taken around the bend by Bradlee and Woodward.

It wasn't till later that I discovered things about not just Bradlee but Woodward that made me understood more fully what had happened. Woodward was an intelligence briefer in the Navy, on board a very high security ship. He then had a very fast track apprenticeship to the Post reporter position. Like a year or so from an outlying suburban newspaper. Whereas Bernstein left, Woodward stayed on and did all these future insider books for these higher ups and made tons of money.

Anyway, when I learned all of this much later, that is when I more fully understood what a dupe I had been. And why Bradlee decided to demean Kennedy as a foreign policy neophyte. The middle initial in his name stands for Crowninshield. His family goes back to the 1600's in New England. Benji was Boston Brahmin all the way.

[Dawn Meredith]

A short list: Bradlee knew who killed JFK and didn't expose it in his media. Bradlee was involved in and knew who killed Mary Meyers [JFK's last lover and close political and personal confidant] and didn't expose it in his media. Bradlee knew that the Watergate stories in his media were CIA-approved and run modified limited hangouts. Bradlee was a close friend of James Angleton and other top level spooks. It seems Bradlee was a spook himself......just one assigned to the media.

Back in the 70's my then boyfriend Harvey Yazijian of the Assassination Information Bureau was on tv with Bradlee discussing the assassination. I thought Bradlee might have a heart attack. He insisted it was LHO and when Harv gave evidence to the contrary Bradlee just yelled and turned purple in the face. It was very telling.

Dawn

[Dawn Meredith]

All three of the episodes I mentioned above are pretty bad concerning Bradlee.

The disguising of his status and the quiet smear about who Kennedy was in his book.

The failure to do anything about his alleged friend's death. And his actual work to disguise it. See, he was editor when the Post ran the editorial saying even if the HSCA was right, the guy on the GK probably was unrelated to Oswald at all. Meaning it was just a coincidence. In Talbot's book, when Bradlee says he was a guy on the make and didn't want to risk anything in 1964, I mean what about 1978 Ben? YOu were not on the way up anymore then. You were at the top? So why were you still part of the cover up then?

But the one that sticks in my craw the most today is what he and the Post did on Watergate.

"It doesn't say much for the US that most people in the political/media/academic classes are content with myths and fairy tales. The official story of Watergate remains a favorite bedtime story for many liberals, while right-wingers operate at that level of thinking constantly (Saint Ronnie the Tax Killer, who actually raised taxes several times)."

Why does it bug me so to this day?

At the time Woodward's book came out, and then the Redford film, I had already graduated from college. But even at that, I still swallowed that story about two intrepid reporters egged on by the crusading liberal editor at the Post. It said: the system actually worked. Sam Ervin became a hero, as did Jaworksi. But most of all it was WoodStein and Bradlee and Kate Graham backing them. They finally brought down that evil Nixon. Which was part of the allure of course. Anyone with any progressive ideals despised Tricky Dick.

I was so happy Nixon got his due, that I was not being wise. I failed to ask myself the obvious (much larger) question: Why would Bradlee and the Post go after Watergate tooth and nail for two straight years, but Benjy would not utter a peep about the bizarre circumstances surrounding his pal Jack Kennedy's murder?

If I had asked myself that question, then I would have understood Watergate sooner. I would not have had to wait until I read Secret Agenda, one of the most important books of the era. I would have asked myself more about McCord's actions that night they got caught. I would have also looked more into this background.

See, McCord was a security specialist for awhile at Langley. But he was also an operator. In fact, he is mentioned briefly in Prouty's book, The Secret Team. The idea that someone with that CIA/espionage/black bag background would retape the door after he knew the security guard had already been there once to take it off, that was just too much to swallow with someone like McCord. Especially in light of the fact that when the Cubans found out the tape was stripped, they wanted to abort the mission. It was McCord who wanted to continue. But further, when the Cubans asked McCord if he had removed the tape from the door after the burglary crew had gone inside, McCord said he had. He had not. That was almost telling the security guard, "Hey, something is going on here. Its not custodial work." And after the guard drops the dime, then the CIA friendly cop, Shoffler, just happens to be working late that night when his whole family is on vacation in Pennsylvania? And its he who answers the call.

And then Hunt collects the Cubans belongings and does not store their gym bags in a locker? He leaves them in the hotel room. After he fails to collect their hotel keys from them? And in those belongings that were so easily traced is a notebook with Hunt's name and phone number inside. And next to his name it says, "W. House" But further, Hunt paid the Cubans in sequentially numbered currency. The money would lead from Miami to Mexico City back to CREEP. And you are going to tell me no one at the Post smelled a set up?

But if that was not enough, how about McCord's letters to both CIA and the White House? He writes: Every tree in the forest will fall if Nixon fires Helms. Which Nixon did. And four months later, on the eve of trial, with the cover up still holding, its McCord who writes the letter to Sirica telling him perjury has been committed, and pointing his finger at the White House. As did Hunt.

Then came the Senate hearings with McCord and Hunt denying they ever worked together or even knew each other in the CIA. I mean talk about laughable. But, egged on by the Post, the MSM bought this shit. I should add, that other CIA slut, Sy Hersh was part of the NY Times coverage of Watergate. It was just as bad if not worse.

Now, Bradlee, Woodward nor Bernstein never sniffed any of this? I don't think so. In fact, I think Bernstein understood it later. Which is why he left the Post shortly after and wrote his great article "The CIA and the Media" for Rolling Stone. Although he could never admit it, that was his way of saying he now understood he had been taken around the bend by Bradlee and Woodward.

It wasn't till later that I discovered things about not just Bradlee but Woodward that made me understood more fully what had happened. Woodward was an intelligence briefer in the Navy, on board a very high security ship. He then had a very fast track apprenticeship to the Post reporter position. Like a year or so from an outlying suburban newspaper. Whereas Bernstein left, Woodward stayed on and did all these future insider books for these higher ups and made tons of money.

Anyway, when I learned all of this much later, that is when I more fully understood what a dupe I had been. And why Bradlee decided to demean Kennedy as a foreign policy neophyte. The middle initial in his name stands for Crowninshield. His family goes back to the 1600's in New England. Benji was Boston Brahmin all the way.

I did not buy the cover story from very early on. I mean what security agent acts like McCord. The double taping came out pretty early, at least it did in Boston.

It was clear to me that it was a set up, but I hated Nixon so I did not care. Nixon had ruined so many lives with his commie bating lies.

Wish I had more time but gotta run off to court...

[Jim DiEugenio]

Back in the 70's my then boyfriend Harvey Yazijian of the Assassination Information Bureau was on tv with Bradlee discussing the assassination. I thought Bradlee might have a heart attack. He insisted it was LHO and when Harv gave evidence to the contrary Bradlee just yelled and turned purple in the face. It was very telling.

Dawn


I would have loved to have seen that.

Harvey should have just asked Benjy: " But Ben, I thought you and JFK were the best of friends? You did write a book about him didn't you? Doesn't it matter to you if there are serious questions about the circumstances of his death?"

I would have paid to hear his reply to that.

[Tracy Riddle]

I cheerfully accepted the official story of Watergate until I read Silent Coup in the early 90s. That was an eye-opener, around the same time I started studying the JFK assassination and the USS Liberty attack. It's very hard to let go of comfortable narratives that reinforce our familiar-though-false world view, but a truth-seeking person has to do that. I think JFK, RFK, MLK and Malcolm X were constantly doing that, which is what made them so dangerous.

[Albert Doyle]

His great uncle, Frank Crowninshield, was the founding editor of Vanity Fair. … (Source: Politico)
[B]Ben Bradlee and the CIA[/B]

Well, now I know why, 1 year after the controversy over Hendrix's murder appeared in the media, Vanity Fair ran an article by veteran Rolling Stone reporter Sheila Weller based exclusively on an analysis of Jimi Hendrix's as of yet undiscussed homosexual tendencies. Yes, a year after shocking revelations that Jimi was murdered appeared, Vanity Fair got a reporter who interviewed Jimi in the 60's to do an article discussing Hendrix's alleged homosexual traits. The article did not mention the murder controversy. Part of what drew me to investigation of Hendrix's death was how examples like this kept pointing towards mainstream CIA involvement. By getting overzealous with Mockingbird CIA left a crumb trail back to their den.

In a similar vein reporter Charles Cross put out the book Room Full Of Mirrors (2005) where he exposed hard to access army medical psychological files where Jimi allegedly claimed he was gay in order to get out of the army. Cross's book was a contrived build-up of Jimi's flaws designed to show the personal weaknesses that led to Jimi's reckless drug abuse, overdose death. It was a smear job in other words designed to implant in the public's mind that Jimi had overdosed and killed himself due to his own personal flaws. I find it interesting that two authors from different American media corporations both used the homosexual angle to avoid mention of Hendrix's murder. Although Cross was able to access obscure army medical records he somehow wasn't able to access a major controversy involving Jimi's death even though it had been a well-known event in the Hendrix world for 13 years. Cross is most likely a Gerald Posner CIA writer assigned to do damage control for that controversy. I seem to be the only person who realizes it.

UPI wire service reporter Sharon Lawrence also did a book on Hendrix - 'Jimi Hendrix: The Intimate Story Of A Betrayed Musical Legend' (2005). Although Ms Lawrence showed a reporter's ability to question the actions of Hendrix girlfriend Monika Dannemann (the patsy) she did not do so with other equally culpable persons involved with Jimi's death and came to the conclusion Jimi committed suicide. So the two reporters who did books both avoided the murder issue and conspicuously offered false causes for Jimi's death. And the two reporters who totally avoided the murder issue, Cross and Weller, both went out of their way to draw attention to contrived gay issues concerning Hendrix.

As indirect as it is, the fact Bradlee would have a mockingbird tendril touching Hendrix through Vanity Fair does not surprise me.



.

[Jim DiEugenio]

I cheerfully accepted the official story of Watergate until I read Silent Coup in the early 90s. That was an eye-opener



In my opinion, Secret Agenda is even better. In fact, I think that book is one of the most important books of that entire ere, 1963-1980.

Reading it was like getting continually slapped in the face. I couldn't believe that I could be so stupid, and that the MSM could be that lazy. Or worse.