31-10-2014, 02:08 PM
Jim DiEugenio Wrote: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...