Two month update today. I'll have a pretty decent Roddenberry segment, a piece on Nixon-Muskie, a Vietnam development, and the investigation into Agnew's kickbacks in Baltimore is stalled.
Gene Roddenberry at a New York Star Trek convention, July 1972:
It is wonderful to speak with thousands of adoring Star Trek fans this afternoon. I always knew that the love for my show ran deep, but I am astonished that so many people still join together in large groups to celebrate a series that has not been on the air, aside from that wonderful television movie In Thy Image, for over a full year. I believe Star Trek is now a secular religion. The actors, the writers and I have created a whole new means of interpreting the world. We have advanced human thought beyond the petty squabbles that cause nations to go to war and politicians to talk past each other instead of talk with each other. And for that, we have created hope for a more peaceful future. We are always wondering when the balloon will go up, and constantly live in a world where one wrong move by a world power could end all of civilization. In Star Trek, I chose to develop a different philosophy. Humanity unites under one peaceful flag and explores the stars. And I believe, although we and the Russians are making incredible progress in the exploration of space, that we will never truly expand our presence as a species beyond our solar system until the world is fully at peace (applause). I witnessed and fought in war in my younger days, and understand the horrors of conflict. I've seen these same horrors infiltrate my television screen every day on CBS with Walter Cronkite's grim, truthful narration, and NBC with Chet Huntley and David Brinkley. The only way we are ever going to bring a war to the Star Trek universe is if it is instigated by a less enlightened enemy, for example, the Klingon empire, and it lines up with current world events. And I will make sure that there are tropes and ideas that are against the nature of war, even in such a movie.
I want to shepherd Star Trek to feature film status sometime very soon. I believe the audience exists for a major film to succeed, and possibly win honors from a place like the Academy (applause). I already originated an idea for a major film when the series was in its first season, and will meet the executives at Paramount Pictures soon to present my pitch. I know that Charlie Bluhdorn at Gulf and Western, the conglomerate that owns Paramount Pictures, is very interested in seeing that Star Trek becomes a movie franchise, and I am working on commitments to bring all the major actors back for a film. I know that task will be difficult, because the actors want to branch into different roles, but I believe that it will occur no later than 1975, when Mr. Bluhdorn wants a movie to be placed into production (applause). I also want to move to the front of the line for a major science fiction movie in order to ensure the franchise's continued success. Four years ago, Stanley Kubrick proved that the general public will watch a science fiction epic with his 2001: A Space Odyssey. I want my future Star Trek movie to be as successful as Kubrick's 2001 and use some of the same themes. The first producer who develops a major science fiction movie, either me with Star Trek, Dino de Laurentiis with Flash Gordon, or an otherwise undeveloped but creative concept, will corner the market with their idea on the space opera. I am attempting to convince my old cast, Bill Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and the rest, that they could be part of a series of films that will forever secure their future in Hollywood (applause).
Lastly, I want to thank all of you in attendance. You sold NBC on the idea that an intelligent science fiction series could be possible in our first season, engaged in a massive letter-writing campaign to save Star Trek in its second season, and convinced both the network and Paramount that we were indeed one of the top shows on television in our third and fourth seasons. Without you, we would never have won an Emmy for Best Dramatic Series. Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley would never have won Emmy awards for Best Supporting Actor, and William Shatner would never have become an international icon as Captain Kirk. You ensured that Asian Americans, Russians, and African Americans were positively portrayed on television with the Sulu, Chekov and Uhura characters, when they were previously portrayed on other programs as villains or in less than ideal characterizations. You also ensured that the series retained a humorous edge with James Doohan playing the iconic Mr. Scott (applause, Doohan, Takei, Koenig and Nichols stand up to take applause). Because of all of you, Star Trek lives and will continue to live. Thank you (applause).
NIXON, MUSKIE IN CLOSE RACE AFTER DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
July 16th, 1972
President Nixon, prepared to accept his renomination for the Republican Party next month in Miami, is still locked in a tight race with newly nominated Democrat Edmund Muskie of Maine. The Gallup Poll, after determining that Alabama governor George Wallace will not stand as a third party independent candidate, found that Nixon and Muskie were tied at 46% each, with 8% undecided. A Louis Harris poll found Muskie leading with 47%, Nixon with 45%, and 6% undecided. Both polls were within the statistical margin for error, indicating that the presidential contest scheduled for November 7 could tilt in either direction. The burglary at the Watergate Hotel of Democratic Party headquarters was consistently discussed at the convention, with a theme of "rampant corruption" portrayed by the Democrats consistently assailing the Nixon administration. The Democratic convention also criticized the war in Vietnam, arguing that the South Vietnamese were ready to defend their country and that American GIs should be removed at the soonest opportunity except for a "police force" that is similar to the troop presence along the demilitarized zone splitting North and South Korea.
Senator Muskie, in his acceptance speech, called for "a full investigation into the Nixon administration's involvement in the burglary at Democratic headquarters." On Vietnam, Muskie argued for a bombing halt and concessions from the North Vietnamese for an independent South Vietnam, without the need for unification elections, which were originally promised for 1975. On the economy, Senator Muskie believes that the Nixon administration policies will lead to a stall and eventually a recession, and called for more money to be invested into programs such as Social Security and the expansion of the Lyndon Johnson administration healthcare system, Medicare and Medicaid, to any individual below the federally-mandated poverty line and all families with at least one child.
Political advisers for Muskie believe that the challenger to the White House is ahead in critical states like New York and Pennsylvania, and is running slightly ahead in New Jersey, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri. Muskie's advisers also believe that President Nixon's home state of California is winnable, and Muskie will reportedly make several campaign stops in the West next week. Private polling has Nixon narrowly ahead in Ohio, and Muskie is struggling in the previously Democratic Solid South, due to his support for the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the civil rights bills passed during the Johnson administration. Muskie risks a schism in the party in the South and among blue-collar urban workers that always supported Democrats in the past, but are potential defectors to the Nixon coalition.
KISSINGER, LAIRD: NORTH VIETNAM WILL RETURN TO PARIS SOON
August 2, 1972
In a press conference, Nixon national security adviser Henry Kissinger and secretary of defense Melvin Laird claim to have received diplomatic signals from North Vietnam's Le Duc Tho, indicating that peace talks could resume soon. Kissinger said, "Operation Linebacker I and II were extremely effective interdiction campaigns against Hanoi," Kissinger told the White House press. "We have slowed their ability to wage war, and have almost driven them completely from South Vietnam. I believe the North Vietnamese have no choice but to sue for peace soon." Laird echoed Kissinger's conclusions. "We have dramatically improved the ARVN and they can soon manage their own affairs. President Ky is a very effective leader who has the confidence of his army and his country, and the future of South Vietnam looks bright." Still a proponent of Vietnamization, Laird continued, "Our ideal plan is to train the ARVN and reduce our presence to the adviser role that Eisenhower and Kennedy promoted early in the conflict. It is highly unlikely that we can fully unify Vietnam under the Saigon government, but we can accomplish the goal of a free and peaceful South Vietnam with the current leadership and military structure in place within three years."
BEALL INVESTIGATION INTO BALTIMORE COUNTY KICKBACK SCHEME STALLS
Baltimore Sun, August 15, 1972
George Beall, the United States attorney for the District of Maryland, has been told by Attorney General Richard Kleindienst that the evidence for a possible bribery scheme in Baltimore County starting in the mid-1960s is scant, and has been encouraged to place the investigation on pause for six months. The investigation ranged back to the time when current Vice President Spiro Agnew was Baltimore County executive, and later Governor of Maryland. A statement from Agnew's office claimed that the Vice President had no knowledge of any kickback scheme and would never participate in such activities. Beall objected to the interference from the Department of Justice, but will agree to the halt in the investigation. However, Beall will retain the evidence collected in the investigation in case it resumes at a later date. Beall has told his potential witnesses to remain quiet to preserve the integrity of the investigation.
