Presidential Recordings

[CaughtintheMiddle1990]

Almost every President from FDR through Nixon made private recording, whether they were bugs they had planed on their phones or in their offices. Ever listened to any of them? Some are quite colorful:

JFK cursing over bad furniture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGfEtlRa3oM&feature=related
JFK asking for "those Bill Pills" telephone call with his doctor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMv66Dw1WcM&feature=related
JFK referring to Nixon as a psycho: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeA41pyRZY8&feature=related
JFK asking Ike's advice on the Cuban Missile Crisis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkzjodKAQhA&feature=related
JFK asking Truman's advice on the Cuban Missile Crisis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBHrNvopHdc&feature=related
Asking President Hoover's advice on the same matter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs7my3gUx54&feature=related

LBJ talking about getting slacks that go easy ''down where your nuts hang'': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zNMo8kl7Ac&feature=related
LBJ orders pants, hiliarious results: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3GT9UN7nDo&feature=related
LBJ calling Lady Bird to tell her he won't be home till late working on his speeches: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOM0VjiBEH8&feature=related
LBJ admits murder of Diem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeNv_62v6WQ&feature=related

Nixon talking to Jerry Ford, 1971: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZmkwqEK9Kk&feature=related
Nixon to talking to Gerald Ford 5/1/1973 about Watergate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8f1OeJNJI8&feature=related
Nixon cursing at TV while watching football 12/9/1972: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYCo0RU_BNo
Nixon, mad at Barbara Walters, January 1972: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOspD96pHIw&feature=related
Nixon and Bob Hope (1/9/1973): Bob Hope calls Nixon to wish him happy birthday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p81w2aTX2u0&feature=related
Nixon considers resigning (April 17 1973) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri3He6n1Dv4&feature=related
Nixon, drunk, calling Haldeman the night of Haldeman's resignation (April 30th 1973) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm5FIs9V0VA&feature=related
Nixon calls Will Rogers (April 30th 1973), distraught over Haldeman's firing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n94CBXx9MeQ&feature=related
Nixon, 1971: Don't interfere with Vietnam Veteran protesters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7k9Uj7frQ8&feature=related
Nixon talks about John Kerry, 1971 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzFE7iG6BCg&feature=related
Nixon calls Fred Thompson "dumb as hell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CWaUM3kxfA&feature=related
Nixon talking about ''welfare loafers'' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdC6zybjuGM&feature=related

[Gingersnap]

We already know that all politicians are human and often untrustworthy - why belabor the obvious?

[CaughtintheMiddle1990]

We already know that all politicians are human and often untrustworthy - why belabor the obvious?

I just think seeing the humanity--behind the curtains so to speak--side of our presidents is interesting. People often place politicians, leaders on a sort of pedestal, and it's just interesting to see them acting like normal people, as the side we almost always see is a more professional, stuffy pose.

[Gingersnap]

I just think seeing the humanity--behind the curtains so to speak--side of our presidents is interesting. People often place politicians, leaders on a sort of pedestal, and it's just interesting to see them acting like normal people, as the side we almost always see is a more professional, stuffy pose.

People who read history usually don't think of aristocrats, royalty, dictators, or elected officials as being anything other than human beings. People who don't read history are usually unaware of the unholy responsibilities these people sometimes shoulder and tend to become cynical - not better informed - by these little snippets.

[CaughtintheMiddle1990]

We already know that all politicians are human and often untrustworthy - why belabor the obvious?


People who read history usually don't think of aristocrats, royalty, dictators, or elected officials as being anything other than human beings. People who don't read history are usually unaware of the unholy responsibilities these people sometimes shoulder and tend to become cynical - not better informed - by these little snippets.

True, some can. I don't know, I just figured the people here would be informed--at least of the different Presidents as they were in public--and might be interested to see how some were in private.
To me it's interesting to read about the lives and personalities of men who we put in power, because their life and personality is interesting in relation to the great and what some could call crushing responsibility they bear--It sheds light on what made for example John Kennedy govern as President Kennedy, or Richard Nixon govern as President Nixon.
And to me it just humanizes them in such that I can relate to some of them in many ways. I mean a lot of people hate X president for X reason or reasons, but it's a nice reminder that at the end of the day these people are all just humans like the rest of us..Sometimes they falter and fail, but I don't think any of our Presidents were truly evil, or bad men.

[Gingersnap]

Reading about them and their eras and the social history of those times is very informative. Clips are somewhat informative (if you know the entire context) but often misleading.

This is why I never see a clip if I can get a transcript instead. Visuals are emotional.

[ralph wiggum]

LBJ ordering pants is one of my long-time favorites. :p