Anyone Remember LBJ's Funeral???

[KharmaTrain]

I was 17 when he suddenly died in 1973 and remember the funeral, but nowhere near the coverage this one is getting. I'd say the same about Nixon's as well.

I'll go further. I vividly remember JFK's assasination and the coverage that followed. That weekend, as anyone who was there at the time remembers, was intense and culminated with JFK's burial on that Monday (4 days). I also remember RFK's funeral and, if I'm not mistaken, he was buried just as quickly...and this included his body being flown from California and the shock and grief all of us felt those ugly days 35 years ago. I can remember the TV coverage well, too...very intense, but also with a degree of dignity, not the free-for-all of talking heads and non-interviews we're seeing today.

In 1969 I saw Eisenhower's funeral...my 8th Grade class Spring trip happened to fall right when Ike died (I remember no one really cared...this was right after all the other deaths and was natural, as opposed to the others). It was a different feeling, as well, since Ike had been suffering for a while with a bad ticker and his peaceful death was viewed with a sense of national relief...and this for a man who did far more for this nation than Raygun could ever have.

Lastly, no one mentions the passing of Harry Truman in 1972. It was right during the Christmas holiday, Nixon's bombing of North Vietnam and Watergate. I don't remember even if he had a state funeral. If so, it was extremely modest.

In many ways, I don't fault the Raygun family for this insane coverage. I'm certain most of this ceremony would have taken place privately, but it's been suberted by the cable networks and the GOOP as some kind of media event. I heard some wingnut talking head retort when asked if this was "too much coverage"...compared this to OJ...and how people expect this type of coverage. We do???

Yes, it's difficult for many of us as this contrived crap will continue for the next several days, and it seems to get thicker and deeper as it goes along. Meanwhile the living world goes on and a lot of the problems this regime has brewing aren't going away and will be back with a vengence. Consider this funeral Junior's summer vacation.

In the meantime, please join with me in honoring the 40th President by naming things in his honor today...and feel free to share it (as many already have) in this string and others. Lunch was delightful and now I will flush in his honor.

Cheers!

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

1. Perhaps this other thread might help explain?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1755062

[still_one]

2. I have a feeling that this will backlash against the republicans

They have overblown this so much as though Reagan was a god, and people are wondering, why? A 93 year old man who had effectively been gone for 10 years due to Alzimer...

The same reaction that turned people off when the Wellstone funeral turned into a ralley, will happen with this...

Watch...

Actually, bush has not gained any help from this, that says a lot

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. At least part of the mourning for RFK

included a train journey (perhaps from Boston or New York to Arlington?), but I don't remember the details.

But yes, all those presidents you mention were buried with much less fanfare than old RR.

[NoPasaran]

10. I remember listening to RFK's funeral on the car radio

We were driving north from Virginia to my grandmother's house in Connecticut that day. At the end of the funeral Mass, while the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" was being sung, there was a news bulletin that James Earl Ray had been arrested.

The rest of the day, the radio reported the progress of the funeral train south. At some point we must have crossed its path as we drove north, but I didn't see it.

[KharmaTrain]

15. I Can Still Feel The Cold Shivers...

To this day, the surreal episode of RFK's death is a fresh memory. I woke up that Wednesday morning, asked my mother who had won the California primary the night before (believe it or not, the primary season went this late and actually mattered!)...she turned on the set and turned on the Today Show...there Frank Blair reported that RFK had won the California primary and then added that a neurosurgeon had been called after Kennedy had been shot. My mother's face went from a huge smile to ashen grey. I asked what a neurosurgeon was needed for (I was 12 at the time) and all she kept saying was "oh my god, oh my god"...this was the start into a week of real national hell!

At school that day we had the few TV sets in the building on...and the reports were confusing all day long. I'd never heard of a Medulla Oblomgata until that day. It was torture as he drifted further and further away...and the hopes of any recovery or even life faded. When we saw Frank Manciewicz that night finally announce his passing, it was like the world went completely black. I'm certain other DU'ers have even better memories of that time.

BTW...the I remember during the coverage of RFK's train journey, there were news bullitens that James Earl Ray had been captured in London.

Well back to 2004...or I think it's 2004...

[Doosh]

4. I wonder if any old timers here

remember FDR's funeral?

[Jane Austin]

5. I don't remember it at all, and

he is buried probably 75 miles from here.

[VolcanoJen]

6. What an excellent post!

Thank you for sharing your memories, IMRadioactive. I'm a little too young (born in '66) to remember, first-hand, the events you have described. It's nice to get a little perspective on days like these.

Truman is a favorite president of mine, and after searching through photos on the www.trumanlibrary.org site, the only photos of his funeral that I was able to find were ones portraying an honor guard watching over his casket in Independence, Missouri. I can't find any information that would suggest he lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda.

I think we're more sappy, and less practical, as a nation today. The media shoves grief and mourning down our throats until I'm absolutely devoid and numb of feeling, personally.

Thanks again for this post, IMRadioactive.

[leyton]

7. I think Mrs. Truman objected to a state funeral.

My local paper says she was not in good enough health to travel to Washington, DC, and so the funeral was held in Missouri.

[DNA]

8. I remember Truman's funeral

I remember watching it on television. It was tasteful, but not overblown like this protracted one we're experiencing now.

[elperromagico]

13. Apparently Truman's funeral was the day after his death.

That's quick, even for "common" people. Usually it's three days before the funeral and burial.

[KharmaTrain]

14. Thanks All...Insight Add Substance

I was on a cruise when Truman passed away (ironically it was the same time Roberto Clemente died...I was in San Juan at the time and THAT was the big news (deservedly so)).

I rank Truman as the best President of the century based on how little he knew or was expected of when he came into office and the style, grace and wisdom he used at a most critical time. Raygun ended the cold war? My ass. Truman saved this world from madness in the wake of WWII...especially if MacArthur & McCarthy had had their way. But forget we discussed this, since wasn't Raygun a Democrat at this time???

Cheers!

[WI_DEM]

9. Nobody really cares about this funeral either

except the right wing and the corporate media. No one talks about it in my office and everyone is upset that once again state and federal workers get a paid day off while the rest of us will be working--and we just bet that they will be weeping in front of the tv for Ronnie.

[VolcanoJen]

12. I continue to find American Cynicism to be one of our best national traits

All week long at work, the joke has been "Hey! Is Reagan still dead?" and "Hey! I just heard Reagan died! No way!"

I find it endlessly amusing, the way most Americans revel in taking a semi-tragic occassion and making light of it. :D :D :D

[elperromagico]

11. The story goes that LBJ insisted on going to Truman's funeral

in Missouri, despite his rapidly failing health. That was in December of 1972. Within a month, LBJ was dead of a heart attack. The strain of going to the funeral probably contributed, at least partially, to Johnson's death.

[LTR]

16. We live in a media-saturated world

It was only three networks (CBS, NBC, and ABC - which hardly anybody watched) when JFK died. Same with Truman and LBJ.

Truman was pretty low-key and private in his post-White House years. He and Bess opted out of the state funeral thing.

When Nixon died, CNN was the only 24/7 news network (not counting their "Headline News"). I remember lots of coverage then.

Coverage of breaking news changed forever with the O.J. Simpson saga. Became even crazier following 9/11/01.

I think the Reagan coverage was a little over the top, but when a big story happens, it will be covered this way. I wasn't surprised.

And, an off-topic rant: Why the hell is this Scott Peterson thing being covered so much? Who the hell is this Scott Peterson guy anyway, and why are they even covering this trial?

[Kat45]

17. Wow! It's hard to believe you missed the Scott Peterson story

Accused of killing his wife, Lacy, and their "unborn child" (the later words always being included in the stories because she was pregnant at the time--she had already given the kid a name, so of course they'd use that as well). He allegedy was seeing someone else at the time as well. I tried to avoid the story as much as possible, but I think they were trying to find a way to charge him with two murders, the wife and the "unborn child."

[LTR]

18. I was being sarcastic

Many people have killed their spouses.

It's not like this guy is a major figure. He sells friggin' fertilizer for a living!

What makes this a major national story? I don't get it.