Some 70s Pictures

Rummaging through old photo albums continued. I found some photos from the 1970s when I was much more involved in the political arena.



September 1974. In the above photo, I am presenting a stuffed frog novelty I just picked up while on vacation in Utah to Assemblyman Paul T. Bannai in his district office. At the time, I worked as a staff field representative for Bannai. He was big on frogs and would head off to the Calaveras County Jumping Frog Jubilee every year.

The photo below is the frog I gave to Bannai. I wonder if he still has it.





On February 7, 1975, I had my first legal "adult beverage" in the bar at the Senator Hotel in Sacramento, California. I had just turned 21 three days before. The above photo records the "event." I was in Sacramento for the annual convention of the Republican State Central Committee (now known as the California Republican Party).

That weekend, Spencer Douglass and I were in the bar doing Richard Nixon imitations with Oregon Senator Robert Packwood sitting nearby listening in.



On September 5, 1975, a big Hawaiian-themed party was held at the residence of R. Spencer Douglass, who was planning to run for California state senate the following year. He switched to running for assembly instead. In the photo above, I am with David and Robin Lorenzen. The photo was taken by Assemblyman Bannai. I am wearing a "Reagan Team '76" button. David Lorenzen is the son of former L.A. City Councilman Don Lorenzen.

It was quite a bash. Douglass's home was in Rancho Palos Verdes with a great view of San Pedro Harbor. The home was on a slope and the yard had three levels. The upper level, was where the house was located. The middle level (going downslope) was where the hosted bar was set up. The bottom level was the pool area, where the band was set up for dancing.

The party was the talk of the town in GOP circles for quite a while. It got pretty wild. The next morning, several pairs of panties were found in the planters around the yard.

Richard and Pat Nixon

Former President Richard Nixon has been a focus of my attention lately.

I recently finished reading Monica Crowley's book, Nixon In Winter, which is about the former president's final years. (A good read, I highly recommend it.) It shouldn't be surprising that my attention would be caught when I saw a Tweet by talk-radio host Hugh Hewitt with the title, "Nixon In Love" (with a link attached).

So, I went there and found it to be the blog of longtime former Nixon aide John Taylor.

Above, President and Mrs. Nixon greet supporters at the Century Plaza Hotel parking lot in September 1972 during the re-election campaign. I am in the crowd (arrow).

It is an insider's account of the love story between Richard and Pat Nixon. Much of their relationship was corroborated in Crowley's book.

To view the blog post, go here.

Their love letters are on display at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. For more on this, go here.

Gaps Getting Filled

Today was enjoyable as I went over to Canoga Park to rummage around a very nice used bookstore, Next Chapter Books.

I found a Signet paperback edition of Ian Fleming's James Bond novel, The Man With The Golden Gun. So now I have only one Fleming Bond book to get to complete my collection, Thunderball. The gaps are almost filled.

The story's plot, according to the back cover, is vastly different than the movie version that came out in 1974 with Roger Moore. I'll give it a review once I finish reading it.

I picked up two other books. One was for my roomie, 365 Ways To Cook Chicken by Cheryl Sedaker (Harper Collins) and one for myself, Nixon In Winter by Monica Crowley (Random House). Nixon In Winter covers former President Richard Nixon's final four years.

I started reading the Crowley book. It has been interesting, so far. One interesting tidbit about Nixon during my initial scan of the book: Nixon's favorite holiday was Halloween.

On Traveling...

Above, Armand with Shogo Tomiyama and Koichi Kawakita among old Godzilla event suits at Toho Studios, November 2001. Photo by Richard Pusateri.

I was finishing a book last night and the topic of travel came up in the final chapter.

Here's a few notable quotes from the book:

"Travel is one of the most rewarding compensations of old age. There is so much to see, not only in other countries but in the United States."

"People with a yen for travel should do it when they are young. If you don't have the time, make it; if you don't have the money, borrow it."

"Traveling is more than taking shapshots and buying souvenirs."

"I urge young people to travel not just because it gives them pleasure but because it gives them perspective. Seeing the world helps you appreciate both the strengths and weaknesses of your own country."

"To understand America, see the world."

"What is really fascinating about foreign travel is meeting people."

The author of the above quotes?

Former President Richard Nixon in his book "In The Arena" (1990), published by Simon and Shuster.

Above, President and Mrs. Nixon at the Great Wall of China in February 1972.