Paul Newman (and Me) and the 1968 Race for President

In an age when Hollywood activism is a given -- influential though often lampooned -- it may be hard to imagine a time, not so long ago, when it was still rare and often required significant courage. You had to be there to understand the difference between then and now. One of the real groundbreakers was the late Paul Newman. As it happens, we both worked for Eugene McCarthy in 1968 and both of us ended up at the riotous Chicago convention in August 1968.

He was a McCarthy activist and a delegate from Connecticut; I had headed Students for McCarthy on my campus and then, as a newspaper reporter, covered the '68 convention -- before taking to the streets to join the protesters.

Newman, like some others in the entertainment world, had been active in the civil rights movement earlier, but the numbers were not large and even fewer took part in political races -- particularly when it involved actual campaigning. Newman, on the other hand, was a crusader for Eugene McCarthy and spoke at dozens of rallies and events -- by one count, at least 15 in Indiana (a key battleground state in the primary season that year) alone. This was probably unprecedented.

Some credit him with, earlier, being largely responsible for McCarthy's strong showing in New Hampshire, which drove LBJ out of the race. The right-wing Manchester Union-Leader tweaked all this by running a photo of the actor with McCarthy with a caption, "Who's that guy with Newman?" Newman drew 2,000 at one rally there but said, "I didn't come here to help Gene McCarthy. I need McCarthy's help."

Newman was also filmed in political ads for the candidate, and emceed a telethon to raise money for McCarthy. In Indiana, he drew large crowds and told one assembly from the tail gate of a station wagon: "I am not a public speaker. I am not a politician. I'm not here because I'm an actor. I'm here because I've got six kids. I don't want it written on my gravestone, 'He was not part of his times.'" And he paved the way for many others in Hollywood to actively campaign for Robert F. Kennedy months after Newman had gone on the stump for McCarthy.

McCarthy, of course, would lose the nomination in Chicago after the bloody "police riot" in the streets and violence even inside the hall. There's a great photo out there of Newman angrily shouting on the convention floor -- with his fellow delegate Arthur Miller nearby.

The next day, I attended a McCarthy gathering where Newman appeared and protested the outcome of the race and the violence. Newman later told a Time reporter about "a month of serious drinking" before deciding on whether to support Humphrey that fall.

So Newman was kind of godfather to all the George Clooneys of today. And no one, before or since, ever dared to say he was not "part of his times."

Comments

[mom2sons]

Farewell Mr. Newman. Unbelievable man with heart of gold and wonderful spirt who cared about people. This is the kind of spirit that Obama has too. I just want to know what he thought about this election and about Barack. Can you tell us? Sad that he too, won't be here to see Barack elected POTUS. RIP.

[DarthVector]

Bring on the Newman's Own Memorial Hot Sauce so I can buy a few crates.

Proof living that a large capitalist enterprise can be built on a non-profit ground for social benefit, and succeed in the market.

God speed you glorious man, and thanks for the little joke that got out of control. What a legacy.

:^)

[StephenFox]

An Obama Presidency Will Galvanize 30 Million American Idealists and Reformers, and A Personal Memory of Paul Newman---new article by Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News

http://www.nowpublic.com/health/obama-presidency-will-galvanize-30-million-american-idealists-and-reformers-and-personal-memory-paul-newman

here is a short version: http://tinyurl.com/Pnewman-memory-obamaidealists

Hope you might be inspired by this vision of an Obama Presidency, especially if you have concerns and interest in Consumer Protection and Health.

Thanks, Stephen Fox- Founder, New Millennium Fine Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico

[wisechild]

Thanks for these memories, Greg.

I think I have had a lifelong love crush on Paul Newman. Certainly it goes back to when I was about 10 or 11. He was a favorite of my parents and thus became one of mine.

He was more than an actor. He was a human being who was fully aware of life and had the compassion to live his principles.

While his looks and blue eyes first got to me it was ultimately his humanity. You are so right. He was the prototype for Clooney and Pitt and Bono. That is a legacy worth noting.

I cried yesterday when I heard the news of his passing. I deeply respect how he lived his life and that he stood for something and kept his soul intact.

My deepest condolences to his loving family. He has left all of us with self sustaining trilbutes to what he wanted to accomplish. I am sure that all whose lives he touched will miss him.

I know I will...thank you Mr Newman for keeping it real and leaving the world better than when you found it.

[Agentlady007]

Thank you for your memories of Paul Newman, Greg.

Many of these actors were and still are passionate over political amibitions regarding American progress - where our country will prosper in the long run, and they supported these politicians as new aged liberals, and despite some losses along the way except JFK, they played their part anyway with acting in roles that said what they wanted to say.