Seeing Congress From the Bottom Up Excerpt
A memoir excerpt details a journalist prowling Capitol halls to study Congress from the ground up. It describes seven criminal prosecutions of officeholders, including the May Garsson case ending in July 1947 with guilty verdicts. It reflects on investigative journalism’s moral costs and entrenched political power in Washington.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Capitol
House
Senate
Congress
May
Garssons
Pearson
Washington
Doctor says aspirin killed Hughes
Howard Hughes personal physician Dr Wilbur Thain says massive daily aspirin intake caused Hughes death from kidney poisoning rather than codeine addiction. He cites dehydration and 20 to 30 tablets daily, denying illegal drug supply or overdose. Thain details treatment and his views on Hughes as a difficult patient.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
API
Howard Hughes
American Medical News
American Medical Association
Wilbur Thain
Hughes
Thain
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency
Nepotism and Pay Scandals on Capitol Hill Rotating Family Payrolls
The author recalls a web of concealment in Congress where senators’ staffs were funded by taxpayers yet salaries and identities of public employees were concealed. The Pearson column notes nepotism, with Rep Gene Cox of Georgia using relatives in payroll roles from Washington to Georgia. Eight Cox family members benefited, making them notably prosperous in their region.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Capitol Hill
Pearson
Gene ‘Goober’ Cox
Georgia
Goober
Washington
Cox
Donalson
House
Agriculture Department
Coxes
Public Service
Army loses three Hawk launchers found missing in transit
In Jacksonville a flatbed trailer with three U S Army Hawk missile launchers bound for Fort Bliss Texas sat in a lot for a month before pickup from Walt's Auto Salvage. The FBI investigated after police recovered the equipment and traced it to Key West shipments delayed by a truckers strike. Fort Bliss and Lightning Trucking Co officials learned of the cargo only during the case. The launchers were finally en route to Texas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jacksonville
Fila
UPI
Fort Bliss
Texas
Walt
FBI
el Paso
Key West
Lightning Trucking Co
Governors seek slice of federal windfall at NGA session
Governors gathered for the 71st National Governors Association meeting debated a windfall profits tax on oil company earnings from decontrol. They urged using the funds to boost energy production, aid low income families, and fund energy alternatives while preparing for higher fuel costs. Debate split on full tax plowback to production. Speculation swirled about Camp David energy moves and an energy mobilization board.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Louisville
UPI
National Governors Association
Camp David
Carter
Governors’ Natural Resources Committee
Three Mile Island
Richard Thornburgh
Pennsylvania
Joseph Brennan
Maine
William Clements
Texas
Ice chunk pierces Denver home roof in odd meteorite scare
A piece of flying ice struck Harry Davis’s Denver area home ripping a hole in the roof and pulling insulation into the den. He kept the chunk in a freezer. FAA official George Beckwith says two similar ice bombs hit other local houses, noting they form from leaking aircraft water tank caps. Davis wished the projectile were Skylab so he could charge admission.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Aurora
Cole
UPI
Harry Davis
Davis
Denver-area
George Beckwith
Federal Aviation Administration
Navy told Pay for riot in North Chicago
North Chicago estimates put riot damage at 30500 dollars after two nights of unrest by sailors from Great Lakes base. Mayor Leo Kukla says the city will bill the Navy for police and fire overtime and vehicle damage and asks local merchants to submit claims as well. Police cars were dented scratched and windshields destroyed by rock throwing sailors.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
North Chicago
UPI
Navy
Great Lakes Naval Base
Leo Kukla
Also Mentioned on This Page
Andrew Jackson May
House Armed Committee
Garsson Brothers
May-Garsson Alliance
Jack Anderson
James Boyd
Random House, Inc
Holt, Rinehart and Winston
Drew Pearson
Tyler Abell
United Feature Syndicate, Inc
Philadelphia Inquirer
Willis
Gladys Hicks
Leslie Ludban
Nrch
Grnfld
A” Pohl
Richard Pohl
Norwalk
Miles
Dorcas Miller
Jon Ward
Bellevue City
Mamie Starkey
George Starkey
New London Village
Clarence Davis
Minnie Davis
Ruth Paul
Frederick Dietrich
Lyme
Old State & Townsend Ave
F.E.T
Herman Talmadge
D-Ga
Ron Wertheim
Senate Ethics Committee
Aluminum
Comfort Makers
Col
Sandusky
Bellevue Willard Huron
ASK
Case Ave
Ohio
Court House
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