Response to a post of vintage comics a few days ago made me think about doing that more often. The question became how to select a date, and the answer was to key into some historic anniversary in an interesting year. So, today, we bid a happy birthday to Reinhold Richard Priebus, born on this day in 1972.
And, by the way, Reince, if you and your party are feeling a bit hijacked, consider where the Democrats found themselves on your birthday, as George Wallace had just won the Florida primary. He eventually ran as an independent, having finished just behind George McGovern and Hubert Humphrey, who ended in a tie. "May you live in interesting times" indeed.
You may never have heard of the ITT scandal, but Dita Beard was the key witness in what was the first event in what would become the Watergate scandal. Beard had possibly maybe allegedly written a memo which revealed that the Republicans had settled an antitrust suit against ITT in return for a $400,000 contribution for the 1972 Republican Convention. She didn't become any easier to find and interview, but she did deny authorship of the memo, branding it a forgery.
The overall issue hasn't gone away, though you can probably count on Brit Hume being a little less dogged in running down corrupt officials than he once was.
Meanwhile, on the funny pages:
The Lockhorns was about four years old, still under the original artist, Bill Hoest.
And Family Circus was firmly in its well-established groove.
But Hank Ketcham's "Half Hitch" never quite caught on.
(psst -- you can't name a character "Newton Figg" if you expect
your strip to be taken seriously. But here? Yeah, okay.)
Wow - I'd totally forgotten about Half Hitch, which I read back in high school. Several other "memory joggers" too. Thanks for the trip in the WABAC machine.
I noticed the Seattle Times comics poll that they're considering running CSotD as a feature. Good luck.
Posted by: Bob | 03/18/2016 at 07:49 AM
First I'd heard of that plan. Well, all readers are welcome.
Posted by: Mike Peterson | 03/18/2016 at 08:24 AM
I remember all but the only one without a title. What was the name of the strip between The Born Loser and The Dropouts?
Posted by: michael s | 03/18/2016 at 06:04 PM
Perkins, by British cartoonist John Miles. Here's a little info:
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/miles_john.htm
Posted by: Mike Peterson | 03/18/2016 at 06:24 PM