Documentary Review: 30 for 30 June 17th, 1994

Directory Brett Morgan; ESPN Documentary on the arrest of O.J. Simpson for the murders of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman.  This documentary using only footage from news sources, and covers the hysteria over O.J. Simpson.  It deals with other sports events happening at the same time; the retirement of Arnold Palmer, the New York Rangers winning the Stanley Cup, and the New York Knicks winning game five of the NBA Finals.  But the big news was O.J. Simpson in his Bronco being chased by more and more policemen and 20 media helicopters.  People lined the freeway to wave to Simpson.  He reportedly had a gun to his head.  After he stopped it took a long time for police to convince him to throw the gun away.  Crazy good job of editing and putting this together.

What Did Reagan Know of Iran-Contra

Unsolved Mysteries of American History, by Paul Aron, Barnes and Noble, New York, 1997.

What Did Reagan Know of Iran-Contra.  The bottom line is President Reagan was blamed for setting an atmosphere where Iran-Contra took place, but not with actually knowing about any specific plans.  Congress had passed laws forbidding the financing of the Contra Rebels in Nicaragua.  Reagan looked to them as fighters against Communism.  He wanted funding to continue, but did not give any specifics, and his hands were tied by congress.  Lawrence Walsh was appointed the independent counsel.  The resulted in criminal charges against fourteen people.  These were crimes like taking an illegal gratuity, withholding evidence etc.  By the end, Wash’s investigation looked much like a witch hunt, as he tried to go after the Secretaries of Defense and State, Casper Weinberger and George Schultz.  President Reagan said he simply could not remember much about the negotiations with Iran to sell arms, to fund the Contras.  Perhaps this was the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

What Caused the Salem Witch-Hunt?

Unsolved Mysteries of American History, by Paul Aron, Barnes and Noble, New York, 1997.
The Salem Witch Trials as they are known, resulted in twenty executions, fourteen woman.  Also five people died while imprisoned, including two children.  What Caused the Salem Witch-Hunt?  This is a question with many answers.  What is known for sure is that an area was effected with mass hysteria.  Some made accusations to free themselves.  It started when two girls had attacks which were not contributed to epilepsy.  Their Black servant who dabbled in voo-doo provided an excellent excuse, which then resulted in more and more accusations.  Upwards of fifty persons spent time in prison.  There was a preexisting feud going on between the Putnams and the Porters.  The Putnams being the second wife, and her son, who inherited a very large estate, which the descendants of the first wife thought should belong to them.  Joseph Putnam, of the second wife, married a bride of considerable wealth, a Porter.  The Putnams were among the accusers.  The daughter of Thomas Putnam was one of those who had fits blamed on witchcraft.  The Porters and their friends were often named as witches.  However the Porter side of the family remained rich, while the Putnam side remained poor, and most of them moved away.  In addition to the feud, there were other motives.  The magistrate who carried out the arrests benefited greatly.  One of the priest, who wasn’t fully drawn to the idea, prospered when a rival priest was accused.  The judges also may have been in on the profiteering.