WFLD Channel 32 - Newstalk with Wanda Wells - "Psychology and the Vote" (Part 2, 1984)

Here's Part 2 of an edition of Newstalk with Wanda Wells on WFLD Channel 32. Also featuring reporter Gail Street and guest Dr. Sidney H. Weissman, M.D. (Fuzzy's father-in-law). Includes:

Newstalk bumper animation

Wanda introducing Gail Street who reports on the following items:

- The upcoming Cook County board meeting, in which board president George W. Dunne is set to introduce measures designed to reduce a projected $35 million budget shortfall, including sales tax increases on cigarettes, alcohol and gasoline

- A lottery drawing will be held later this day for low-interest mortgage loans being offered through Citicorp, for the lucky (!) home-buyers with 30-year loans getting 10.7% interest (Zoinks!)

- A preview of a story another "low-interest" mortgage loan program, for later in the show

Wanda then discusses the main subject, psychology and politics, with Dr. Sidney H. Weissman, M.D., Director of Psychiatry, Residency Training at Michael Reese Hospital. In her introduction, she mentioned his conclusion that Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon and Ronald Reagan were all perceived by the public as risk-takers, and he explains that running for the Presidency is in and of itself a risk. He brings up the following examples of risk-taking:

- Nixon, a staunch anti-Communist, going to China in 1972, as well as Nixon's 1974 resignation in the wake of the Watergate scandal, and other examples of his overcoming various obstacles throughout his political career

- Harry S. Truman (whom Dr. Weissman regards as "the hardest President to understand" viz risk-taking), with such examples as his dropping the atom bomb in 1945, his surprise victory over his Republican opponent Thomas E. Dewey in 1948 (any Chicagoans remember the famed Tribune headline "Dewey Defeats Truman"?), and his 1951 firing of General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War

- Kennedy ("an enigma," per Dr. Weissman's perceptions), with the 1961 Bay of Pigs fiasco and 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis being mentioned, as well as pondering what direction he would have taken had he not been assassinated on November 22nd 1963

- Johnson, whose interest in power, driven nature, and "running the government as his house," are all brought up, as well as the escalation of the Vietnam War under his watch after promising in 1964 he wouldn't do so (and amid fears his GOP opponent, Barry Goldwater, would have ratcheted up our involvement there), and comparing it to Woodrow Wilson in the 1916 election contrasting with his entering America in World War I the next year

- Reagan who, according to the good doctor, "really has a capacity to represent a particular American ideal," and has a "frontier" spirit, and contrasts with his predecessor, Jimmy Carter, who was seen as "stumbling," as well as his 1984 Democratic opponent, Walter Mondale, who sees nothing but "limitations" that should be overcome; and predicts that, if the economy holds, history will see Reagan as a great President, but if the economy sputters due to Federal deficits, he would be seen as a failure

During his talk, photos of Nixon, Truman, Reagan and Mondale are shown.

After the talk ends, Wanda previews a report from Gail Street about a housing conference.

Newstalk commercial bumper - "Coming Up: 'Homework' Hotline" (recording ends immediately after that teaser is all typed up - this is all they taped, unfortunately)

People may also enjoy this "unfair edit" joke video I made out of this clip. :-)

This aired on local Chicago TV on Thursday, November 8th 1984 during the 6am to 6:30am timeframe.

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