On this week’s episode we spoke with our good friend Tom Secker the host of ClandesTime. Tom and I discussed John Frankenheimer’s 1964 classic, Seven Days in May. Made at the behest of John F. Kennedy, this incredible film follows a Marine Colonel’s efforts to stop a military coup from being implemented by a right-wing cabal led by the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General William Matoon Scott. Set amidst Cold War paranoia, Seven Days in May is in many ways one of the original truther films. Tom and I discuss several themes within the film that mimicked real life events: the fact that this film makes explicit mention of the parallel structure known as “Continuity of Government;” the fact that this movie mentions, in quite specific detail, the Mount Weather FEMA facility nearly fifteen years before its existence would ever be know to the American people. We move onto some of the real life coup d’etats within American history and how they relate to Seven Days in May. We focus on the alleged “Business Plot” against FDR and how it was ultimately foiled by General Smedley Butler. We also speak about the attempted Reagan assassination and how this really represented a coup by militarist neocons such as George Bush and Alexander Haig. We explore the real-life inspiration for the antagonist in Seven Days in May, right-winger General Edwin Walker, and his connection not only with the JFK assassination, but also with his role in supporting the narrative that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman. Tom and I also get into the reality of who Kennedy was, and give our takes on why in fact he was murdered in Dealy Plaza. Later we move onto the numerous bizarre connections between director John Frankenheimer and the Kennedy family. Lastly we focus on Frankenheimer’s relationship with the RFK assassination, as well as Seven Days in May producer Edward Lewis’ foray into conspiracy culture. Let me just add that Seven Days in May is truly a spectacular, one-of-a-kind movie. There is nothing I can think of that really comes close to it in terms of bravery and substance. So please do watch the film before listening to this podcast.
https://porkinspolicyreview.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/ppr-episode-31-seven-days-in-may.mp3
Download PPR episode 31
Show notes:
Seven Days in May
Civil Defense Doomsday Hideaway
Is This Bush’s Secret Bunker
The White House Coup 1933 (BBC)
The Facist Plot to Overthrow FDR
McCormack-Dickstein Committee Hearings on “The Business Plot”
Mae Brussell: “Alexander Haig is angry. Time for a shoot out at the White House” (3/28/1981)
Mae Brussell: “Ronald Regan Assassination Attempt part 1” (4/5/81)
Mae Brussell: “Ronald Regan Assassination Attempt part 2” (4/12/81)
Mae Brussell: “Ronald Regan Assassination Attempt part 3” (4/19/81)
Edwin Walker
US House of Reps. Select Committee on Assassinations: George De Mohrenschildt
John Frankenheimer’s The Manchurian Candidate Plays to a Full House After 26 Years
Music:
Jerry Goldsmith – “Seven Days in May”
Lou Reed – “The Day John Kennedy Died”
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