107-598: Martha Elizabeth Beall Mitchell (September 2, 1918 – May 31, 1976) was the wife of John N. Mitchell , United States Attorney General under President Richard Nixon . Her public comments and interviews during the Watergate scandal were frank and revealing. Martha Elizabeth Beall Jennings Mitchell was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas , on September 2, 1918, the only child of cotton broker George V. Beall and drama teacher Arie Beall Ferguson. She recalled later in life that as
214-574: A Gallup poll indicated that 76 percent of Americans recognized who she was, and she was featured on the cover of Time in an issue about the most influential women of Washington. Her reputation for frank and uncensored talk that was generally in support of Republican issues led to her being nicknamed "Martha the Mouth" or "The Mouth of the South". Nixon selected John to head the Committee to Re-Elect
321-481: A municipal bond lawyer and one of Nixon's associates. He was tried and convicted as a result of his involvement in the Watergate scandal . After his tenure as U.S. Attorney General, he served as chairman of Nixon's 1972 presidential campaign. Due to multiple crimes he committed in the Watergate affair, Mitchell was sentenced to prison in 1977 and served 19 months. As Attorney General, he was noted for personifying
428-400: A "drinking problem". Nixon was later to tell interviewer David Frost in 1977 that Martha was a distraction to John Mitchell, such that no one was minding the store, and "If it hadn't been for Martha Mitchell, there'd have been no Watergate." In 1972, when asked to comment about a forthcoming article that reported that he controlled a political slush fund used for gathering intelligence on
535-491: A 1960s " mod " party backdrop, delivering one- and two-line jokes interspersed with a few bars of dance music. (This was similar in format to the "Word Dance" segments of A Thurber Carnival , and would later be imitated on The Muppet Show .) Another weekly segment was "Laugh-In Looks at the News", which began with the female cast members singing the segment's opening theme in a different costumed set piece each week, often with
642-400: A Recording includes the track "Mrs. Mitchell", in which she imagines her character Ernestine conversing with Martha Mitchell. A one-woman play about Mitchell, Dirty Tricks by John Jeter, appeared off-Broadway in 2004. The first episode of the podcast Slow Burn , entitled "Martha", chronicled her role in the Watergate scandal in 2017. Martha's role in the Watergate scandal was told in
749-514: A bust of her at the Pine Bluff Civic Center bears a plaque reading " Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free ." In 2022 Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein confirmed that in the spring of 1974 Mitchell had invited them to examine papers left behind by John Mitchell in their New York apartment. She is quoted as having said: "Please nail him. I hope you get the bastard." Lily Tomlin 's 1971 comedy album This Is
856-521: A child she mostly played with the children of her African-American " mammy ", who lived with the Beall family, because other families lived at a distance. As a little girl she sang in a church choir, and her mother hoped she would become an opera singer. When she graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1937, her yearbook picture carried the quotation, "I love its gentle warble, I love its gentle flow, I love to wind my tongue up, And I love to let it go." She
963-751: A lawyer in Manhattan , earning US$ 250,000 a year and the couple purchased a home on the grounds of the Apawamis Club . In 1961, the Mitchells had a daughter, Marty. Though not Catholics , the Mitchells enrolled their daughter in Catholic school, which Mitchell believed had superior discipline. John Mitchell's and Richard Nixon 's professional careers converged when, on New Year's Eve 1966, their law offices combined to become Nixon Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander and Mitchell. Although their status as friends
1070-425: A little upset about politics, but she loves me and I love her and that's what counts." In her subsequent report of the incident, Thomas said that it was apparent someone had taken the phone from Mitchell's hand and the woman could be heard saying "You just get away." Thomas's account was widely covered in the news, and many media outlets made efforts to find Mitchell for an interview. A few days later, Marcia Kramer ,
1177-452: A member of the Queen's Body Guard for Scotland, wrote Mitchell a letter of reprimand, and in a statement to the press said, "There is always hope she may learn some manners. She is a stupid woman. If she is going to shout her mouth off like that, she is bound to get shouted at." Myra MacPherson of The Washington Post wrote that "To many she was a brazen and bombastic woman, to others she
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#17327756859201284-469: A minimum-security prison, before being released on parole for medical reasons. Around 5:00 pm on November 9, 1988, Mitchell collapsed from a heart attack on the sidewalk in front of 2812 N Street NW in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C., and died that evening at George Washington University Hospital . He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery . He was eligible for
1391-544: A more avant-garde ambience. The Cocktail Party set now consisted of oversized cutouts of celebrity and historical figures. The show began to depart from both its Hippie -esque "vibe" and humor and its leanings toward the counterculture of the 1960s . There were now significantly fewer jokes and less commentary about race relations and anti- Vietnam War sentiment. New cast members: Dennis Allen , writer-actress Ann Elder , and tap dancer Barbara Sharma . Cast departures: Gibson left after episode 10 and Johnson left after
1498-594: A one-time special on September 9, 1967, and was such a success that it was brought back as a series, replacing The Man from U.N.C.L.E. on Mondays at 8 pm (ET). It quickly became the most popular television show in the United States. The title of the show was a play on the 1960s Hippie culture " love-ins " or the Counterculture " be-ins ", terms derived from the " sit-ins " common in protests associated with civil rights and antiwar demonstrations of
1605-424: A program aimed at curing the ills of society." However, he also told activists, "You will be better advised to watch what we do, not what we say." Near the beginning of his administration, Nixon ordered Mitchell to go slow on desegregation of schools in the South, in fulfillment of Nixon's " Southern Strategy " which accused him of focusing on gaining support from Southern white voters. After being instructed by
1712-558: A purse. He also appeared in many of the Cocktail Party scenes, primarily Season 6, where he directed his band as they stopped and started between jokes. Composer-lyricist Billy Barnes wrote all of the original musical production numbers in the show, and often appeared on-camera, accompanying Johnson, Buzzi, Worley, or Sues, on a golden grand piano. Barnes was the creator of the Billy Barnes Revue of 1959 and 1960. For
1819-409: A rapid-fire series of gags and sketches, many of which were politically charged or contained sexual innuendo. The co-hosts continued the exasperated "straight man" (Rowan) and "dumb guy" (Martin) double act that they had established as nightclub comics. The show featured Gary Owens as the on-screen radio continuity announcer , and an ensemble cast. Ruth Buzzi was part of the ensemble throughout
1926-407: A result of President Nixon's policy this percentage had decreased to 8%, a greater decrease than in any of the previous three presidents. Enrollment of black children in desegregated schools rose from 186,000 in 1969 to 3 million in 1970. From the outset, Mitchell strove to suppress what many Americans saw as major threats to their safety: urban crime, black unrest, and war resistance. He called for
2033-501: A series of fundraising events. While there, Mitchell's husband received a phone call about the incident and immediately held a press conference denying any CRP involvement. Encouraging her to remain in California, Mitchell's husband returned to Washington. Meanwhile, John Mitchell enlisted their security agent, former FBI agent Steve King , to prevent her from learning about the break-in or contacting reporters. Despite these efforts,
2140-477: A son, Clyde Jay Jennings in 1947, later a GAO investigator. Jennings spent a lot of time away from home, which (according to Mitchell) led to the couple's separation on May 18, 1956, and eventual divorce on August 1, 1957. She once said as soon as she met John N. Mitchell that she was "impressed with his suaveness and intellect,". They married on December 30, 1957, settling in Rye, New York . Her new husband worked as
2247-440: A theme, while others involved reoccurring characters created by the cast. In others, cast members and guest stars would simply appear as themselves, delivering jokes or reacting to a previous sketch. In addition to the announced guest star or stars of the evening, some recurring guest stars would appear unannounced multiple times through a season (which was easy to accomplish given the show's non-linear taping sessions). A trademark of
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#17327756859202354-608: A veteran crime reporter of the New York Daily News , tracked Mitchell to the Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York. Kramer found "a beaten woman" who had "incredible" black and blue marks on her arms. In the first of many interviews, Mitchell related how in the week following the Watergate burglary, she had been held captive in that California hotel and it was King who had pulled the phone cord from
2461-576: Is debated, when Nixon was elected president in 1968 he appointed John Mitchell as his Attorney General. The position necessitated that the family move to Washington, D.C., and their home in the fashionable Watergate complex was estimated at the time to be worth US$ 140,000 . Mitchell first came to national attention after she remarked to a television reporter that the Washington, D.C., peace demonstrations held in November 1969 reminded her husband of
2568-407: Is notable for being interspersed with film clips of some of the female cast members (most frequently Carne and Hawn) performing go-go dancing in bikinis to the segment's burlesque-inspired theme, with the camera periodically zooming into jokes or images that had been painted onto their bodies. The segment also usually included an additional musical number based on the topic, performed by cast members at
2675-787: The Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation for discharging substantial quantities of cyanide into the Cuyahoga River near Cleveland. Mr. Ruckelshaus has said, when he asked the Department to file this suit, that the 180-day notice filed against the company had expired. We are filing a civil suit to seek immediate injunctive relief under the Refuse Act of 1899 and the Federal Water Pollution Act to halt
2782-558: The Russian Revolution . The statement increased her notoriety and coverage in the media. Mitchell had the custom of having an evening drink and then calling reporters with political gossip or information she had gleaned while rifling through her husband's papers or eavesdropping on his conversations. During this time, Mitchell's renown as an outspoken socialite grew, and she made regular appearances on television talk shows and variety shows, such as Laugh-In . By November 1970,
2889-626: The United States Navy and attained the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) as a PT boat commander. Stories Mitchell told about his naval service were later debunked, including having received the Silver Star and Purple Heart , served as John F. Kennedy 's commanding officer, and saved the life of Pappy Boyington . Except for his period of military service, Mitchell practiced law in New York City from 1938 until 1969 with
2996-647: The " law-and-order " positions of the Nixon administration , amid several high-profile anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. Mitchell was born in Detroit to Margaret (McMahon) and Joseph C. Mitchell. He grew up in the New York City borough of Queens . He attended Fordham University from 1932 to 1934, and earned his law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1938. Mitchell carried out postgraduate study at St. John's University Law School in 1938 and 1939. During World War II , Mitchell served for three years in
3103-499: The 13th episode of the sixth season of Drunk History by John Early , where she was portrayed by Vanessa Bayer . Gaslit , a political thriller TV series based on the Slow Burn podcast, aired in 2022, with Julia Roberts portraying Martha and Sean Penn playing John Mitchell. The " Martha Mitchell effect ", in which a psychiatrist mistakenly or willfully identifies a patient's true but extraordinary claims as delusions ,
3210-534: The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Cactus Flower , Goldie Hawn made a guest appearance in the third episode of the fourth season. She began the episode as an arrogant snob of an actress; however, a bucket of water thrown at her transformed her back to her giggling dumb blonde persona. On multiple occasions, producer George Schlatter attempted to get William F. Buckley Jr. to appear on
3317-588: The Court ruled that desegregation needed to be accomplished only with " all deliberate speed ," which many Southern states interpreted as an invitation to delay. It was not until 1969 that the Supreme Court renounced the "all deliberate speed" rule and declared that further delay in accomplishing desegregation was no longer permissible. As a result, some 70% of black children were still attending segregated schools in 1968 when Nixon became president. By 1972, as
Martha Mitchell - Misplaced Pages Continue
3424-551: The Democrats, he famously uttered an implied threat to reporter Carl Bernstein : " Katie Graham 's gonna get her tit caught in a big fat wringer if that's published." In July 1973, Mitchell testified before the Senate Watergate Committee where he claimed he had no prior knowledge of the Watergate break-in, which contradicted the testimony of others who appeared before the committee. He admitted that he
3531-611: The National Environmental Policy Act on New Year's Day in 1970, establishing the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Nixon appointed William Ruckelshaus to head the agency, which opened its doors December 2, 1970. Mitchell gave a Press Conference December 18, 1970: “I would like to call attention to an area of activity that we have not publicly emphasized lately, but which I feel, because of
3638-561: The President (commonly abbreviated to CRP, or the pejorative "CREEP") for the 1972 campaign . During the campaign Mitchell had begun to complain to her media contacts that the campaign had engaged in "dirty tricks" to win the election. A week before the June 1972 burglary of the DNC headquarters in the Watergate office building , the Mitchells had traveled to Newport Beach, California , to attend
3745-604: The University of Miami, she dated Sonny Capone and met Al Capone , and was president of Sigma Iota Chi . She ultimately received a Bachelor of Arts in history. After graduation, she was a seventh-grade teacher for a year in Mobile, Alabama , but left teaching after she decided she "despised" it. She returned to Pine Bluff in 1945 and, after World War II , she began work as a secretary at the Pine Bluff Arsenal . She
3852-606: The Watergate break-in and cover-up, which he dubbed the "White House horrors". As a result of the conviction, Mitchell was disbarred from the practice of law in New York. The sentence was later reduced to one-to-four years by United States District Court Judge John J. Sirica . Mitchell served 19 months of his sentence at Federal Prison Camp, Montgomery (in Maxwell Air Force Base ) in Montgomery, Alabama,
3959-408: The Watergate burglary, admitted that Mitchell was, in his words, "basically kidnapped" and corroborated her story. He further asserted that H. R. Haldeman , as well as other top Nixon aides, had been "jealous" of her popularity in the media and had sought ways to embarrass her. Nixon later told interviewer David Frost in 1977 that Martha was a distraction to John Mitchell, such that no one was minding
4066-595: The advanced stages of multiple myeloma , on May 31, 1976, Mitchell slipped into a coma and died at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City. She was 57 years old. Her funeral service was held at First Presbyterian Church. An anonymous donor sent a large arrangement of flowers that spelled "Martha was right." She was buried in the Bellwood Cemetery in Pine Bluff with her mother and grandparents. Her daughter Marty and husband John Mitchell attended
4173-500: The beginning and end of the segment, as well as in short bridges between sketches. At the end of every show, after a final dialogue, Rowan would turn to his co-host and say, "Say good night, Dick", to which Martin replied, "Good night, Dick!", leading into the final Joke Wall segment. The cast would pop out of their doors and either tell jokes to the camera, to each other, or to Rowan and Martin, who stood in front, or just yell out, "Good night, Dick!" This would lead into and continue under
4280-448: The bond payments while not placing it under a legal obligation to do so. Mitchell did not dispute when asked in an interview if the intent of such language was to create a "form of political elitism that bypasses the voter's right to a referendum or an initiative." In 1967, the firm of Caldwell, Trimble & Mitchell, where Mitchell was lead partner, merged with Richard Nixon's firm, Nixon, Mudge, Rose, Guthrie, & Alexander . Nixon
4387-413: The break-in or contacting reporters. While she was on a phone call with journalist Helen Thomas about the break-in, King pulled the phone cord from the wall. Mrs. Mitchell was held against her will in a California hotel room and forcibly sedated by a psychiatrist after a physical struggle with five men that left her needing stitches. Nixon aides, in an effort to discredit her, told the press that she had
Martha Mitchell - Misplaced Pages Continue
4494-466: The burial, albeit arriving late to the service. It was reported that John Mitchell, because he was still legally her husband, closed the service to the public and only a handful of mourners attended. Despite John Mitchell's actions to keep crowds away, Pine Bluff residents, fans, and the press nonetheless lined the streets and area surrounding the cemetery. A November 1970 Gallup poll placed the public's opinion of her at 33% unfavorable to 43% favorable. She
4601-580: The capacity of the media to exploit and consume the vulnerable. Three years after Mitchell's death, Washington newswoman and Mitchell-collaborator Winzola McLendon released a biography titled Martha: The Life of Martha Mitchell . Mitchell's birthplace and childhood home were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. A segment of U.S. Route 79 in Pine Bluff is designated the Martha Mitchell Expressway , and
4708-546: The changing events, deserves your attention. I refer to the pollution control litigation, with particular reference to our work with the new Environmental Protection Agency, now headed by William Ruckelshaus. As in the case of other government departments and agencies, EPA refers civil and criminal suits to the Department of Justice, which determines whether there is a base for prosecution and of course, if we find it so, we proceed with court action.... And today, I would like to announce that we are filing suit this morning against
4815-475: The closing credits. There would be one final batch of skits, including a closing appearance from Owens. Up until the finale of Season 4, the last gag would be Arte Johnson's character, Wolfgang, the German soldier. He would slowly rise up from among some plants, look into the camera and say with a thick German accent, "Veeeeery eeenterestingk!" This would bring the episode to a conclusion - almost. The very last thing
4922-559: The committee that Mitchell later approved electronic surveillance (i.e., bugging telephones) but did not approve of the other proposed activities. Tape recordings made by President Nixon and the testimony of others involved confirmed that Mitchell had participated in meetings to plan the break-in of the Democratic Party's national headquarters in the Watergate Office Building . In addition, he had met with
5029-549: The details of the day-to-day operations to Mitchell. Allegedly, Mitchell also played a central role in covert attempts to sabotage the 1968 Paris Peace Accords which could have ended the Vietnam War (the “Chennault Affair”). After Nixon became president in January 1969, he appointed Mitchell as Attorney General of the United States while making an unprecedented direct appeal to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover that
5136-454: The discharge of these deleterious materials into the river.” In an early sample of the "dirty tricks" that would later mark the 1971–72 campaign, Mitchell approved a $ 10,000 subsidy to employ an American Nazi Party faction in a bizarre effort to get Alabama Governor George Wallace off the ballots in California. The scheme failed. John Mitchell's name was mentioned in a deposition concerning Robert L. Vesco , an international financier who
5243-418: The end of each episode. In keeping with Laugh-In 's groundbreaking nature, these messages strongly resembled 21st century GIFs . New cast members: Hogan's Heroes alumni Richard Dawson and Larry Hovis . Both had been part of season 1. Child actor Moosie Drier was also added, doing solo cameo jokes. Cast departures after the season 5 finale: Brown, Elder, Hovis, Sharma, and Sues. Dawson remained until
5350-435: The end of season 2. Judy Carne officially left the show after episode 11 but did return for a few appearances in season 3. Season 3 (1969–1970): New regulars included Johnny Brown , Byron Gilliam, Teresa Graves , Jeremy Lloyd , Pamela Rodgers, and Lily Tomlin . Gilliam was a dancer in seasons 1 to 2 and promoted to cast member this season. Both Brown and Tomlin joined late in this season. Cast departures and changes: After
5457-437: The end, when Rowan asked Buckley why he finally agreed to appear on the show, Buckley explained that Schlatter had written him "an irresistable letter" in which he promised to fly Buckley out to Burbank "in an airplane with two right wings". At the end, Rowan thanked him for appearing: "You can't be that smart without having a sense of humor, and you have a delightful one." The 100th episode featured John Wayne , Tiny Tim and
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#17327756859205564-430: The entire 141-episode series of Laugh-In , including the pilot, the show's musical coordinator was West Coast bebop jazz pianist and composer Russ Freeman . The show was recorded at NBC's Burbank facility using two-inch quadruplex videotape . As computer-controlled online editing had not been invented at the time, post-production video editing of the montage was achieved by the error-prone method of visualizing
5671-453: The federal courts that segregation was unconstitutional and that the executive branch was required to enforce the rulings of the courts, Mitchell began to comply, threatening to withhold federal funds from those school systems that were still segregated and threatening legal action against them. School segregation had been struck down as unconstitutional by a unanimous Supreme Court decision in 1954 ( Brown v. Board of Education ), but in 1955,
5778-461: The firm of Rose, Guthrie, Alexander and Mitchell and earned a reputation as a successful municipal bond lawyer. Richard Nixon was a partner in the firm from 1963 to 1968. Mitchell's second wife, Martha Mitchell , became a controversial figure, gaining notoriety for her late-night phone calls to reporters in which she accused Nixon of participating in the Watergate cover-up and alleged that he and several of his aides were trying to make her husband
5885-493: The first episode along with series regulars Pamela Austin , Eileen Brennan , Judy Carne , Ruth Buzzi , Henry Gibson , Larry Hovis , Arte Johnson , and Jo Anne Worley . Goldie Hawn joined the cast in the third episode. She had been under contract to Good Morning World at the time of the pilot. Eileen Brennan , Barbara Feldon , and Jack Riley made frequent appearances in both season 1 and 2. Riley usually did skits as President Lyndon Johnson . Ian Bernard (1930–2020)
5992-882: The first few episodes was a group of six women dancers called "The Downtown Beauties", referring to the show's running joke of "beautiful downtown Burbank". The members of this group were in the Cocktail Party scenes and the group was featured for many of the musical numbers. The known names of these dancers are Janice Pennington, Mary Rowan (Dan's daughter), and Adele Yoshioko. Cast (returning veterans): Allen, Buzzi, Dawson, Owens, and Tomlin. (New members:) child actor Moosie Drier , promoted to cast member and teamed with child actor Tod Bass, character comedian Brian Bressler (up to episode 10), comedienne Patti Deutsch , German model Lisa Farringer (episodes 13–24), Sarah Kennedy , folksy singer-comedian Jud Strunk , ventriloquist act Willie Tyler and Lester, and Donna Jean Young. Former regular Jo Anne Worley returned for two guest appearances, including
6099-599: The following week, Mitchell acquired a copy of the Los Angeles Times , learning that James W. McCord Jr. , the security director of CRP and her daughter's bodyguard and driver, was among those arrested. This detail conflicted with the White House's official story that the break-in was unrelated to CRP, and raised her suspicions. Mitchell unsuccessfully made attempts to contact her husband by phone, eventually telling one of his aides that her next call would be to
6206-614: The help of the guest star. The news varied in presentation over the years, but in the earlier seasons started with Martin reading the "News of the Present", with Rowan providing "News of the Future" and sketches depicting the "News of the Past". Alan Sues, as his "Big Al" character, would provide a typically clueless sports report. "Mod, Mod World" was a group of sketches introduced by Rowan and Martin that fit into an announced theme. This segment
6313-485: The honor because of his World War II Naval service and having held the cabinet post of Attorney General . Laugh-In Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (often simply referred to as Laugh-In ) is an American sketch comedy television program that ran for six seasons from January 22, 1968, to March 12, 1973, on the NBC television network. The show, hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin , originally aired as
6420-853: The music of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band , the Bee Gees , the Temptations , the Strawberry Alarm Clock , and the First Edition . During the September 16, 1968, episode, Richard Nixon, running for president, appeared for a few seconds with a disbelieving vocal inflection, asking "Sock it to me ?" Nixon was not doused or assaulted. An invitation was extended to Nixon's opponent, Vice President Hubert Humphrey , but he declined. According to George Schlatter,
6527-534: The other ins." Laugh-In had its roots in the humor of vaudeville and burlesque, but its most direct influences were Olsen and Johnson 's comedies (such as the free-form Broadway revue Hellzapoppin' ), the innovative television works of Ernie Kovacs (George Schlatter's wife, Jolene Brand appeared in Kovacs' shows), and the topical TV satire That Was the Week That Was . The show was characterized by
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#17327756859206634-457: The president on at least three occasions to cover up White House involvement, using illegal means such as witness tampering, after the burglars were discovered and arrested. On January 1, 1975, Mitchell, who was represented by the criminal defense attorney William G. Hundley , was found guilty of conspiracy , obstruction of justice , and perjury . Mitchell was sentenced on February 21 to two-and-a-half to eight years in prison for his role in
6741-597: The press that she had a drinking problem, which was true. They suggested that she was convalescing in Silver Hill Hospital , a psychiatric facility in Connecticut . Initially, Mitchell began contacting reporters to defend him when her husband's role in the scandal became known. She believed him to be a " fall guy " and encouraged him to turn against the President. Soon after the burglary, John resigned, citing his desire to spend more time with his family as
6848-525: The press. The following Thursday, June 22, Mitchell made a late-night phone call to Helen Thomas of United Press International , reportedly Mitchell's favorite reporter. Mitchell informed Thomas of her intention to leave her husband until he resigned from CRP. The phone call, however, abruptly ended. When Thomas called back, the hotel operator told her that Mitchell was "indisposed" and would not be able to talk. Thomas then called Mitchell's husband. Seemingly unconcerned, John Mitchell told Thomas "[Martha] gets
6955-432: The problematic video at the edit point and then slowing down the video image just before the edit point; time-expanding the slowed-down section long enough to allot enough time to seamlessly reinsert the audio portion from the removed portion of video. Frequently recurring Laugh-In sketches included: The first season featured some of the first music videos seen on network TV, with cast members appearing in films set to
7062-706: The producer of Saturday Night Live ) and Hart Pomerantz , Jack Douglas , Jeremy Lloyd , John Carsey, Dennis Gren, Gene Farmer, John Rappaport and Stephen Spears, Jim Abell and Chet Dowling, Barry Took , E. Jack Kaplan, Larry Siegel , Jack S. Margolis , Don Reo and Allan Katz , Richard Goren (also credited as Rowby Greeber and Rowby Goren ), Winston Moss, Gene Perret and Bill Richmond , Jack Wohl, Bob Howard and Bob DeVinney. Script supervisors for Laugh-In included Digby Wolfe (comedy consultant, season 1), Phil Hahn and Jack Hanrahan (season 2), Allan Manings (season 3), Marc London and David Panich (seasons 3–6), and Jim Mulligan (season 6). The musical director for Laugh-In
7169-510: The program Panorama on Washington's WTTG ; it only lasted a week. In 1975, Mitchell fell ill. As her health declined, she was called on by a small circle of friends that included her reporter friend and biographer Winzola McLendon . Her lawyer, in an ongoing alimony dispute, described her as "desperately ill, without funds and without friends". Her son cared for her and served as her occasional spokesman. In her final days, Mitchell subsisted on donations sent by sympathetic supporters. Suffering
7276-602: The reason. In the meantime, corruption in the GOP had moved sharply into focus for the outspoken Martha. In May 1973, she provided sworn testimony in a deposition at the offices of attorney Henry B. Rothblatt in connection with the Democratic Party 's US$ 6.4 million civil suit against the CRP. The Mitchells separated in September 1973, with John suddenly moving out of the family home with their daughter. On January 1, 1975, he
7383-413: The recorded track with ferrofluid and cutting it with a razor blade or guillotine cutter and splicing with adhesive tape, in a manner similar to film editing. This had the incidental benefit of ensuring the preservation of the master tape, as a spliced tape could not be recycled for further use . Laugh-In editor Arthur Schneider won an Emmy Award in 1968 for his pioneering use of the " jump cut " –
7490-408: The rest of the cast. The producer mollified him by having on-screen radio continuity announcer Gary Owens read Johnson's credit as a separate sentence: "Starring Dan Rowan and Dick Martin! And Arte Johnson! With Ruth Buzzi..." This maneuver gave Johnson the star billing he wanted, but it also implied that he was still part of the ensemble cast. Cast departures: Chelsea Brown and Dave Madden left at
7597-584: The return of several former cast members. Wayne, with his ear cupped, read the line "and me, I'm Gary Owens" instead of Owens himself. Wayne also shook Tiny Tim's hand, pretending that his grip was too overpowering. In addition to those already mentioned, the show created numerous catchphrases (for a full description of characters and recurring characters, see above sections.): A chain of Laugh-In restaurants opened in several states during 1968–69; primarily in Michigan, Ohio and Florida. Psychedelically-themed like
7704-649: The right of police to employ the preventive detention of criminal suspects. He brought conspiracy charges against critics of the Vietnam War , likening them to brown shirts of the Nazi era in Germany. Mitchell expressed a reluctance to involve the Justice Department in some civil rights issues. "The Department of Justice is a law enforcement agency," he told reporters. "It is not the place to carry on
7811-404: The scapegoat for the whole affair. Mitchell devised a type of revenue bond called a "moral obligation bond" while serving as bond counsel to New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller in the 1960s. In an effort to get around the voter approval process for increasing state and municipal borrower limits, Mitchell attached language to the offerings that was able to communicate the state's intent to meet
7918-493: The season 4 finale. Notable visits for season 4: Goldie Hawn made a guest appearance in episode 3. After she left Laugh-In she made two movies, There's a Girl In My Soup and Cactus Flower , for which she won an Academy Award . Teresa Graves made two consecutive appearances toward the end of season 4. She made history in her own right by being the first African-American woman to star in her own TV show, Get Christie Love! Season 5 (1971–1972): Another new set design
8025-476: The season finale, Gilliam returned to being a regular dancer in The Cocktail Party scene and in occasional skits. He remained until the end of the series. Graves, Hawn, Lloyd, and Worley left after the season 3 finale. Tomlin remained until the series ended in 1973. Season 4 (1970–1971): There were major changes to the set and new additions to the cast. The overall psychedelia look was replaced with
8132-473: The series ended. During season 5 the show also celebrated its 100th episode. Former cast regulars Carne, Gibson, Graves, Johnson, and Worley returned for the festivities. Frequent guest stars Tiny Tim and John Wayne were also on hand to celebrate. This was Wayne's first guest appearance since 1968. Season 6 (1972–1973): This was Laugh-In 's final season. Rowan and Martin assumed the executive producer roles from George Schlatter and Ed Friendly . A new set
8239-403: The series finale. Although Owens was not in the 1967 pilot and Buzzi was not in two episodes of season 1, of the more than three dozen entertainers to join the cast over the years only Rowan, Martin, Owens, and Buzzi were present from beginning to end. This last season was not George Schlatter's property, so it was not included in the edited and condensed rerun package of half-hour episodes that
8346-457: The series was its (even shorter) blackout sketches, often involving rapid-fire cuts between two or more scenes or camera angles, set to a six-note musical sting (or at times, an elongated 16-note version). These were used as transitions into and out of commercials, among other places. The show started with a batch of sketches leading into Gary Owens' introduction segment, in which the cast and announced guest star(s) would appear behind open doors of
8453-457: The show's creator, "Humphrey later said that not doing it may have cost him the election ", and "[Nixon] said the rest of his life that appearing on Laugh-In is what got him elected. And I believe that. And I've had to live with that." In an episode of the ill-fated 1977 revival, Rich Little as Nixon says, "I invited the American people to sock-it-to-me.... you can stop now". After winning
8560-411: The show's homebase set to introduce the show and have a dialogue, generally consisting of Martin frustrating Rowan by derailing his attempt to do a proper introduction via misunderstandings or digressions. Eventually, Rowan would end the introduction and invite the audience to the "Cocktail Party". This live to tape segment consisted of all cast members and occasional surprise celebrities dancing before
8667-453: The show's iconic, psychedelically painted "Joke Wall". Owens would also insert offbeat lines in his monotone, deadpan style, in the introductions and occasionally throughout the episode, generally facing a microphone to his side with one hand cupped to his ear (Owens's character loosened up and became "hipper" in later seasons). After more short sketches leading into and out of the first commercial break, Rowan and Martin would walk in front of
8774-537: The show's six-year run, while others appeared in at least three seasons. This includes Judy Carne , Henry Gibson , Goldie Hawn , Arte Johnson , Jo Anne Worley , Alan Sues , Lily Tomlin , Dennis Allen and Richard Dawson . In 2002, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In was ranked number 42 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time . Laugh-In was designed to be very lightly structured and consisted mainly of short comedic sketches. Some of these would reappear multiple times throughout an episode with variations on
8881-408: The show, only to be refused each time until he suddenly agreed to an appearance. In the episode that aired December 28, 1970, Buckley appeared in an unusual sit-down segment (portions of which were scattered throughout the episode) flanked by Rowan and Martin and fielding questions from the cast (which included Lily Tomlin doing her Babbler and Ernestine shticks) and giving humorous answers to each. Near
8988-420: The show, they offered such menu items as Bippy Burgers, Is That A Chicken Joke Chicken, Fickle Finger Of Fate Fries, Beautiful Downtown Burbank Burgers, Fickle Finger Franks, Verrrry Interesting Sandwiches, I'll Drink To That beverages, Sock It To Me soups, Laugh-In Fortune Cookies and Here Come Da Fudge sundaes. Staff often rode around on red tricycles wearing yellow raincoats and hats. All locations were closed by
9095-409: The store, and "If it hadn't been for Martha Mitchell, there'd have been no Watergate." King denies the kidnapping allegations and was never charged. Garrett Graff , author of Watergate: A New History , said that Mitchell's status as a whistleblower was ignored largely due to the misogyny of the era, resulting in her being written out of history. He has said that Mitchell "warned America about what
9202-454: The television audience would hear is one pair of hands clapping several seconds after all the credits had rolled. This was the conclusion to almost every show up to the Season 5 finale. For Season 6, the television audience would hear a woman laughing (Ruth Buzzi) very strangely long after the credits had rolled. Other segments and recurring characters, listed below, would come and go throughout
9309-428: The time. In the pilot episode, Dan Rowan explained the show's approach: "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to television's first Laugh-In. Now for the past few years, we have all been hearing an awful lot about the various 'ins'. There have been be-ins, love-ins, and sleep-ins. This is a laugh-in and a laugh-in is a frame of mind. For the next hour, we would just like you to sit back and laugh and forget about
9416-512: The unique editing style in which a sudden cut from one shot to another was made without a fade-out. When the series was restored for airing by the Trio Cable Network in 1996, the aforementioned edits became problematic for the editors, as the adhesive used on the source tape had deteriorated during 20+ years of storage, making many of the visual elements at the edit points unusable. This was corrected in digital re-editing by removing
9523-456: The use of "no-knock" warrants for police to enter homes, frisking suspects without a warrant, wiretapping , preventive detention , the use of federal troops to repress crime in the capital, a restructured Supreme Court, and a slowdown in school desegregation. "This country is going so far to the right you won't recognize it," he told a reporter. There had been national outrage over the 1969 burning Cuyahoga River . President Nixon had signed
9630-407: The usual background investigation not be conducted. Mitchell remained in office from 1969 until he resigned in 1972 to manage Nixon's reelection campaign. Mitchell believed that the government's need for " law and order " justified restrictions on civil liberties. He advocated the use of wiretaps in national security cases without obtaining a court order ( United States v. U.S. District Court ) and
9737-577: The wall. After several attempts to escape from the balcony, she was physically accosted by five men and was left needing stitches. Herbert W. Kalmbach , Nixon's personal lawyer, was summoned to the hotel and he decided to call for a doctor to inject her with a tranquilizer . The incident left her fearing for her life. Although the Watergate burglary was the leading story, her reports were relegated to human-interest stories in major newspapers, including The Times , The Washington Post , and The New York Daily News . Nixon aides, to discredit Mitchell, told
9844-403: The years. The September 9, 1967, was meant to be a special, sponsored by Timex , with guest stars: Pamela Austin , Ken Berry , Judy Carne , Barbara Feldon , and featuring Ruth Buzzi , Henry Gibson , Larry Hovis , Arte Johnson , Monte Landis , Jo Anne Worley , and Paul Weston and His Orchestra Season 1 ran from January to April 1968 with 14 episodes. Gary Owens joined the cast in
9951-517: Was dyslexic , and struggled to read aloud. She was fascinated by the arts, and dreamt of becoming an actress, attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri , and studied acting under Maude Adams , but her family would not allow it. She eventually transferred to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville , joined Chi Omega and transferred the following year to the University of Miami . At
10058-418: Was Ian Bernard. He wrote the opening theme music, "Inquisitive Tango" (used in Season 1 and again permanently from season 4), plus the infamous "What's the news across the nation" number. He wrote all the musical "play-ons" that introduced comedy sketches like Lily Tomlin's character, Edith Ann, the little girl who sat in a giant rocking chair, and Arte Johnson's old man character, Tyrone, who always got hit with
10165-605: Was a fugitive from a federal indictment. Mitchell and Nixon Finance Committee Chairman Maurice H. Stans were indicted in May 1973 on federal charges of obstructing an investigation of Vesco after he made a $ 200,000 contribution to the Nixon campaign. In April 1974, both men were acquitted in a New York federal district court . In the days immediately after the Watergate break-in of June 17, 1972, Mitchell enlisted former FBI agent Steve King to prevent his wife Martha from learning about
10272-533: Was a heroine who attacked a liberal permissiveness they felt had brought chaos to the land." The National Review said: Martha Mitchell brought to [the Nixon Administration] a welcome touch of zaniness and genuine good humor. Seizing on a rare good thing, the press tended to exploit her. What originally had been innocent japes became media events. During the Watergate furor, her abortive TV career proved to be another and finally pitiable example of
10379-415: Was about to envelop the country, and she was ignored. She deserves a much bigger role in the way we tell the story of Watergate." Mitchell was Presbyterian and, while in New York, attended Marble Collegiate Church . She began to write her memoirs in 1973, but fearing it would mean she would get no money from her husband, never signed a contract. In April 1974, she got a short-lived job as the guest host of
10486-401: Was briefed on January 27, 1972, while he was the attorney general, by G. Gordon Liddy on Operation Gemstone which proposed numerous illegal activities to support the reelection of President Nixon, including the use of prostitutes, kidnapping, and assaulting antiwar protestors. Mitchell testified he should have thrown Liddy "out of the window". Jeb Stuart Magruder and John Dean testified to
10593-404: Was convicted of perjury, obstruction of justice and conspiracy for his involvement in the Watergate break-in; he served 19 months in a federal prison. They never saw each other again. Because of her involvement in the scandal, she was discredited and abandoned by most of her family, except for her son, intermittently. It was not until February 1975 that McCord, having been convicted for his role in
10700-457: Was designed that mixed abstract art with muted psychedelia colors. There was once again a visible studio audience. Ian Bernard, the show's musical director, and five other musicians became participants in the Cocktail Party scenes as the house band known as "Ian Bernard and His Band at Large". Owens would often incorrectly introduce them as "Ian Bernard and His Band of Irvine Quickies", " ...His Band of Lard" or "...His Band of Lies". Also new for
10807-441: Was introduced that combined abstract art with avant-garde . The Cocktail Party set now consisted of a main wall covered in mirrored tiles. The jokes, commentary and overall humor became even more mainstream in Season 5, and there were more schtick and vaudeville -styled musical numbers. The few political jokes told were mostly aimed at the Nixon administration . Around mid-season, the show began to air brief anti-drug messages at
10914-481: Was known for her glamorous but "girly" fashion. Despite her fame as an outsized personality, those who knew her said she was often anxious before attending parties or public events, clutching her friend's arm, trembling, or even weeping. She refused to curtsy to Queen Elizabeth II at a garden party in July 1971, saying, "I feel that an American citizen should not bow to foreign monarchs." Scotland 's Earl of Lindsay ,
11021-478: Was named after her. She is briefly mentioned by Richard Nixon as being a nuisance in Fantastic Four #123 published in June 1972. John N. Mitchell John Newton Mitchell (September 15, 1913 – November 9, 1988) was the 67th Attorney General of the United States , serving under President Richard Nixon and was chairman of Nixon's 1968 and 1972 presidential campaigns. Prior to that, he had been
11128-472: Was soon transferred (along with her boss, Brigadier General Augustin Mitchell Prentiss) to Washington, D.C. In Washington, she met Clyde Jennings, Jr., a U.S. Army officer from Lynchburg, Virginia . They married on October 5, 1946, in Pine Bluff and moved to Rye, New York . Soon after they wed, her husband was honorably discharged and became a traveling handbag salesman. With Jennings, she had
11235-761: Was syndicated (through Lorimar Productions ) to local stations in 1983 and later to Nick at Nite in 1987. Season 6 ultimately was shown for the first time since its original 1972 -1973 run when the entire series of full, uncut episodes began airing on Decades in 2017. *Indicates an extended guest performer and not a regular cast member The writers for Laugh-In were: George Schlatter, Paul W. Keyes ( head writer ), Larry Hovis (pilot only), Digby Wolfe , Hugh Wedlock Jr. and Allan Manings , Chris Bearde (credited as Chris Beard), Phil Hahn and Jack Hanrahan , Coslough Johnson (Arte Johnson's twin brother), Marc London and David Panich, Dave Cox, Jim Carlson , Jack Mendelsohn and Jim Mulligan, Lorne Michaels (before he became
11342-611: Was the musical director for all 6 seasons. He composed the show's theme song along with numerous other pieces. Billy Barnes composed special comedic and topical songs for the show's cast and guest stars. He was regularly seen playing a golden grand piano to accompany solos by cast members such as Ruth Buzzi, Alan Sues, and Jo Anne Worley and guest stars such as Dinah Shore and Lena Horne . Cast departures: all continued on into Season 2 but Hovis. Season 2 (1968–1969): New regulars included Chelsea Brown , Dave Madden and Alan Sues . Arte Johnson now insisted on star billing, apart from
11449-415: Was then officially in "political retirement" but was quietly organizing a return to politics in the 1968 Presidential Election . Mitchell, with his many contacts in local government, became an important strategic confidant to Nixon, who referred to him as "the heavyweight." In 1968 John Mitchell agreed to become Nixon's presidential campaign manager . During his successful 1968 campaign, Nixon turned over
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