The Message Forum is an ongoing dialogue among classmates. The goal is to encourage friendly interaction, including interaction among classmates who really didn't know each other. Experience on the site has revealed that certain topics tend to cause friction and hard feelings, especially politics and religion. 

Although politics and religion are not completely off-limits, classmates are asked to be positive in their posts and not to be too repetitive or allow a dialog to degenerate into an argument. 

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Response" button to add your entry to the forum.

David Cordell

There was one event at UT (can't remember what it was), and I found myself alone with John Connally in a corridor. We were both waiting for some program. I tried to make small talk, including mentioning a deal I read about that he was involved in with Dallas wheeler-dealer Pollard Simons, who died not long afterward. Anyway, Connally didn't even want to make eye contact with me. He responded a bit, but he was looking past me as if someone important were coming soon. I am reminded of a line from the movie Murder by Death: "I thought I was number one, but he treated me like number two."

Bob Davidson

David,

When I was in high school, I attended a banquet for all of the new Eagle Scouts in Dallas County.  It was in a hotel ballroom and the two main speakers were Governor Connolly and Senator John Tower.  They went around the room and spoke to each of us, shook hands, and schmoozed us.  I noticed that Connolly had tremendous charisma -- when he spoke to me I felt like I was the most important person in the world.  Tower didn't have that -- he just seemed like another middle-aged guy talking down to kids. 

A lot of trial lawyers have that charisma like Connelly -- when they want to engage you, you get sucked in and they seem wonderful, when they don't you are nothing.  It's something they can turn on and off.  Many salesmen have it, too.

I had a long-time girlfriend back in the 70s whose dad was at UT from 1939 to 1942, before he joined the Air Corps and flew his quota of combat missions as navigator of a B-17.  We looked at his yearbooks and talked to him about some of the people in school at the time -- UT was small enough that people knew one another -- Connelly, Dolph Briscoe and Janie Slaughter (co-editors of the yearbook), Jake Pickle (student body president), and Frank Erwin (president of the interfraternity council) come to mind immediately, as well as my dad's immediate bosses at Southland Life: Ben Carpenter and Jim Goodson (who were in the same fraternity as Sallie's dad).  Connelly was the lead in most of the campus theatricals during that time and Sallie's dad said that he was incredibly arrogant and pretty nasty to everyone -- the girls all had crushes on him and the guys were jealous enough to start rumors that he was gay -- although that wasn't the word they used. It was apparently because back then straight guys liked to comfort themselves with the idea that guys who were really handsome were closeted homosexuals.

Jan Alexander

Steve Keene

Jan,

You have to admit that the left in this country is full of hypocracy.  They have recently accused Helen Keller who was born blind, deaf and dumb (but clearly not stupid), of having white privilege because she had her own tutor.  However, they don't seem to mind giving quarters to that deaf, dumb and blind kid that sure plays a mean pinball.

Wayne Gary

I found out today that I got the vaccine back in September. Jo Ann got the placebo and today she got the first dose. I recommend getting the vaccine.  I only had a little soreness at the injection site for 3 days.  If I pressed on the site it hurt so I did’t press on the site.

Don't be afraid of Maderna

Wayne

David Cordell

Bob D.,

I had a chance to interact a little bit with Frank Erwin. One of my fraternity brothers, Frank Fleming, was something of a protege of Erwin, and eventually Fleming became president of the student body. On a couple of occasions Erwin spent some late hours drinking at the fraternity house. It was sort of surreal since he was generally deemed by UT students to be evil after the expansion of the stadium and his orders to cut down trees.

When I was chairman of the Texas Union Board of Directors, we wanted to get permission to serve beer and wine in the Union. Erwin, at the behest of Fleming, addressed the City Council on our behalf, and we got the permission. He was a great story teller and actually quite charming -- if you were on his side. If you opposed him, you might end up singing soprano.

David Cordell

Jan,

There is no doubt in my mind that Trump is a jerk, but I voted for him twice. Is he divisive? Yeah, but not as much as liberals think. Their idea of divisive? Anyone who thinks differently than they do. By that definition, Biden is divisive. Pelosi is divisive. Schumer is divisive. Sanders is divisive. And that moron AOC is divisive. Biden may have won, and the Georgia Democrat Senate candidates may have won, but the votes were close all around. Major changes without big majorities is folly.

Obamacare was divisive -- a massive overhaul of health care with zero support from the opposing party. That's divisive. 

I think I have mentioned how LBJ crossed the aisle (if that term is applicable to a President) to convince Republicans to vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and more Republicans voted for it than Democrats. Biden has fancied himself as one who can cross the aisle, but I think he is too addlepated even to cross the street. He's going to get rolled by the left, and the right is too responsible to start burning down cities in response.

Oh, wait a minute. Maybe they will be willing to storm the Capitol!!

Bob Davidson

David -- my one interaction of sorts with Frank Erwin was when he shot me the finger on Speedway from the driver's seat of his burnt orange Cadillac.  I walked by him in the crosswalk and nodded thanks, since he was waiting -- thinking that he looked somewhat familiar.  He glared at me, then shot the finger as I went past his window and mouthed something I couldn't make out.  I was a little surprised so I looked around to see if it was someone else who provoked him, then saw the "UT Regents" parking permit, realized who he was, and  remembered the bright yellow "Axe Erwin" sticker I had across my backpack. 

In defense of my sophmoric politics at the time, my girlfriend at the time was one of the people arrested in the trees at Waller Creek and was a big influence on me at the time.  She later became a somewhat well-known Marxist-feminist economist -- Nancy Folbre.  She was also John Silber's babysitter -- her dad and he played on the tennis team together at Trinity College in San Antonio.

David Cordell

That's hilarious, Bob.

Did you have Silber for Philosophy after Erwin got him fired? I'll never forget when I first saw him write on the board with his left hand while balancing the eraser on the remaining stump of his right arm.

Lowell Tuttle

My memory is that the trees were cut down for the stadium expansion on the West side instead of the East so that LBJ could view the Capitol from his office.

Quote by reporter.  Basically, as far as the police are concerned, this is an normal thing.   Crowd movement in DC.  Virtually there is someone yelling at a building in DC somewhere everyday.

Time will diffuse this.   Not such a big deal.   Underestismate the crowd....so under secured the Capitol.  But the cameras are all there.

I remember the story of the WWI veterans who were camped out on the mall for months as they were not getting their VA benefits promised after WWI ended.  It ended up with the US Army cavalry charging them with horse drawn swordsmen.   The attack was led by some famous WW II generals, an attack on them was ordered by Gen. MacArthur.

Changing my mind on this as I edit 2hours later.

David Cordell

Jan,

Maybe we are looking at the "winter of love" like the summer of love in Seattle, so-named by the mayor. Or maybe the Nancy Pelosi will repeat what she said about "peaceful" protesters -- "people will do what they do."

Trump issued a statement for the protesters to go home and called in the National Guard. No doubt he will be blamed. Meanwhile, elected Republican officials are speaking with one voice that violence needs to stop. 

Oh, and a pipe bond was found and exploded by law enfocement at the office of the Republican National Committee.

I certainly hope that the woman who was shot and killed in the protests wasn't shot by the Capitol Police, or I might have to support defunding the Capitol Police.

David Cordell

Lowell,

I never heard anything about LBJ. Regardless, expansion would always be on the west side so rich folk won't have to look into the sun. The glare off the Astroturf from the east side of that stadium was brutal, and that 100-story upper deck was even a help, casting a shadow that benefited some fans on the (north)east side.

Lowell Tuttle

Re opening the electoral process.   Cool if it goes by quick...Hope

Kurt Fischer

The protests/riots at the Capitol caused me to think of three comments:

1. When I was in Hong Kong and the protests/riots were going on, one night they resulted in a relatively small element of the crowd forcing their way into the Legislative Council building (Legco).  (It's like their Capitol Building).  They vandalized the meeting hall with spray paint and broken glass before they were finally displaced.  My perspective was that they were a bunch of criminals with well meaning ideals.  A good part of Hong Kong supported them.  In the US press they were viewed as freedom fighters and lauded for their ideals and courage.  The US press made the mistake of viewing the legitimate protesters and the rioters as a single unit when they were very different, but still thought the Legco protesters were justified in their pursuit of freedom.

2. Today's protests/riots at the Capitol Building seem very similar in nature.  Most of the protesters were simply protesters.  A minority were thugs who felt entitled to take advantage of the situation and commit criminal acts.  Unfortunately there will be some in the press who view these as freedom fighters.  Thank goodness a vast majority seem to view them as thugs who will be prosecuted for their crimes.

3. When I was in school at Texas Tech during the war protests, one day I was studying in one of the buildings in the quadrangle when a large (well, large for Texas Tech) group of protesters gathered nearby.  They were on their way to the ROTC offices to do some damage.  The offices were across from me in the quadrangle.  Well, this fearsome mob of protesters got to the door of the building and ... it was locked.  They pounded on the door for a while, then got discouraged.  However, someone had an aha moment!  Let's take over the Admin Building!  You saw the group begin to walk slowly towards the Admin Building, then faster and faster.  Now they were running and finally reached the massive doors.  Shoots, they were locked too.  A very small group were enterprising, though, and ran around the building until they apprently found an open door.  After a few minutes, the victory bells began to ring out.  This was the best the anti-war movement at Tech could do.  Break into the Admin Building and ring the victory bells.  After that they all dispersed.

We live in a different age now.....

Holly Hobby

David Reha,

I try. I really try hard to act my age. To emanate both the apearance and 'tude of a grown- up PTA member. The requiste Eagle alum.  A woman whom the old geezers say, "well. she wasn't much in high school. Isn't much now, but at least she knows her place."  

Sadly, it appears I am unable.  Laughed out loud reading your post re Trump's exit from center stage. Immediately I admonished myself. "What kind of lady, (an Eagle, too!)  would laugh out loud at such language ?!?   To that end was a cowardly private message to you. 

Then I came to my senses thinking WTF am I doing?! The last thing I want to be is anyone but me. Or I. Whatever that grammar rule is.   Kudos, David.  

Holly Hobby

Jan,

You could never be a hot-headed, opinionated old lady.  You're seriously smart.  Way fun. Totally real.  And easy to love. Had our class had a "Miss RHS 2Cool4U" award, you'da  won.  But I'd have come in 2nd. 

Holly Hobby

David,

"I certainly hope that the woman who was shot and killed in the protests wasn't shot by the Capitol Police, or I might have to support defunding the Capitol Police."

Ditto. Count me in.

Holly Hobby

Part I

Wayne,

Thank you. Wayne. So sorry.  Didn't see your post until now. 

Making this as brief as I can without sacrificing transparency at the same time, hopeful you won't fall asleep so writing in parts.

 First job out of college was Dallas Morning News.   Pretty sure the only reason I got hired was because the vp who interviewed me thought I was cute.   As with most jobs it was sink or swim. Fortunately I swam, in the process realizing I was born to be a journalist.

Left Texas for awhile, thrilled to do so. Even now I'd prefer the east coast. Newspapers weren't hiring as aggressively at the time so ended up working for an advertising agency, writing ad copy, tv/radio jingles, brilliant things like "At ABC Bank we care about you!"  However, there was an upside--invitations to media events. That's how I met Ted Turner. Who dumped me for Jane Fonda.  (Not that it was ever serious). 

Best thing to come out of that period in my life was meeting my husband, RJ. Cont.

Steve Keene

Holly,

One reporter commented on looking into the eyes of the woman who was shot and killed. He said that no one was more surprised than she was when the shot rang out.  Turns out she was a mother and a longtime veteran.  What a tragedy!  I bet they will be laughing in Pakistan as they are spending our gender studies money that could have been used to fund additional police with non lethal bullets who shot someone of the opposite gender in our Capitol.

Holly Hobby

Part II

Wayne, Still awake?  Don't blame you if you nodded off.

So. At the time we met, RJ, only a couple of years out of law school, was very impressed by himself.  Pretty sure the only reason he was interested in me is because he'd heard I'd dated Ted Turner; before that, a cardio-vascular surgeon; before that, CEO  of a large accounting firm. 

It didn't hurt that I'd been married once before because he, too was extraordinary in his own way. Besides, it ended amicably. So I made the "cut" with the young hottie lawyer, smart but not smart enough to consider I wouldn't be interested in him. 

Thinking he was so cool,  on our first date he showed me around his office. Very impressed with his office and himself, as we were leaving  he leaned over and said, "you need to know upfront, I have no interest in a serious relationship. If your hoping for marriage, I'm not the one."  

I tend to laugh a lot. I can't help it. (I shouldn't admit it, but sometimes I laugh at people).  RJ was one of them. Leaning closer (I don't remember my exact words)  but RJ swears I said "kiss my ass. I'll let you know if or when I'm interested. 

Two, maybe three weeks later he asked me to marry him. Begged for a whole year. Cont.

Jan Alexander

I won't say much cuz you old farts are too smart for me keep up with and I don't have the energy ... but a couple of things popped into my puny ,little head regarding David's post to me..  I will keep this simple.

I didn't work today so I did watch most of the afternoon's horror... and in first few hours there were only White House police trying to take care of things and were trying to keep emotions of all  calm..  but there were only a few of them and they were overwhelmed by the insurgence.

To me there was a big difference from how the other riots this year were handled with all the BLM protests as I watched today. One guy was  sitting at a desk in the office of Pelosi or one of her aids, he took a picture of a note he wrote left on a desk saying, "we are not leaving.".

I flash back to the unrest in Minneapolis and Trump put out a statement to the rioters," Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts".

My point is where the hell was Trump all day? He was absent all this afternoon and you had everyone begging him to step in but he only did very late in the afternoon and just said , he "loved those guys but go home.". If anything llke this had happened earlier in the year , I can assure you this would have never been allowed to happen and nipped in the bud.

I am sorry but we have had a President incite civil unrest for months...and invite all these militia men to protect his reign in office. 

Earlier in the morning , you had Giuliani utter the demand ‘Trial by Combat’ to Settle the Election.

At the Save America rally today you had Trump say , "We'll never give up. We'll never concede." You then had Donald Trump Jr closed the rally with ," Republicans who decide to certify Joe Biden's presidential victory that "this isn't their party" and "we're coming for you." This isn't their Republican Party anymore. This is Donald Trump's Republican Party. This is the Republican Party that will put America first." He also added: "If you’re gonna be the zero and not the hero, we’re coming for you and we’re going to have a good time doing it!"

Yes, Trump did finally say... "go home please and I love you guys..but go home."

Way to go Trump.

It was Pense who called in the national guard, not the President

Holly Hobby

JAN !  

I was smack in the middle of telling my life story to anyone who hadn't dozed off and just as I hit "post response" in efforts to write Volume III, your post popped up and I didn't get past the first line without nearly falling off the couch laughing. 

Now. I must get back to the story of my fascinating life.  I promise to read your post soon as the night's most compelling story has been told. But knowing you, I really will fall off the couch laughing and break my arm. Wrist. Or something.  Lol

David Cordell

Jan,

We're just going to have to agree to disagree. Trump is a jerk and should have long ago learned when to keep his mouth shut, but I simply don't agree with blaming him for the storming of the Capitol. People who commit crimes are responsible for those crimes.

Of course, those vandals who damaged property, caused injury, etc. should be punished, and I don't condone any of that activity. Ironically, though, I think it is valuable for Democrats to experience the stark fear of the mob so that they might appreciate what it has been like for business owners in Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, etc., except for the fact that the Democrats are not experiencing a loss of their businesses,  i.e. their means of earning a living. I also think those Democrat Congressmen/women who have talked about cutting funds to police should be willing to cut the budget for the Capitol Police. Or are they so special?

Meanwhile, I am trying not to watch the news very much. It just makes me upset and/or angry. We watched a nice Hallmark movie tonight, which predictably ended with a kiss. Then we watched Tortilla Soup, which is a very good movie about family relationships. 

Holly Hobby

Part III

Wayne? Wayne? You still there? Is anyone there? 

Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter. With Jan out of the way, back to my life story.  

So, weary of hearing a man beg, I finally said "yes."  RJ would tell you that's not exactly true. According to him, we'd flown to Dallas for the weekend, somehow convincing my parents we had separate rooms at Anatole. (Both my mother father died believing RJ and I had separate rooms at the Anatole.)

Acording to him, I was in the shower getting ready for a night out when suddenly (!) RJ  felt compelled to issue an ultimatum.  “Look, I’m tired of this. Either marry me or let’s call it quits.”  According to him,  I said “huh? What? I can’t hear you over the shower.”  “THEN TURN OFF THE G-DAMNED SHOWER!  WILL YOU MARRY ME OR NOT?  The only part of the story that we both agree is that I said, “yeah. Okay. I’ll marry you.” 

From the begining I knew he was the one. I knew RJ was the one with whom I wanted to spend the rest o of my life, I just wasn't ready to jump into marriage. 

Speed forward about 3 years later, we'd been married for quite awhile.  I was writing for a small newspaper, he, legal counsel to a booming oil and gas company.  Out of the blue, I wanted a baby. RJ did not.  

Round and round we went. “What about a new Louis Vuitton? "  " Okay, what about a full length Blackglama mink!”   Me:  “You’ve forgotten. I have one."  "Okay, how about a Jag XK-S?"    "Mmmmm, no. I want a baby." 

 We lost our first child, a girl, the blow surreal, devastating and humbling. 

Later our only child, Katherine, was born.  Stay with me here. I'm about to explain how I ended up with Ph.D going on to work cartel/ organized  crime related homicides. cont.

Holly Hobby

Part IV:

(Why do I get the feeling I'm talking to the software for Class Creator and even the software is saying "The man didn't ask for your entire life story.  He simply  asked, "what do you do? You mentioned a Ph.D and your husband is a lawyer. Get to the point, will ya? )  cont.