Manuscripts
Ryskind, Morrie
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Ryskind, Morrie
Manuscripts
Approx. 35 items. Letters, memos. Some letters are from readers urging LAT to resume publication of conservative Morrie Ryskind's columns. (R. had ceased submitting material following LAT refusal to run one in late 1965) Most of the remaining correspondence involves LAT staff conducting a sort of "post-mortem" on Ryskind's association with LAT. Some are exchanges between Rex Barley (LAT Syndicate) or Nick Williams and Ryskind. The LAT declined to run certain of his columns when they believed he was making unsubstantiated allegations regarding media outlets. Also, Ryskind was a member of the John Birch Society and did not approve when LAT did an expose on the group, which seemed to fuel the "feud." A 6-pp. memo Williams wrote to Otis Chandler contains much information about the situation. It is dated March 7, 1966. Also in the file are another group of letters critical of LAT for "censoring" Ryskind.
mssLAT
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Ryskind, Morrie
Manuscripts
Approx. 20 items. The file includes LAT memos and exchanges of letters between Ryskind and Williams. At this point in time, Ryskind had not appeared in LAT for some years, but was firing broadsides at LAT from the pages of Herald-Examiner and Evening Outlook. The folder contains clippings from both papers and discussion of same in memos. Also in folder is a draft version, with editing marks, of a 5-pp. letter to R. from Williams which helps to understand a story involving L.A.P.D., Blacks, and what LAT and Ryskind wrote about it.
mssLAT
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Chronological File - April
Manuscripts
Approx. 80 items. Letters and memos. Response to Sam Chandler (4/21/1970) on working to eradicate prejudices; Ted Kennedy and Chappaquiddick; (4/15/1970) 2-pp. letter to reader Wallace Williams on the meaning of "freedom of the press"; "thank you" note to Gen. William Peers of the Pentagon after he joined the LAT Editorial Board for "off-the-record" talks; letter to Walter Annenberg, Ambassador to Great Britain; (4/9/1970) 4-pp. letter to columnist Morrie Ryskind on Police Chief Ed Davis--LAT--Ryskind incident; letter to Bishop Gerald Kennedy, United Methodist Church -- L.A. Area; response (4/8/1970) to M.D. Shelstad, who canceled subscription. and accused LAT of trying to "bust our President"; more explanation of reason LAT canceled "Li'l Abner"; more qualified defense of editorial cartoonist Paul Conrad; etc.
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John Birch Society - Newspaper Industry Correspondence
Manuscripts
Approx. 30 items. Subjects include: correspondence between Williams and other U.S. editors; memo (June 15, 1964) describing tactics of John Rousselot in dealing with anti-JBS members of a Monrovia audience; Robert Notson, Editor of The Oregonian, wrote to Williams, "Otis Chandler's statement (condemning JBS) was forthright and courageous....I thought I would not see the day when conservatives attacked the Times." The letters filed here show strong support for The Times stance.
mssLAT
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G - Miscellaneous Correspondence
Manuscripts
Approx. 45 items. Subjects include: furor over columnist Morrie Ryskind's criticisms of LAT and AP; the William Wieland case; Khrushchev visit to USA; exchange of letters with Barry Goldwater encouraging him to continue his column for the LA Times Syndicate; dropping of "Dick Tracy" comic from the Times & extended exchange with Chester Gould, creator of the comic; exchange of letters between J.J. McClellan, a V.P. of Facelle Co., and Williams, after the company accused the Times story "Grocery Shelf Psychology" of being "biased and inaccurate"; the films of John Wayne--good and bad; etc. Aug. 13, 1965 letter to Wes Gallagher notes that the LAT "is under constant and frequently outrageous attack by some elements of the extreme right."
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Libel Cases - The Detroit Free Press
Manuscripts
Approx. 12 items. The material deals with a line in a LAT story that "the venerable Detroit Free Press is due for closing one day soon." Following a letter from Lee Hills, VP and Executive Editor of The Free Press, Nick Williams responded, "Herewith the apology and retraction which we ran last Sunday. I want to repeat that I am personally embarrassed that the rumor ever appeared in The Times."
mssLAT