Posted on 09/21/2012 8:35:45 AM PDT by STARWISE
Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy, who left prison for a successful career as a conservative radio commentator, is retiring after 20 years and revealing two of the secrets that made him so famous so fast.
Liddy, who stopped broadcasting on Radio America July 27 and has since switched off his microphone for good, told Secrets that his radio career began over 20 years ago when he was asked to fill in for a vacationing talk show host in the New York area.
On the first day he arrived with a cold and his voice failed him. Down the hall, conservative host Rush Limbaugh had just finished broadcasting his national show and heard the "G-Man" struggling over the station's speakers. "He didn't know me from Adam but he came in, sat down and carried me for the rest of the program."
On the second day, media mogul Mel Karmazin was in his limo listening to competing radio stations in New York and was wowed by Liddy's blunt approach and told his Washington station, WJFK, to give the former Nixon aide an audition, which quickly led to a job and a long career on the radio.
When Liddy started at WJFK in 1992, he tried an unusual approach: He read news stories from the conservative press on air. "I just wanted to get the information out there. And it worked," he said in amazement.
Six weeks into retirement, politics still gets him going, especially President Obama.
"Obama is in my view a Muslim, not a Christian," he said, "and very hard left philosophically." His favorite political moment was George W. Bush winning both elections. "I still have his bumper sticker on my diesel pickup."
And on Wednesday night, he was feted by The Competitive Enterprise Institute and Shirley & Banister Public Affairs where he told stories from prison.
But at 82, Liddy said he was getting "long in the tooth" and he's eager spend time with his 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild. "It's been a good ride," said Liddy, "but I"m finished."
Thanks for the ping. Liddy has earned his retirement.
enjoy Gman..you've earned it....a grateful nation thanks you....
I always laughed at how he kept Long Island free of aerial attacks during the Korean War.
I never missed his show from '92 to '96, then moved where he wasn't aired, but always hoped the best for him.
Well done, Mr. Liddy. And thank you.
“But I was also amused that someone with such a deep experience in intel work would follow a set schedule and route.”
I imagine the last thing any moron would do would be to actually screw with him. I seem to remember a story about him running into/over someone who threatened him.
Wow, how funny to read this today.
This morning I was sitting at a traffic light and a car pulled up next to me. It was a nice day, windows were open, and this guy’s radio was up loud enough that I could hear.... I could’ve sworn he was listening to Liddy’s program. The voice I heard sounded exactly like it... but it was only about 10 seconds or so before the light changed and he moved on.
Never heard of this story re Rush. Thanks for posting!
Okay, I remember it better now. Still a tough old bird whom I wouldn’t want to mess around with even now. :)
I found his book for $0.25 in 2009 at a tag sale, and it was the best $0.25 I ever spent, especially with conservatism in the toliet after the 2008 debacle. A truly unique person.
I listened to him early on in his career, and he was great. Forceful, blunt, unpolished, and hilarious. A couple of the segments he did with Marion Barry (who, improbably, I think he developed a friendship with) were hilarious because he would absolutely make Barry look like the buffoon he is, and Barry simply didn’t care because he knew nothing short of getting caught molesting a five-year-old while eating a baby could dent his immense popularity in the District.
Enjoy your retirement, G-Man. You’ve earned it.
}:-)4
I just found this thread. How interesting!
Great thread!
Liddy was interesting because he changed history and will be remembered for good or ill in the history books. What an interesting character.
Rush is a great opinion maker but he will be forgotten by history because he has never really had any effect on history. He’s an entertainer, never served anything greater than his own fame, he would not trade his fortune or his life for the restoration of the nation he loves! He will have the record of most entertainers who became wealthy doing their craft.
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