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Martin Luther King Cheated On His Wife & Other Lesser-Known Facts About The Civil Rights Leader...
International Business Times ^ | 1/21/13 | Jeff Stone

Posted on 01/19/2014 10:57:32 PM PST by boknows

Edited on 01/20/2014 1:04:31 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

One of the easiest things to forget about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is that he was just a person. One of the most influential people of the 20th century, no doubt, but a person with unique flaws and quirks that made him different from the Christ-like figure he’s often portrayed as today.

At the time of King’s assassination on April 4, 1968, he was still the personification of the civil rights movement in the United States. But those near him said he appeared to have lost a step, in part because of conflicts in his inner circle of advisers and a growing estrangement from his former ally President Lyndon B. Johnson over the Vietnam War.

Five years after his famous “I Have A Dream” speech, though, and 40 years before the first African-American  became president, King stepped onto the balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn.

King was on the balcony sneaking a cigarette

When racist assassin James Earl Ray aimed his rifle sight at King, he almost certainly saw the civil rights leader doing something King's children never saw him doing: smoking. King was a lifelong smoker, although very few – if any – pictures exist as proof because he never smoked in public. King didn’t want his family to know about the habit.

After King was shot, his advisers stopped the bleeding while one of them, Dr. Billy Kyles, removed a pack of cigarettes from King’s pocket.

The Kennedy brothers allowed FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to wiretap King

Excerpt, more at ibtimes.com


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: mlk
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To: LibLieSlayer
Did you ever see the movie about the Founders and Ben? I believe it was made back in the late 80’s. He was sleeping at the Constitutional Convention and they couldn’t wake him... until they told him they were going to a pub to eat... and there would be whiskey and women... he was up and out the door first!

The movie in question is 1776, and it wasn't the Constitutional Convention; it was the Second Continental Congress in the days leading up to the adoption of the independence resolution and the Declaration.

61 posted on 01/20/2014 7:09:24 AM PST by Zionist Conspirator (The Left: speaking power to truth since Shevirat HaKelim.)
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To: Zionist Conspirator

That’s the one... but no comment on the content?


62 posted on 01/20/2014 7:16:13 AM PST by LibLieSlayer (FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS! BETTER DEAD THAN RED!)
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To: boknows
Wow, Dr. King was a SMOKER ?! Well, that's it. He's a hero no more. /sarcasm

What a horsepuckey article.

63 posted on 01/20/2014 7:21:34 AM PST by jimt (Fear is the darkroom where negatives are developed.)
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To: If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
he was a sinner that did a very great thing - he helped usher in the momentum of nonviolent opposition to folks that want to heavily oppress you

Excellent post yours! Whether one agrees that there should be a MLK Day or not, it's worth considering the good MLK did, at least once a year.

I'm not equating MLK with the men of D-Day, but on June 6th of every year, I stop and think about the D-Day invasion for a moment or two. I think about the bravery of all those good men.

On June 6th I really don't care to consider how often Eisenhower cheated on his wife.

64 posted on 01/20/2014 8:01:58 AM PST by Leaning Right (Why am I holding this lantern? I am looking for the next Reagan.)
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To: If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
I agree with much of what you said but sadly, the MLK legacy are those crime and poverty ridden urban streets that bear his name. If you end up on Martin Luther King Boulevard in any major city, it means you have taken a wrong turn and need to get the hell out of there! Lock your doors, roll up your windows and pray you don't run out of gas or have a mechanical failure.

I always thought that was so ironic. That such a man of peace and nonviolence would have the meanest street in the city named after him.

65 posted on 01/20/2014 8:18:04 AM PST by SamAdams76
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To: glorgau

His name is even plagiarized. He was born Michael King.


66 posted on 01/20/2014 8:19:36 AM PST by pfflier
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

Lol, that’s true. All the things that MLK, Jr. was are badges of honor to the lefties. Good point.


67 posted on 01/20/2014 10:27:20 AM PST by twister881
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To: pfflier
I think his father changed both his name and his son's when MLK, Jr., was 7 years old...so MLK, Jr., doesn't deserve any blame on that score.

I think Ralph Abernathy published a book which was very open about MLK, Jr.,'s many adulteries...including on the night before he was shot, I believe.

68 posted on 01/20/2014 10:52:34 AM PST by Verginius Rufus
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Nor is Constitution Day (9/13) recognized as a National Holiday. In other words, we're supposed to believe that MLK is somehow more important than the US Constitution or any President, statesman, or military commander in US History.

Coming soon to the roster of national holidays: Cesar Chavez Day!

69 posted on 01/20/2014 12:45:48 PM PST by ek_hornbeck
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To: laweeks

“...Must have gone to a public screwel...”

Yes you must have... because I was pointing out to 2ndDivVet that instead of saying “individual” he should say only AMERICAN. And yet you have to jump in with a snotty comment because you did not read the whole thing.


70 posted on 01/20/2014 4:07:58 PM PST by Monterrosa-24
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To: nvscanman

“...Columbus was Italian...”

Maybe you should read my whole comment and the one I was replying to because that is exactly what I was saying.


71 posted on 01/20/2014 4:09:49 PM PST by Monterrosa-24
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