''The Begatting of the President'' is a satirical album narrated by
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...
, summarising the presidency of
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He had previously served as the 37th vice ...
and
the election of 1968, leading up to the election of
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...
, delivered in the style of Biblical verse.
Production
The album's script was written by Myron Roberts, Lincoln Haynes and Sasha Gilien, and was simultaneously published by
Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann in 1998 and remains p ...
. The album was produced by
Mediarts Records
Mediarts Records was a small record label founded by former Capitol Records executive Alan W. Livingston and producer Nik Venet.
The label's first release was Dory Previn with ''On My Way To Where'' (1970 in music, 1970). Other artists signed on t ...
, a small record label co-founded by former
Capitol Records
Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of not ...
executive
Alan W. Livingston
Alan Wendell Livingston (born Alan Wendell Levison; October 15, 1917 – March 13, 2009) was an American businessman best known for his tenures at Capitol Records, first as a writer/producer best known for creating Bozo the Clown for a series ...
, and was Mediarts' second release, after
Dory Previn
Dorothy "Dory" Veronica Previn ( Langan; October 22, 1925 – February 14, 2012) was an American lyricist, singer-songwriter and poet.
During the late 1950s and 1960s, Previn was a lyricist on songs intended for motion pictures and, with her t ...
's ''
On My Way to Where
''On My Way to Where'' was the first solo LP by Dory Previn, released in 1970.
Dory Previn established herself from the late 1950s as a lyricist for movie songs in Hollywood, in the process being nominated for three Academy Awards. However, by ...
''.
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...
was selected as the deadpan narrator due to his already being an established narrator, including on Biblical epics such as ''
King of Kings
King of Kings; grc-gre, Βασιλεὺς Βασιλέων, Basileùs Basiléōn; hy, արքայից արքա, ark'ayits ark'a; sa, महाराजाधिराज, Mahārājadhirāja; ka, მეფეთ მეფე, ''Mepet mepe'' ...
'' (1961). Luchi de Jesus provided the album's incidental music.
Contents
Track 1 – L.B. Jenesis
:::In the beginning,
LBJ created the
Great Society
The Great Society was a set of domestic programs in the United States launched by Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964–65. The term was first coined during a 1964 commencement address by President Lyndon B. Johnson at the Universit ...
. And darkness was upon the face of the
Republicans. And the spirit of consensus moved across the land. And LBJ said,
"Let us continue". And they continued. And the Evening and Morning were the First Day. And LBJ said, "Let us make
War on Poverty
The war on poverty is the unofficial name for legislation first introduced by United States President Lyndon B. Johnson during his State of the Union address on January 8, 1964. This legislation was proposed by Johnson in response to a nationa ...
." And Lo, there were welfare cheques fallen upon the land. And upon them it was writ, "Fold not, neither shall ye spindle, nor mutilate." And LBJ saw that it was Good.
:::And the Evening and Morning were the Second Day. And LBJ said, "Let there be a
Civil Rights Covenant to
Unite the Children of Light and Darkness." And so it came to pass the Congress.
:::The Evening and the Morning were the Third Day. And LBJ said, "Let there be
Medicare, so that the Sick be Healed and the Doctors paid under the fullest measure thereof." And LBJ saw that
it was paid.
:::And the Evening and the Morning were the Fourth Day. And LBJ said, "Let there be Bureaus and Departments Without Number, and let They be Fruitful and Multiply so that every creature that flyeth, creepeth or voteth shall be blessed with
patronage in his own precinct." And LBJ saw that it was
finger-lickin' good.
:::And the Evening and the Morning were the Fifth Day. And LBJ said,
"Let there be nuclear non-proliferation, and let the Capitalist lay down with the Commissar, so that they may exchange corn and culture." And LBJ pulled out
his Poll and saw that it was Good, even unto the Tenth Cubit.
:::And the Evening and the Morning were the Sixth Day. And LBJ saw the Society that was made, and Lo, it was Great!
:::And on the Seventh Day,
He gave a Barbecue. Still, LBJ rested not from his labours, but said, "Shucks, Let there be an Eighth Day."
:::And on the Eighth Day,
He Escalated.
Track 2 – The Defoliation of Eden
:::Now LBJ said, "Let us make a Voter in our image, that he may glorify us, and elect us forever."
And He had it made. Then LBJ said, "It is not meet that Man should vote alone." So He caused a deep sleep to fall upon the Man, while His eyes grew heavy with The Late Show, and He took one of the ribs from His
TV dinner
A frozen meal (also called TV dinner (Canada and US), prepackaged meal, ready-made meal, ready meal (UK), frozen dinner, and microwave meal) is a packaged frozen meal that comes portioned for an individual. A frozen meal in the United States an ...
, and with it he fashioned a woman, and He called their names Adam and Eve, and they were both
Registered Democrats, and they were not ashamed.
:::And
He gave unto them a tract and a house, which he called, "Eden Estates". And LBJ said unto Adam and Eve, "Of every fruit of the Great Society ye may eat. But of
the fruit of Dissent, ye shall not eat, for on that day ye shall surely Doubt. Wherefore ye shall not
tune the tube onto the forbidden channel of
Fulbright
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people ...
, nor seek to understand the accursed
"_
:::Wherefore_did_they_gather_then_before_the_tube,_for_truly_that_was_the_Light_of_the_World._And_Adam_rested,_beside_his_Beer">six-pack,_and_beheld_Westerns_on_television.html" ;"title="Beer.html" ;"title="ode of Morse."
:::Wherefore did they gather then before the tube, for truly that was the Light of the World. And Adam rested, beside his Beer">six-pack, and beheld Westerns on television">the eternal cow herds beset by the feathered tribes of Jeronimo. But unto Eve, this was an abomination, and a drag. Now did Adam drift off to the Land of Nod. And there entered into Eden Estates an Intellectual, who was more subtle than any Serpent. And he said unto the Woman, "Thou mayest indeed tune unto the forbidden channel, and see it like it is, baby." And lo, she beheld a Flash of Light, and
great speckled birds of flight from the sky, hurling bolts of flame upon the hamlets of
the bearded prophet Ho. And there was a great battle.
And its name was Tet. And it was offensive.
:::Now when Eve beheld this, she was sore afraid and cried out, so that Adam awakened. And he said, "What manner of channel beholdest thou? This scene is forbidden! And for this disobedience, LBJ shall surely smite thee." But in her Pride, Eve answered, "Stupid, thy brain hath been washed. Remove the veil from thine eyes." Wherefore did Adam look, and the scene changed to
Chambers of the Senators. And it was Fulbright who did speak like unto a Dove: "This War profiteth ye not, nor doth it succour our sons. Therefore Escalate not, lest ye be Escalated."
:::Whereupon did the Heavens thunder, and there was a flash of lightning and a mighty blast of
the Texas Longhorn, and lo, the Omnipotent One appeared, surrounded by his Host of cherubim, and foremost among these was
the Angel Rusk, who said, "Ye shall honour your commitments before the
SEATO of the Mighty, all the rest of your days."
:::And unto Adam and Eve spake LBJ, "Who first seduced ye unto this foul revolt?" Whereupon did Eve cry out, "The Intellectual.
It was he who turned me on." Then did LBJ say unto the Intellectual, "Because thou hast done this thing, thou art accursed, and thy head shall be of
egg." And unto Adam and Eve he said, "Because ye have been disobedient, and harkened over the Dissenter, a surtax shall be laid upon ye: Inflation shall be visited upon your heads, and your stocks and bonds shall be brought low."
:::Therefore did LBJ banish them east of Eden Estates, and they wandered in desolation until they came to a place called
Credibility Gap
Credibility gap is a term that came into wide use with journalism, political and public discourse in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. At the time, it was most frequently used to describe public skepticism about the Lyndon B. Johnson ...
.
Track 3 – Burn, Pharaoh, Burn
:::Now the sons of Adam were fruitful, and there was affluence in the land. But among the children of the Great Society, there were those whose skins were black. And lo, their portion was niggardly, and of the fatted calf they were left sucking hind teat. And they were the pickers of cotton and shiners of shoes. For in the words of
the White Psalmist, "They had plenty of nothing, and nothing is plenty for them."
And it was decreed that they should sit apart from the seats of the Mighty, yea, even unto the Restrooms.
:::Now it came to pass that a prophet rose up amongst them. And they called him
"King". And he went unto Pharaoh and said,
"Let my people go to the front of the bus", wherefore King assembled a great host, and
he assembled them unto the Lunch Counters of the land, and he asked for bread and they gave him a stone in the head.
And he was set upon by fierce dogs, which are the
man's best friend
"Man's best friend" is a common phrase used to describe domestic dogs, referring to their millennia-long history of close relations, loyalty, friendship, and companionship with humans. The first recorded use of a related phrase is by Frederick ...
.
:::Now
the Avenging Angel Carmichael cried out, "Give me some men who are black-hearted men! For ours is the Kingdom and the Glory, and the
Black Power." And the young men girded up their loins and there were
Burnt Offerings in the streets, and the summer waxed, long and hot. And it was the
Molotov cocktail
A Molotov cocktail (among several other names – ''see other names'') is a hand thrown incendiary weapon constructed from a frangible container filled with flammable substances equipped with a fuse (typically a glass bottle filled with fla ...
Hour. And there was a gnashing of teeth, and a smashing of windows. And the people descended upon the merchants, and lo, there was
Instant Credit. And the man was Wrath, and he smote them with the back of his lash.
:::Then the King spake: "Render unto
Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Co. ( ), commonly known as Sears, is an American chain of department stores founded in 1892 by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck and reincorporated in 1906 by Richard Sears and Julius Rosenwald, with what began a ...
the things that are Sears', for what profiteth a man to gain a
colour television set, and lose his soul, brother?"
:::And the King journeyed to the city of
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Memp ...
, where he spake unto the
collectors of offal, and he said,
"Ye Shall Overcome." But
an assassin rose up against him,
and he slew the King. And there were wailings and lamentations in the land.
:::Then a man rose from
the South of Eden, and he was called
Josh Wallace. And he was stood at
the Great Gate of the Temple at Bam, and shouted,
"If you're black, get ye back!" And he said, "Of the Lord am I now come to rid the Earth of these pigs, perverts and punks which are a pestilence upon the land."
:::
And he went into the fields and into the towns and into the suburbs, and gathered together all those who despised
miscegenation
Miscegenation ( ) is the interbreeding of people who are considered to be members of different races. The word, now usually considered pejorative, is derived from a combination of the Latin terms ''miscere'' ("to mix") and ''genus'' ("race") ...
,
integration and education. "Let us go against these rebellious sons and proud judges of this Earth,
and teach 'em that he that lieth down before our chariots shall not rise again!" And he summoned unto him a mighty warrior,
Curtains LeMay, and Wallace said unto him, "Wilt thou make a covenant that together, we shall go into Jericho, and smite the sinners therein?" And LeMay said
"Yea verily, let us scourge them with fire! And
SAC their cities, that all the evil work they have ever done under the sun shall be vaporised into
a cloud, like unto a mushroom." And Josh stayed his hand, and sayeth, "It is not meet that ye speak thus before the election, for a little bird shall hear thy words, and carry them unto the Media. And the people will fear us."
:::They gathered together a mighty host, and the people saw them and cried out, "Look, a
white tornado hath come to cleanse the land!" Then Wallace gathered his police together and blew a mighty blast on his bullhorn, and cried, "Elect me, and there will be a great
Dixie
Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas shift over the years), or the extent of the area it cove ...
fry!"
Track 4 – The Coming of Richard
:::Now before this came to pass, the Lord God planted a garden east of
Whittier, at a place called
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda is a suburban city in northeastern Orange County, California, United States, approximately Ordinal directions, southeast of Downtown Los Angeles. It is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, and had a population of 68,336 at th ...
. And a child,
Richard
Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stro ...
, there grew to manhood. And he was righteous. And he took to wife,
the damsel, Pat. And she was righteous. And they were righteous together. For they knew not wine nor strong drink, and their status was
Middle-Middle, and they offended not, and the number of their cavities were fewer, and they suffered not irregularity, for they were chosen among all men.
:::And one day, a deep sleep fell upon Richard, and there appeared an Angel of the Lord, which said unto him: "Fear not, oh Richard. For yea, though
thy beard be black, and thy jowls pendulous, thou art comely and glory shall one day be thine." Whence came it that Richard was filled with the Holy Spirit of ambition, for he was a low-potential high achiever, and he tried harder that he might be Number One.
:::And the Elders asked, "Who should be our Champion, that we may be saved from the scourge of the
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1939. Major federal programs agencies included the Civilian Con ...
ers?" And they read a Classified Ad upon the tablet, saying, "Wanted: Future Pharaoh.
Pigmentation must not be unseemly, neither shall he
partake of the Feast of Unleavened Bread", for they were not
equal opportunity employers.
:::Whence came young Richard, and he sayeth, "Yea verily, and I shall sweep the Liberals before me, and
sting the Democrats with a swarm of wasps." And They found his words gracious, and sent him to the Wicked City of
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
.
:::Now it came to pass that
Ike
Ike or IKE may refer to:
People
* Ike (given name), a list of people with the name or nickname
* Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969), Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II and President of the United States Surname
* ...
ruled over the land, and he summoned young Richard unto him, saying, "Art thou clean as a
hound's tooth?" And
Richard went before the Media, and cried, "I am clean! I am innocent! And my wife weareth a Republican cloth coat!" Wherefore did Richard sit at Ike's right hand, and it was a time of peace. And
the time Ike ruled over the land was eight years, and he grew old, wherefore he chose Nixon to reign in his stead, saying, "Kings are not always wise – sometimes they're just there." And Nixon journeyed unto the Land of the Latins, but
they liked him not, and spat upon him; and he journeyed into
the Land of the False Prophet Marx, and
he went into their kitchens, and spat in their
Borscht
Borscht () is a sour soup common in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. In English, the word "borscht" is most often associated with the soup's variant of Ukrainian origin, made with red beetroots as one of the main ingredients, which g ...
, and when he returned, the people muttered, "Is he not over-much righteous?"
:::And there rose up against him
a young prophet, John, of the tribe of
Joseph
Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the m ...
, a man of many
Talents, and leader of
a mighty clan. And he took Nixon by his beard,
and Broadcast him down. And Richard's heart grew sad, and he walked through the Valley of the Shadow of the Losers.
:::Whence did he hide back
to California, where he strove to be Chief. And he was beaten. And when the Scribes came unto him, he said,
"Yea, I asked for votes. Ye gave me The Shaft. Woe unto ye. For ye shall not have Nixon to smite around anymore." And Richard departed alone. And the Liberals
laughed and mocked him. And he got no heat, and he died. And he was four years dead.
Track 5 – The Pacification of Goliath
:::But now, the winter was passing, and the
stickers
A sticker is a type of label: a piece of printed paper, plastic, vinyl, or other material with temporary or permanent pressure sensitive adhesive on one side. It can be used for decoration or for functional purposes, depending on the situation. ...
were brought forth abundantly on the bumpers, and the voice of The Candidate was heard in the land. Then the Democrats gathered together their armies at
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
, and the Regulars stood on a mountain at the Right Side, and the Dissenters stood on the mountain at the Left Side, and between was the Valley of the
Generation gap
A generation gap or generational gap is a difference of opinions between one generation and another regarding beliefs, politics, or values. In today's usage, ''generation gap'' often refers to a perceived gap between younger people and their paren ...
.
:::Now there came out of
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
the Champion of the Regulars, LBJ, whose height was six cubits and a span. And when he spake, the young men trembled, for there was
a Mighty Draft. And he stood and cried out to the armies of the Dissenters, "Wherefore come ye forth to challenge me, am I not your Chieftain? And are ye not servants of the party? Have I not brought you blessings without number? Ye hath never had it so good!"
:::Then the Dissenters spake out, "Hypocrite! Thou cryest 'Peace! Peace!', but there is no peace! The words of thy mouth are as honey! But thy deeds as gall! And thou goest in stiff-necked pride! Wherefore our sons are sacrificed, wherefore thou mayest play
Texas Ranger to the world!" But still no man in their ranks had heart to go forth and battle the Giant, LBJ.
:::And it came to pass that there rose among them a shepherd from the Hills of
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
, who was called
Eugene. And he cried out, "Who is this uncircumcised philistine, that he should mock the young Liberals? I shall smite him in
the Primaries, and deliver ye from his Hand,
and the children shall lead me."
:::And the scribes mocked him, saying, "
Precinct captain
A precinct captain, also known as a precinct chairman, precinct delegate, precinct committee officer or precinct committeeman, is an elected official in the American political party system. The office establishes a direct link between a political ...
s hast thou none, nor talents of silver. Lucky thine are to deliver
thine own state." And Eugene took up his sling and drew near to the Giant. But the Giant disdained him and said, "Thinkest thou I fear thy sling? Surely thou knowest? I am the mightiest slinger of them all!" But Eugene feared not. Then it was that he took up
the Peace Vote, and slang it. And it smote LBJ
between the Polls. And the Giant fell upon his face, and the Earth trembled. And the Regulars were sore amazed, and they turned and fled. And the Dissenters rose and shouted, "Eugene, thou art a mighty candidate! Lead us now into
Convention, and deliver us from Evil." And Eugene, in the fullness of victory, accepted their homage.
:::And there suddenly appeared before them
Bobby
Bobby or Bobbie may refer to:
People
* Bobby (given name), a list of names
* Bobby (actress), from Bangladesh
* Bobby (rapper) (born 1995), from South Korea
* Bobby (screenwriter) (born 1983), Indian screenwriter
* Bobby, old slang for a constabl ...
, Son of
Joseph
Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the m ...
and Brother of
John
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Secon ...
, and he said, "Lo, I have reassessed. Follow me, that we may go forward."
And many among the people reached to touch his raiment and the locks of his hair, and he too was a Candidate.
:::Then the fallen Giant LBJ raised his head and said, "There is a Time for War and a Time for Peace, a Time to Run and a Time to Split." Wherefore did Lady Bird say unto him, "
Offer peace unto
the sons of Ho, and let us return to the banks of
Pedernales, and we shall deposit therein."
Track 6 – Paradise Bossed
:::Now
Bobby
Bobby or Bobbie may refer to:
People
* Bobby (given name), a list of names
* Bobby (actress), from Bangladesh
* Bobby (rapper) (born 1995), from South Korea
* Bobby (screenwriter) (born 1983), Indian screenwriter
* Bobby, old slang for a constabl ...
was a hairy man. He was the son of
many-shekelled Joseph, and brother of
John, who was King of Kings. And many sons and daughters were given unto him, for
he was fruitful and multiplied past all understanding.
:::Whilst but a youth, he rose up in righteousness, and smote
the Hoffite King of the Charioteers. Many
sons of Ham, and
Eggheads, sought out Bobby, to hear his wisdom which God had put into his heart. And he stood up, beautiful before all men.
:::Then it came to pass that
John was foully slain, and
thrones were cast down, and there was a falling-off. And Bobby's place at the Lord's right hand was taken by
the Archangel Hubert, whose mouth was full of tongue. And there were murmurings of discontent amongst the people.
:::Wherefore did LBJ summon Bobby unto him and say, "Art thou he that troubleth my reign? And sacrificed not unto me?" And Bobby answered him, "I have troubled not thy reign, but thou Usurper King in my brother's reign hast gone whoring after the Generals. Thou hast impoverished the spirit. Where once stood
Pablo Casals
Pau Casals i Defilló (Catalan: ; 29 December 187622 October 1973), usually known in English by his Castilian Spanish name Pablo Casals, , thou bringest in
Martha Raye
Martha Raye (born Margy Reed; August 27, 1916 – October 19, 1994), nicknamed The Big Mouth, was an American comic actress and singer who performed in movies, and later on television. She also acted in plays, including Broadway.
She was honored ...
." And did LBJ command, "Get thee handsome show off thy face, lest I cast thee into a barbecue pit of fire and brimstone. And take thine accursed Eggheads with thee!" Wherefore did Bobby gather his brethren and go forth into exile. And at his side was
Galbraith,
Apostle of Affluence, whose thoughts like his bulk towered over all men. And there also went
Schlesinger the Scribe, and
Sorenson the Holy Ghost, and sundry sons of
Harvard
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
, thinkers all, and builders of the Lofty Premise.
:::And Bobby summoned his counsellors, and said, "Soon there shall come
The Election
''The Election'' () is a political drama series produced by Hong Kong Television Network (HKTV). With a budget of HK$15 million, filming started in July 2014 and wrapped up on 28 October 2014. Popularly voted to be the inaugural drama of ...
. Shall it fall on me?
Shall we take arms against this Sea of Texans, and by opposing, end them?" But the counsellors replied, "Strive not with this mighty man, lest he take thee by the forelock, and he will surely shear thee like a sheep. Let not thy strength be wasted, keep thy counsel, and observe the opportunity." And Bobby harkened unto them, for he knew that it was writ,
"You can't smite City Hall."
:::But then Bobby's heart was moved,
and he entered the fray, and lo, the people enlisted under his banner and cried out, "Oh Bobby, brother of Jack, lead us out of this wilderness, lest we perish." And he went
into the Primaries. The States gave way before his mighty host. And he came unto a place called California, where he strove mightily with his foes.
And he was victorious.
:::And then
a foul assassin,
a Son of Ishmael, rose up against him, and
he was slain. And strong men wept. And the people were sore afraid. And the Houses were in mourning. For those who had seen a Great Light saw only Darkness now. And they sat upon the ground, and wept.
Track 7 – The Raising of Richard
:::Now it came to pass that the
Republicans saw there was confusion amongst their enemies, and
the new election would fall upon them, and they asked, "But who is there to lead us, that we may cast out the
Democrats, and dwell in the
Tents of Power?" And they searched their hearts.
:::Some amongst them cried out for
Romney,
the Rambler
''The Rambler'' was a periodical (strictly, a series of short papers) by Samuel Johnson.
Description
''The Rambler'' was published on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1750 to 1752 and totals 208 articles. It was Johnson's most consistent and sustain ...
, but the chieftains beheld him and saw that
his brain had been washed. And others cried out for
Rockefeller Rockefeller is a German surname, originally given to people from the village of Rockenfeld near Neuwied in the Rhineland and commonly referring to subjects associated with the Rockefeller family. It may refer to:
People with the name Rockefeller f ...
, for
lo his name ringeth of bullion, but the chiefs regarded him, and found a taint, for he had drunk not from the Cup of
Gold Water. And there was
Ronald
Ronald is a masculine given name derived from the Old Norse ''Rögnvaldr'',#H2, Hanks; Hardcastle; Hodges (2006) p. 234; #H1, Hanks; Hodges (2003) § Ronald. or possibly from Old English ''Regenweald''. In some cases ''Ronald'' is an Anglicised ...
, he of
The Late, Late Show
''The Late Late Show'', with its title often shortened to ''The Late Late'', is an Irish chat show. It is the world's second longest-running late-night talk show, after the American ''The Tonight Show''. Perceived as the official flagship tele ...
, and the South clave unto him, but the delegates cast him forth, for he was not the Hero, but the Hero's Best Friend. Wherefore they cried out, "Could we but raise
Richard
Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stro ...
from the dead, we should have a mighty champion and slayer of Democrats." And the Republicans said unto themselves, "We are the Resurrection and the Life and the Law and the Order, he that believeth in us, though he were dead, yet he shall live." But the
supporters of Rocky cried out,
"He hath lain four years in his grave, wherefore he stinketh." But the Republicans said, "Yet shall we raise him? And he shall be perfumed o'er, and
anointed with moderation, that he may become a New Nixon."
:::And they said unto him, "Richard, rise, and come forth." And lo, he came forth, bound hand and foot
with winding-sheets, and they took them from him, and brought him a New Image. And they said, "The first Nixon was of the Earth. The last is of the Spirit." And the Spirit of God lighted upon him like a dove.
:::And he said, "I came back, for he that
loseth the election shall win it, and the last shall be first. But is it not meet that I should have a running-mate?" And they brought him
Agnew, and together
they journeyed forth across the land, like unto living men.
Track 8 – The Book of Hubert
:::There was a man in the Land of Us whose name was Hubert. And that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared LBJ and eschewed dissent. In the days of his youth, he had known Liberalism, and when the Liberals came not unto the House of LBJ, and cursed him in their hearts, Hubert sinned not, nor charged LBJ foolishly. Thus said Hubert continually, "Naked came I out of the
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
, and naked shall I return, ere I defy my maker! For LBJ giveth, and LBJ taketh away. Blessed be the name of Texas."
:::And the
Democrats went unto
Chicago that they might rejoice, and take unto themselves a new King. And they came every one, from his own place. And in this congregation were
Jesse
Jesse may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Jesse (biblical figure), father of David in the Bible.
* Jesse (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
* Jesse (surname), a list of people
Music
* ''Jesse'' ( ...
and
his cohorts from the deserts of the West, followers unto the slain Bobby, whose hearts were sore afflicted. And there was
Julian of Bond, and
Lester, wielder of the mighty Axe Handle, and
Connally,
boss unto the Ranch Hands; and foremost among them was
Daley, Lord of Hosts, and Maker of Kings.
:::And LBJ said unto his Captains, "Have ye considered my Servant Hubert, a perfect and upright man? One who feareth me and walketh in my ways? Yea, though he talketh with the Tongue of the Liberals, he shall not forsake me, for his supporters are few, and
full of Labor."
:::And when the people heard that The Election should fall upon Hubert they were dismayed, and rushed into the streets shouting, "Should not the multitude of lies be answered? Should a man full of Talk be justified?"
:::And the
Hippites and the
Yippites and the
followers of Eugene came forth, and jeered, wherefore did Daley summon unto him his hosts, and say unto them, "Let us welcome these children unto Chicago. Let us lay out a carpet of red.
Let us silence this bleating of the sheep, smite them, and deliver them unto my hand." And they smote the children. There stood a watchman on a tower, and his name was
Walter the Cronkite, he
cried out against the slaughter of the innocent.
Wherefore did Hubert win the nomination, but it was dust and ashes in his mouth, and his words were as sounding brass and tinkling cymbal, and he was covered in boils.
:::And the followers of Eugene cried unto him, "Thou has lost thine integrity! Go worship LBJ, and be damned." And damned if he wasn't.
Track 9 – The Ascension
:::Now
Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...
came unto the people, and
lifted his arms high and showed them the palms of his hands, that they might see the marks of his crucifixion and marvel at his resurrection. And the people were sore amazed, and he cried out to them, "Behold the Man!
Nixon's the one! I am the Re-Election and the Right!" And they regarded him but as a Fisher of Votes, and believed him not. His enemies hissed and cried, "Deliver us from Tricky Dick", and asked,
"Wouldst buy a used chariot from this man?"
:::But Richard said unto them, "Verily, when I was young I girded up my loins and smeared with a mighty hand, and mine enemies cried out against me and said 'Beware, beware', then I knew that I had sinned. And I suffered wretchedness and desolation of the spirit, and from the
Electoral College I dropped out. But lo, I am born again. Wherefore loveth me, feed my sheep, and get ye unto the Precincts! And baptise the Unbelievers, in the name of the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spiro."
:::And it came to pass that the voters blessed him. And the new Pharaoh was received up into heaven, and
sat on the right hand of
GOP
The Republican Party, also referred to as the GOP ("Grand Old Party"), is one of the Two-party system, two Major party, major contemporary political parties in the United States. The GOP was founded in 1854 by Abolitionism in the United Stat ...
, for
the Republicans were in the temple, praising and blessing Richard.
:::Now for the first hundred days, Richard wandered in the wilderness of Washington, from the
Deserts of Dissent, to the
Mountains of Moratorium, seeking the Signs of the Times. But there came unto Richard the Pharisees, and certain of the
Scribes
A scribe is a person who serves as a professional copyist, especially one who made copies of manuscripts before the invention of automatic printing.
The profession of the scribe, previously widespread across cultures, lost most of its promi ...
, and
the young men who studied not for war, for they had read the gospel according to
John the Leftist; and
they grew hair, and wore coats of many colours, so that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
:::And the Pharisees asked, "What of the inflation?" And Richard replied, "Glad am I that thou hast asked that question." And the Scribes asked, "What of
integration
Integration may refer to:
Biology
*Multisensory integration
*Path integration
* Pre-integration complex, viral genetic material used to insert a viral genome into a host genome
*DNA integration, by means of site-specific recombinase technology, ...
?" And Richard replied, "I wouldst make myself perfectly clear on that point." And the young men cried, "When shall we have peace?" And Richard replied, "Let me say this, and let us make no mistake about it." Whereupon did Richard summon his Silent Majority and he sayeth unto them: "Gird up thy loins, for the Day of Judgement is soon at hand. Battle with all thine strength, lest the Democrats return again." And Silent majority#Nixon's constituency, the Suburbs cheered him. And there was great reaction, yea, even unto Orange County, California, Orange County.
:::Wherefore verily, I say unto you, my brethren: Let Us Pray.
Releases
The album was released by Mediarts (41–2) on August 1, 1970, as both an LP record, and an 8-track tape.
The album was subsequently reissued in 1972, by United Artists Records (UAS-5521), who had purchased Mediarts by that time.
Aftermath
In the aftermath of the album's release, in 1971 Welles found himself on the receiving end of a tax audit from the Nixon administration, which forced him to put several projects on hold (most notably his ''The Other Side of the Wind''), in favour of more lucrative work to pay off his tax debt. It has been suggested by several Welles biographers that the tax audit was prompted by the Nixon administration in retaliation for ''The Begatting of the President''. This claim is difficult to verify, though – on the one hand, Nixon's Enemies List, the Nixon administration did indeed keep an "enemies list", of left-wingers in the media and politics. On the other hand, Welles did not appear on any known version of the list, he had long maintained a highly unorthodox series of tax arrangements, and a 1973 report by the Congressional Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation concluded that people on the "Enemies" list had ''not'' been subjected to an unusual number of tax audits.
[Charlton, Linda.]
Congressional Unit Says Dean Gave I.R.S. 2d 'Enemies' List
" ''The New York Times'', December 21, 1973, page 21.
Track listing
Side 1
# L. B. Jenesis (2:13)
# The Defoliation of Eden (3:54)
# Burn, Pharaoh, Burn (3:45)
# The Coming of Richard (3:24)
Side 2
#
The Pacification of Goliath (3:06)
# Paradise Bossed (3:04)
# The Raising of Richard (2:08)
# The Book of Hubert (2:35)
# The Ascension (3:00)
References
External links
''The Begatting of the President''
Internet Archive
''The Begatting of the President''
WorldCat
{{DEFAULTSORT:Begatting of the President
1970 albums
Mediarts Records albums
Orson Welles albums