Fred W. Friendly discusses his book "Due to Circumstances Beyond Our Control"
BROADCAST: 1968 | DURATION: 00:01:26
Synopsis
Studs Terkel interviews Fred W. Friendly to promote his book "Due to Circumstances Beyond Our Control." Although this interview seems to be the conclusion of a longer discussion, Friendly offers two key points: we should learn from a crisis to better handle the next one and television will shape the world. Duration 1:26. (Part 2 of 2)
Transcript
Tap within the transcript to jump to that part of the audio.
Studs Terkel And as we turn this-- my new tape recorder-- right in the middle of a comment--
Fred W. Friendly I know just where I was. Then it would just be awful. What we've got to learn is what can we do about a situation like this if it ever comes again whether it's in Vietnam or whether it's in Chicago with a slum problem or in Watts or in Harlem. What can we do the next time we have a crisis so that the situation won't be beyond our control as it were.
Studs Terkel And perhaps also this last comment--and perhaps you can make one before you go-- that even our own sense of value is through the media, through the medium of TV programs such as you have in mind in your new project, question who we are and what we are throughout this thing in relation to the rest of the world as well as ourselves.
Fred W. Friendly A television-- a member of parliament in Britain said "television will determine what kind of people we are." It will. Not only will it determine what we're going to put under our arms and what we're going to feed our dogs. It will-- and there's nothing wrong with any of that-- it will also shape the kind of people we are in Vietnam and in Chicago.
Studs Terkel Thank you Fred W. Friendly and may I suggest the reading of his book "Due to Circumstances Beyond Our Control." Let's call this "chapter one" of our meetings. Next time around once more.
Fred W. Friendly OK.