ED ASNER IN CIA TRAINING FILM, 1956!
NEWLY DISCOVERED: Suspects and Witnesses, NARA ID 653047.
By Miriam Kleiman, Public Affairs
Mary Tyler Moore's Mary Richards shattered TV gender norms. Unapologetically strong, bright, capable, and funny, she was a role model to me and others.
The heart of the show is her often-challenging relationship with grumpy-but-kindhearted boss Lou Grant, played by Ed Asner who died yesterday (whom she called "Mr. Grant" for all 7 seasons).
Asner is well-remembered as an incredible character actor but lesser known as an Army veteran and activist. Searching through our always-interesting holdings, I found this CIA training film of 27 year-old Ed Asner as a brilliantly hostile witness. Recognize these expressions of anger, disgust, and scorn?
Ed Asner & President Carter, 2/28/1979, NARA ID 183724.
Asked by a reporter about a standout "brush-with-greatness,” Asner recalled this meeting and his longtime regret:
I carry guilt because I didn’t vote for Jimmy Carter in the 2nd election. I voted for John Anderson. I thought it would be a nice break from supporting a Democrat automatically.
But I had met Jimmy Carter. I liked what I saw... What he’s done since leaving the office of the presidency has been ideal. He’s acted like a great man. I thought he was a good president. I don’t know why I decided to vote for John Anderson, other than as a way to break my habit. I realized later that the votes Anderson got might have been enough bring Carter on par with Ronald Reagan. I regretted that. That’s why I never went for another 3rd party candidate after that. Ed Asner, Kansas City Star, 2016.
Ed Asner in PSA for HUD, 1978
From Romancing the Vanpool: Energy Conservation on Film, Unwritten Record blog by Heidi Holstrom. NARA ID 38539.
