NPC in History: Kirk Douglas decried the 'civil war' in American politics – 26 years ago

Actor Kirk Douglas talking with National Press Club President Gil Klein just before his 1994 luncheon speech. Photo: Martin Kuhn

 

Actor Kirk Douglas, who died this week at the age of 103, spoke at the National Press Club on June 30, 1994, and even though it was 26 years ago, what he said resounds today.

Decrying that the world of make believe was bleeding into reality, he defended President Clinton from attacks by conservative commentators such as talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh and Rev. Jerry Falwell.

“Is there a civil war seething in our country?” he said. “A civil war that pits Republicans verses Democrats fought with a poison pen instead of a sword? The party out of power resorts to make believe to tear down the opposition. I think it’s an evil game, insidious and underhanded.  Oh, and Rush Limbaugh plays it well.  His audiences roar with laughter as this gleeful Pillsbury Doughboy sits there. He sits there manufacturing insults and innuendos against our president.”

Douglas’ speech came shortly after O.J. Simpson was arrested after the famous slow-motion car chase in Los Angeles.

“Two weeks ago, the nation was mesmerized by O.J. Simpson driving along a deserted freeway pointing a gun at his head,” Douglas said. “He was slowly followed by eight police cars in formation. I watched. I know O.J. I was horrified. But on the parallel lanes in the middle of rush hour traffic, everyone was stopped, horns blowing, everyone was cheering as if O.J. was racing down a football field. To them, was it make believe or was it reality? It was a tragedy."

The full speech is available online.

This is another in a series provided by Club historian Gil Klein. Dig down anywhere in the Club’s 112-year history, and you will find some kind of significant event in the history of the world, the nation, Washington, journalism and the Club itself.  Many of these events were caught in illustrations that tell the stories.