Michael Jackson TalkRadio Content

respite from politics...even if only for a day or two. Tomorrow is scheduled to be a wonderfully, typical day for me at KNX; a chance to meet a continuing cross-section of unique individuals - leaders in many fields who, in the own way, give this war weary world of ours a kick in its axis. They are a disparate group of

achievers. The conversations will be heard over the following few days and include:

The Reverend Billy Graham. He was my very first guest on my very first talk show appearance at KNX 40 years ago this week. I'm going to ask him the self-same first question that I asked him those many decades ago. I asked him whether or not he believed in Santa Claus. I loved his answer and I wonder if it has changed with the passage of time. Somehow, I doubt it. By the way, think about it, after the Pope, there is no better known religious figure in the entire world, and during the time that Rev. Graham has been crusading, there have been 6 popes...and one Graham!

Then I'll be meeting with Buzz Aldrin, the astronaut. The retired Colonel has two doctorates and many a medal, all well earned. He was the second man to walk on the surface of the moon, along with Neil Armstrong. I wonder how different his life would have been subsequently, had he been the first. Mars is where he's persuaded we must next land. He's a realistic dreamer who faced some demons following his unsought celebrity; depression and alcoholism.

And Tommy Smothers (He's the one whose brother, Dick, was mom's favorite). How brave the two of them were in the

controversial days of the Vietnam War. He's the one who comes off, at times, like the village idiot, but I have the strongest conviction that he has been the driving brain behind their act. I wonder. Remember when CBS cancelled their very successful weekly "Comedy Hour" because it was controversial? I wonder if they would fare any better now if they were to try for a similar opportunity today? And there will be more.

Switching Gears