The Grand Immoderation of Studs Terkel

When Studs Terkel was in the seventh grade, his teacher, Miss Henrietta Boone, asked the smart young whippersnapper who he was supporting in the presidential election of 1924.

"Are you for Calvin Coolidge or John W. Davis?" Miss Boone inquired, mentioning the names of the Republican and Democratic nominees.

Terkel, who had already imbibed the radicalism of Chicago's labor left, was for neither of the major party candidates. Rather, he favored the third-party contender who was campaigning against imperialism abroad and Wall Street at home.

"Innocently--or was I damnably perverse even then?--I piped, 'Fightin' Bob La Follette,'" Terkel recalled eight decades later, mentioning the name of the progressive senator from Wisconsin who earned his support that year. "She was startled, poor dear. Why have I always upset such gentle hearts? Why couldn't I have been my cute little button self and said the right thing: 'Keep Cool with Coolidge.'"

Studs could be cute, and damnably perverse.

But the Pultizer Prize-winning author, pioneering radio personality, battler against Joe McCarthy and McCarthyism, raconteur, rabble-rouser and grand old man of the American left, who died Friday at age 96, never pulled his punches when it came to politics.

Early in 2002, as George Bush was scheming to exploit the fear of terrorism in order to steer the United States toward a new career of empire, I wrote an article for The Nation about the lonely dissents of Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

Studs responded, as he had to La Follette's call eighty years earlier:

"When I finished reading John Nichols's exhilarating communiqué from California ("Kucinich Rocks the Boat," March 25), the bells began to ring," he wrote for The Nation. "In his speech to the Southern California Americans for Democratic Action, criticizing Bush's conduct of the war on terrorism, Dennis Kucinich set the crowd on its ear--one standing ovation after another. Sure, they were all liberals, but what counted was the response on the Internet. The Cleveland Congressman's e-mail box was stuffed to overflowing with 20,000-plus enthusiastic letters. Among them was the call: Kucinich for President."

"Kucinich is the man to light the fire," Studs declared. "Amen."

As it turned out, Kucinich didn't get any closer to the presidency than did La Follette.

Studs was disappointed, but undaunted.

Politics was never a game for Studs. It was the work of a lifetime. He wrote brilliant books about the lives of working people not merely because their stories were fascinating but because he wanted to get a conversation started about class in America.

He wrote about "the good fight" of World War II because he wanted to remind new generations of Americans that this country had once united to battle fascism.

And he kept his sense of humor and his optimism, even when those around him despaired.

Not long after the invasion of Iraq, when President Bush was still enjoying the ill-gotten high approval ratings of his "Mission Accomplished" moment, Studs explained to me that one of the benefits of his advancing years was his pronounced loss of hearing.

"My bad hearing leads me to higher truths," he quipped. "For instance, terms like 'embedded journalist' come through to me as in-bed with journalist. My problem with the media right now is that we've got too many in-bed-with-journalists and not enough of the skeptical, questioning, challenging journalists who will hold George Bush and his boys accountable."

For Studs, who had made his name as an incisive radio interviewer, the increasing consolidation of radio station ownership, and the homogenization that went with it, was deeply troubling. But Studs was not only concerned about the sector of media he knew best.

"Information, news, ideas--that's the juice that gets a democracy going. When a few corporations control all the juice, they decide how the democracy works. Or how it won't work. I don't worry that much about people doing the right thing if they have the facts about what their government is up to. But if they don't get the facts, the whole thing falls apart," said the man who had spent most of his life interviewing Americans regarding their work, their ideals, their politics and, in his last years, their optimism about the prospect of making a better world.

As far as Studs was concerned, the run-up to the war in Iraq provided a perfect example of how things fall apart when the media fails to do its job. While TV news anchors pinned on flag pins and conducted fawning interviews with members of the Bush administration, the senior member of the US Senate, West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd, was virtually ignored as he questioned the rush to war.

"Senator Byrd has been fantastic. He's the one guy who said 'bugger off' when Bush came around trying to sell the idea of this war. I think he's the one guy who really stood up for our kids in the military, when he said he did not want them going off and invading a country that was no threat to us," Studs said. "But Byrd got no headlines. You hardly ever saw him on television. I think that if he had, we might not be in this war today. That's an example of what happens when the big media companies just give us the administration's version of the news."

Long before others dared do so, the man who immortalized the generation of Americans who fought "the good war" of the 1940s termed the Iraq War "a quagmire for America."

"We were the most honored country in the world at the end of World War II," he noted. "Now we're the most loathed country. We need a media that asks: 'What the hell are we doing there?' "

Studs was delighted when, in 2004, a young Chicago state senator with whom he had marched on picket lines, was elected to the US Senate on an anti-war "what-the-hell-are-we-doing-there?" platform.

He followed Barack Obama's campaign for the presidency with enthusiasm. The old civil rights campaigner wanted to see an African-American elected president in his lifetime.

But he also wanted the Democrat to remember his roots as, dare we say it, a community activist. "Obama can't be a moderate!" Studs said in one of his last interviews. "He's got to remember where he comes from! Obama, he has got to be pushed!"

In particular, the man who well recalled the first 100 days of Franklin Roosevelt's presidency wanted to make sure that Obama was pressed to promote a new New Deal.

"I'd ask Obama, do you plan to follow up on the program of the New Deal of FDR? I'd tell him, 'Don't fool around on a few issues, such as health care. We've got bigger work to do! Read FDR's second inaugural address!'" he told a Chicago reporter. "The free market has to be regulated. And the New Deal did that and they provided jobs. The government has to. The WPA provided jobs. We have got to get back to that. We need more reg-u-la-tion."

The truth is that we need more Studs Terkels.

There will never be another quite like him.

But as Americans of good will ponder the notion of forging a change we believe in, we would be wise not merely to recall but to emulate the disdain for moderation, the enduring progressive faith and the delighted determination to speak truth to power -- from the days when he was talking up La Follette to the days when he was talking up Obama -- that defined the politics and the life of Studs Terkel.

Comments (36)

1. "I hope for peace and sanity -- it's the same thing."

   amen.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 10/31/2008 @ 6:24pm

2. I will miss that rough hewn, yet kind voice.

   Posted by Sorelish at 10/31/2008 @ 6:55pm

3. one of the greatest, he will be missed

   Posted by darladoon at 10/31/2008 @ 7:04pm

4. Great Obit. Thank you, Mr N. I first saw ST on the PBS series Great American Dream Machine (I was a kid) where there was an ongoing segment of roundtable discussion. Adults calmly taking about inteesting stuff. And later I had to read Working for some reason and I still love that book of American monologues.

   Posted by A_Pax_On_Your_Houses at 10/31/2008 @ 8:12pm

5. sounds like my kind of guy. i wonder who his successor will be?

   Posted by skawtee at 10/31/2008 @ 8:27pm

6. Good night Studs, this country has become a lesser place with your passing. I shall miss your wit, your wisdom and your dignified manner. You were a giant, you called it as you saw it, you stood up to the arrogance of power and you did with class. You will live on through your works.

   I have found my copy of "The Good War", it is an excellent read, no talk of generals and politicians, just GI's heading of to an uncertain future. I am glad I never loaned it out, as it will comfort me this weekend as I read it once again.

   Thank you Studs. If there is a heaven, I'm sure you are already interviewing the "lesser angels"; I await your report.

   Posted by rasputin195 at 10/31/2008 @ 8:58pm

7. I've known a few people like Studs in my life and have nothing but admiration for that ability to stay engaged without losing balance. What a life. Thanks for the inspiration Studs!

   Posted by cumchu at 10/31/2008 @ 9:10pm

8. Studs Turkel? Never heard of him. What was so fascinating about him?

   Posted by ACook at 10/31/2008 @ 10:12pm

9. Posted by ACook at 10/31/2008 @ 10:12pm

   ACOOK, have you ever heard of Cal Thomas?

   Posted by Maskdelta at 10/31/2008 @ 10:19pm

10. Studs Terkel was my hero. When I was 14 I read his, Working, became profoundly influenced to get into sociology and politics. The years moved on and on, I never did become a sociologist, yet the words and works of Studs always stayed with me, and I always read his books as they were published. His energy and beliefs influenced my life and, hopefully, the lives of my, now grown, sons. You will be missed Studs, yet you will always live on in our minds and our hearts....I lift my martini to you old pal...Cheers!.....

    Posted by dlrowan at 10/31/2008 @ 10:28pm

11. Studs is one of the icons that makes me proud to be a chicagoan

    Posted by tm1956 at 10/31/2008 @ 10:53pm

12. A "Distinguished and Unique" comrade in the ever confrontation of the "the truth vs. their truth", has left our shores.

    My most pervading thought of Mr. Terkel has always been: "Always, Always question........". That thought of him will live on in me, and I as well will never forget him.

    Posted by rayven at 10/31/2008 @ 11:19pm

13. Studs Terkel was civilization.

    Posted by JFHill at 10/31/2008 @ 11:58pm

14. An American icon has made his transition, and as a legendary hero of working class America, he'll never die in me!

    Posted by MSavwoir at 11/01/2008 @ 12:52am

15. Thanks for the excellent epitaph, Mr. Nichols.

    I happened to catch NPR's dish on Studs in the afternoon, and here is a timeless quote from the fascinating man:

    I'm curious ya' know, my epitaph I hope will be, "curiosity did not kill this cat".

    Listen here (8 minutes of well spent time --Studs' voice is priceless):

    tinyurl.com/6xqfex

    Posted by b_kool_66 at 11/01/2008 @ 01:02am

16. How very, very sad...and he never got to see Obama become president.

    Mr. Terkel authored the first "grown up" book I read. Can't remember the title but it sat in my parents' bookcase. His name was intrigueing. Every time I walked past the bookcase I felt it tug at me until one day, without permission, I spirited it away and into my room. I remember a gruesome account of poor people being poisoned by cheap liquor adulterated with wood alcohol. I read that book 50 years ago and haven't forgotten my young self's impression of its author - Studs Terkel stood for what was right and just.

    Posted by MujerAlta at 11/01/2008 @ 03:38am

17. "Take it easy, but take it."

    -Studs Terkel-

    Rest easy Studs.

    Posted by chaoszen at 11/01/2008 @ 08:34am

18. Rupert, you still have an opportunity to be an honest man. Let go, let Studs.

    Posted by winyahn at 11/01/2008 @ 09:20am

19. As sad as the death of Studs is that ACOOK does not even know who this American icon was.

    Sad.

    Posted by crabwalk at 11/01/2008 @ 09:46am

20. Scott Simon introduced me to Studs Terkel in 1978 when I had the chance to visit WFMT in Chicago, then the home of both Mr. Simon and Mr. Terkel. Studs was in his floor-to-ceiling-wall-to-wall book-lined office, and in the course of our short-lived visit lit and relit his stogie a half-dozen times, each time tossing the match stick -- out, but still hot -- onto an overflowing pile of papers in his wastebasket. I was more fascinated with that action than I was in what Studs was saying; the metaphor that comes to mind is while he was unsuccessful in setting the waste paper ablaze he continued for another 30 years in successfully setting other fires in America's social conscience and consciousness. Rest in Peace, Studs, but know that your protégé will become the first African-American president.

    Posted by POHalloran at 11/01/2008 @ 10:21am

21. Peace, Studs, you earned it.

    Posted by sloper at 11/01/2008 @ 11:30am

22. Chaoszen--the quote you have attributed to Studs I have seen attributed to Woody Guthrie. I believe the whole item is: this is your world, so take it slow. But take it. Regardless, it is well attributed either way.

    I saw Studs once or twice when I lived in Chicago, walking around, muttering to himself. A beautiful person in his rumpled way, much as he described Chicago.

    Posted by onthehelm at 11/01/2008 @ 11:36am

23. I think we owe it to Studs to elect Barack Obama as President of the United States.

    Posted by Hoffmnron at 11/01/2008 @ 11:46am

24. Studs' writing was graceful yet tough, and he had that sort of innocent, modest curiosity that led him to ask seemingly simple questions, but questions that yielded penetrating answers. Luckily, he left a body of work that I'll someday share with my kids. I'll miss him on "The Prairie Home Companion" as well.

    Posted by wastevens at 11/01/2008 @ 12:38pm

25. Unfortunately, I only became aware of Studs Terkel around 1990, from an interview on NPR I believe. My first thoughts were what a delightful curmudgeon, as I listened more, I realized this wise man understood the hearts of people and was a strong voice for people, human rights and elevation of all that suffer.

    His loss is tragic indeed.

    Let's all help elect the man he wanted to see elected president. For America, for the disenfranchised, for Studs! Honor and remember Studs Terkel!

    Posted by neville at 11/01/2008 @ 1:03pm

26. I also regret that Studs did not live a while longer to see Obama elected. He would have been elated...I can just see him sitting there with his cigar and laughing out loud. I believe he would have been have been disappointed if Obama looses, but not daunted. I can just hear him saying "Ohhh boy, we've got our work cut out for us now!"

    I'm going to have a martini in his honor this evening.

    Rest in peace old friend.

    Joseph

    Posted by outsideag at 11/01/2008 @ 1:24pm

27. >>>But as Americans of good will ponder the notion of forging a change we believe in, we would be wise not merely to recall but to emulate the disdain for moderation, the enduring progressive faith and the delighted determination to speak truth to power<<<

    I think sometimes Obama's MODERATE RHETORIC is mistaken for moderate policies.

    Speaking in moderate terms that don't alienate potential supporters is smart politics. Every speech cannot be "rally the base time" or you end up with just your base and no other support.

    I was surprised that Rachel Maddow didn't get this the other night when she interviewed Obama. She seemed perplexed that Obama did not engage in Hillary-like hyper-partisan Republican bashing, and Obama was trying to explain to her that such bashing leads us to narrow contests in which we are battling over Florida or Ohio rather than being competitive in a wide range of a dozen or so swing states.

    As Obama had said years ago:

    Politics is a game of ADDITION, not subtraction or merely breaking even.

    Posted by Metteyya at 11/01/2008 @ 1:34pm

28. "But he also wanted the Democrat to remember his roots as, dare we say it, a community activist. "Obama can't be a moderate!" Studs said in one of his last interviews. 'He's got to remember where he comes from! Obama, he has got to be pushed!'"

    Oh, no, an end-of-life quote from a great man that The Nation can use to cudgel poor Obama-Reid-Pelosi every time it's "feet to the fire" time. But I certainly agree -- Obama often sounds more like Clinton '92 than Clinton did, and perhaps with less excuse. I hope his team puts some (progressive) content into their "change" brand ASAP.

    Thank you for the article on Mr. Terkel.

    Posted by RLawrence at 11/01/2008 @ 1:57pm

29. I have loved Studs for many decades. I used to have my drama students create monologues based on those in his book Working. Our memories of him will live a long time.

    Posted by Rick Taves at 11/01/2008 @ 4:58pm

30. I'll always remember your laugh. With a half-full glass of wine, your arm around my father's shoulder and a gleam in your eye... here was a good man and a kind heart, whose words moved generations of men an women to embrace difficult truths and reject comfortable falsehoods. Fare well Studs.

    Posted by Quenyar at 11/02/2008 @ 02:11am

31. With the passing of Studs Terkel, America has lost a national treasure. Whitmanesque in his embodiment of broad swaths of history and human striving, he never forgot the dignity of every person, and the value of the story each has to tell. Through apt questions to the unlikeliest of oral historians, he brought forgotten times, communities and people back to life. Whether his theme was working, jazz, death, politics, race, baseball or any of innumerable other interests, he had a sure instinct for deep running currents of truth running through his themes and our better natures. Reading Terkel was always elevating. He never tired of prodding his readers to think broadly, seriously, heartily, humbly, inclusively and compassionately. I would have liked to have known him, as others above did, but I will be forever grateful to him for all he taught me through many good reads, the laughs, the outrage, and--John Nichols nailed it--the damnable perversity. Rest well, Studs, you lived an exemplary life, and I will miss you. I trust that if you didn't get around to casting an absentee ballot for Obama, in Chicago you will still get around to it.

    Posted by boxofrain at 11/02/2008 @ 08:00am

32. Listen here (8 minutes of well spent time --Studs' voice is priceless): Posted by b_kool

    That was great, man. Thanks.

    Posted by A_Pax_On_Your_Houses at 11/02/2008 @ 3:56pm

33. "Obama can't be a moderate!" Studs said in one of his last interviews. "He's got to remember where he comes from! Obama, he has got to be pushed!"

    I agree with Terkel, so I'm voting for Nader. When the Democrats see that they don't have everyone's vote, they'll know they've still got some work to do: universal healthcare that doesn't include insurance companies, getting out of Iraq for real, approving a living wage, etc.

    Thank you Studs for reminding us that workers are persons not cogs in a wheel.

    Posted by REPhyphenC at 11/02/2008 @ 8:47pm

34. Aside from being a great human being, Studs was also enormously talented. In the early 50s this talent got him his own show on NBC TV, but the McCarthyites shut it down. He suffered a lot in those years. Not only did he make the best of it, but he left a rich legacy--in print and on tape--that will form a major part of the canon of late-20th c. American lit. You can't help but see the parallels today, in the modern-day reprise, as McCarthy's heirs are screaming about the reputed radical associations of another Chicagoan, who also has a law degree and a strong record of standing up for democracy -- real democracy! -- in our great country. Some people never learn. And I have a feeling that these some people are the ones who have never read Studs' books.

    They've got great jazz in heaven, what with Duke and the Count and Prez and Monk and Miles and Billie and everyone else. (I don't that there's a way to know for sure that God really loves America best, but he gave us jazz, which must count for something.) So enjoy it, Studs, you earned that seat in the front row. A-one and a-two...

    Posted by takemyveepplease at 11/02/2008 @ 11:47pm

35. Yes, Studs had a wonderful voice; lived in, it did not mellow with age...it got richer and more resonant. It will live on longer than any of us. But his real skill was LISTENING. Considering the tenor of this election, it is more than ironic that our nation's great listener would pass on at this time.

    As for being "wrong on most issues"... that's a harsh judgment to place on all those genuine, hard-working Americans that Studs helped speak to us over the years. How can you write him off in that way without doing the same for them? JB

    Posted by jbartkowski at 11/03/2008 @ 09:46am

36. I can remember when I first read about Studs Terkel. I thought what a weird name but what a great man. And my estimation as the years went on just went up and up. A great man I can't even pretend to compare myself to.

    I thank God for Studs Terkel. And Mr. and Mrs. Terkel of course. :)

    Posted by annakis at 11/03/2008 @ 11:32am