Charles Wilson was a liberal Democratic Congressman who represented Deep East Texas from 1973-1997. His tenure in the House of Representatives was scandalous, and he rightfully earned the nickname of “Good Time Charlie.”
He was a major part of the largest covert CIA operation in history, helping defeat the Soviets during their invasion of Afghanistan. This operation is the subject of the George Crile bestseller “Charlie Wilson’s War,” which is currently being made into a movie starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.
I talked with Charlie Wilson this past Saturday about the legacy of President Gerald Ford. Wilson served in the House of Representatives with Ford for about 2 years prior to Ford’s VP appointment. Wilson liked Ford very much, saying he was a decent man and a lot smarter than people think. When I asked if the pardon was the right thing do, Wilson answered:
It was the only thing to do.
At the time he did it, I was a little distressed about it, because we all felt the Nixon was the devil after what had gone on in the Watergate hearings. But, as time passed, and within a couple of months, I knew that Ford had done the only thing to do. It would have kept the country in chaos for another four years had he not pardoned Nixon, and he had the courage to do it, he did it, didn’t talk about it, and got it over with. It probably cost him a full term as president, because I don’t believe Carter would have defeated him had he not pardoned Nixon.
The full transcript of my interview with Wilson is here, although I think I will get flamed for my “liberalesque” question about Iraq.
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On a personal note: I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and to thank David Benzion for allowing me to bring my rants/commentary to a much larger audience than is possible in Deep East Texas.
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Happy New Year all! Hope everyone survived!
Go Hogs! BTW first, I think! You never know sometimes!
Malcolm…I’m glad you are first. I enjoy and appreciate your blogs.
BTW, regarding this topic…Charles Wilson did a good thing about admitting that for Gerald Ford to pardon Nixon when he did was the right thing to do at the time.
Happy New Year everyone!
I just posted a piece on my site (www.politicalhottubparty.blogspot.com) promoting your interview with The Man.
It’s hard to explain to outsiderers why right wingers like me almost worship the Lufkin Liberal. You just have to experience it.
Great job, Pine Blogger!
I wrote this in the “Weekend Comments” but I will re-write it in here in case you’re all too weary to flick back to there!
It’s a contagious disease many of us suffer from at this time of each year! 
“Whew! I made it through New Year’s Eve!!! Wonders do happen! I spent the first day of the New Year in ‘recovery mode’….having gone to bed very late…or very early, depending on how one looks at it! So, the 1st January, 2007 is but a muted blur! It always is…I wonder why that is?
I hope you all have recovered and are fighting fit for the year ahead! :)”
What a great interview of a great man!! Good Job Mr. Pine Blogger!!!
I don’t agree with Charlie 100% (hardly at all), but that is what makes the world go round, right?
As far as I am concerned, he is a patriot. Politics comes down to one thing for me now: how do you stand on the war? (Wimpy or strong?)
He fought the Soviet Union before it was cool. He would probably be a Joe Lieberman type Rep, and God knows we need more of them.
Yeah, he was “Good Time Charlie”, but how many of our representative in DC are like that, but none of us know it?
I also find it ineteresting how the long History changes our perspectives.
My Aunt has now retired from the VA system. She worked in the Lufkin clinic and has related stories about Good Time Charlie. She has a lot of respect for him and thinks highly of his work against the Soviets. (She is not exactly a Liberal Dem either.)
Have a great year Pine Blogger and thanks for a great interview!