“Loudmouth”

c. 2017 Rod Ice

All rights reserved

(6-17)

A recent column here about my fictional friend ‘Carrie Hamglaze’ mentioned the bombastic media figure Morton Downey Jr., who most will remember as the host of a short-lived, syndicated talk show from the 1980’s.

‘Mort’ was something of a comic figure, smoking four packs of cigarettes a day while searching for the love of his famous father, and trying his hand at various pursuits. From singing professionally to hosting radio and television broadcasts across the nation, he always seemed to miss lasting success. But like a punching-bag clown, he was quickly vertical once again. His stint on WWOR eerily foretold a coming political avalanche. Perhaps offering more insight than even he could realize. Downey was brash, opinionated and unapologetic. He fed off the energy of his detractors, like a sort of alien being channeling abuse.

And then, he vanished.

But, he was never really gone, of course. ‘Mort’ continued to bounce from one safe house to the next. He appeared on CNBC in two remakes of his better-known program. And on radio in various markets including Cleveland. After walking off the air at WTAM 1100, he succumbed to battles against Howard Stern and cancer.

Before writing about my telephone encounter with Mrs. Hamglaze, I had been watching videos of his program on YouTube from the classic era, 1987–1989. Two streams of thought emanated from seeing these shows again.

First, I remembered the fervor of some co-workers from my place of employment at the time, who felt that Downey was speaking for them, directly. For those who had been forgotten in the postwar rush toward modernity and social progress. Many of these people fit the then-popular label of ‘chicken hawk.’ Those who were bullish on the military but had never actually served in the armed forces. And those who owned firearms as a social talisman, without having any real knowledge of combat or self-defense. People who were completely mystified when I confessed to being a Libertarian.

In personal terms, I appreciated the show as a sort of political theater. Watching Morton Downey Jr. evoked all sorts of emotions, but it was never a boring experience. I would watch at night, after work. Sometimes by the benefit of having taped the performance on our VCR. Dinner and a 12-pack of beer completed the experience. There was no classroom analysis of ideals. Instead, each session provided a raw journey into the reality of voter disaffection.

For me, in the late 1980’s, that was enough.

Second, watching these old broadcasts from a current perspective, it proved impossible to avoid thinking that ‘Mort’ had tapped into the sort of populist energy that would one day fuel the cataclysmic rise of Donald Trump. When visitors like Ron Paul tried to speak about issues of importance, the ‘Loudmouth’ reacted predictably with fire and brimstone. He chain-smoked while verbally and physically intimidating his guests. The audience chanted along like Roman citizens witnessing an execution. Many journalists slagged him off as an instigator and a provocateur. But there was enduring energy in his high-volume line of reasoning. As Phil Donahue famously noted, “They will love this in Boston.” In 2016, The Downey school of screaming ethos literally came to fulfillment.

In my earlier column, Carrie Hamglaze reacted to the memory of Morton Downey Jr. with reverence for a folk hero of sorts. A rowdy champion of her conservative ideals.

But in personal terms, revisiting these broadcasts from bygone days was more complex to ponder. As I said before, Downey thoroughly trashed Libertarian icon Ron Paul during an appearance on his show. Like many shouting pundits, he seemed unable to comprehend the pure ideals our founders intended. While borrowing some rhetoric from those on the political outside, like Ronald Reagan, he remained in the camp of traditionally partisan thinkers. Such was the appearance he willfully projected.

Yet what ‘Mort’ actually believed was never completely revealed.

Being the son of a famous Irish tenor, he had an undeniable connection to the music industry. He even appeared on Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars, in the late 1950’s. So on occasion, he chose to detour from the flamethrower political subject matter into the world of Rock & Roll. One episode of his program featured Ace Frehley of KISS and Joey Ramone, for example. Another offered a discussion of G.G. Allin, the train-wreck performer known for self abuse and destructive habits. He also ventured into the pop culture phenomenon of professional wrestling.

Still, his appeal seemed most potent for those seeking relief from the evolving nature of America. He spoke about the death penalty, religion, homosexuality, abortion, war, female rights and race relations like a blue-collar philosopher at a local bar. Each subject received a noisy gavel swing. A judgment from the bench. Then, it was on to the next.

Like Donald Trump, his opinions and conclusions were likely to shift depending on the moment. As a lifelong smoker and staunch advocate for tobacco use, he would later proclaim the evils of such habits. Liberal in his early years, he turned right to gain public notice. All the while his personal life consisted of failed marriages and family chaos. Not a template authored by the ‘Moral Majority.’ He was in jail, on the street and in court for various reasons. Each moment of fame was followed by a corresponding fall from grace.

Every night, I sat in the home audience, with my dinner and 12-pack. Spellbound by the cultural theater on display. Friends still in New York barely paid attention. They thought he was an oddity to be ignored. An ass. They reckoned that I must be loony to pay attention. But on I watched. And drank.

During the election season of 1988, viewing his show was indispensable.

Though I was unsure of what he would mean to us in the future, one thing seemed certain – we would never forget. After a lifetime of struggling with demons of all sorts, and circumstances beyond his control, Morton Downey Jr. finally made a lasting contribution to the national psyche. He laid the foundation for mayhem and wild dissent, yet to come.

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