In New Memoir, James Garner Slams Reagan, Other Actors Who Run for Office
James Garner's memoir "The Garner Files" was published today, and far from being a glossed over look at his career, it's very much matter of fact.
Although he defends actors who express their political views, he is critical of those who run for office.
"Too many actors have run for office," he writes. "There's one difference between me and them: I know I'm not qualified. In my opinion, Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't qualified to be governor of California. Ronald Reagan wasn't qualified to be governor, let alone president. I was a vice president of the Screen Actors Guild when he was its president. My duties consisted of attending meetings and voting. The only thing I remember is that Ronnie never had an original thought and that we had to tell him what to say. That's no way to run a union, let along a state or a country."
Garner writes that he was asked to run for Congress in 1962 as a Republican, and "it didn't stop them when I told them I was a Democrat. ...They just thought I could win." In 1990, Democratic leaders approached him about running for governor of California, but the discussion got to the issue of abortion and Garner says he answered, "I don't have an opinion, because that's up to the woman. It has nothing to do with me." The conversation pretty much stopped there.
Garner is what he calls a "bleeding-heart liberal," having participated in the 1963 civil rights March on Washington and later advocating for a number of progressive causes. He voted for Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952, he writes, but never cast a ballot for a Republican again. He voted for Adlai Stevenson in 1956, and calls him "the most intelligent presidential candidate we've ever had. I think Obama runs a close second."
He's also critical about Charlton Heston --- either as an actor or defender of civil rights. As Garner describes it, Heston appointed himself leader of the Hollywood group that went to the March on Washington, and even tamped down a suggestion by Marlon Brando that the performers chain themselves to the Lincoln Memorial. But the next year, Heston switched parties and backed Barry Goldwater.
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Great actor......dumb as a door knob political views. What's in the water out there?
Posted by: Randy Scheid | November 21, 2012 at 08:28 AM
So, if you don't toe the Conservative line, you don't have a right to your opinion? Is that right?
I don't remember Al Franken being an ACTOR. What exactly did he appear in? And, I'm sure you are too young to remember the Actor's Strike of 1960, but I AM. Reagan was SAG President and Garner was a VP. Reagan gave a televised interview, and there were people sitting ALL around him - including Garner - all looking wary and worried. Reagan was stumbling around so much I came away not even knowing what he was trying to say.
I remember having the same feeling when he was President and giving a speech. He sounded like he didn't know what his next word was going to be. I also remember his staff running around, doing damage control after he had contradicted himself or pulled something off the wall. I used to wonder who was actually running the country.
Don't start telling me what I do and do not remember. I was a voting age adult and considered to be a Conservative myself at that time, born and raised in Texas. I did not vote for Reagan because I didn't think he was qualified then and still don't.
But, EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion, remember?
Posted by: Alphamare | November 03, 2011 at 04:43 PM
Narcissistic so called "artists" need to find out we don't give a damn what they think about politics. I've washed my hands of all of them. There's other entertainment beyond "liberals"
Posted by: kalamere | November 03, 2011 at 09:59 AM
So essentially James Garner has a problem not with celebrities who speak up or run for office, but with conservative celebrities who speak up or run for office. Heston going to the March on Washington was fine, but when he turned around and supported Barry Goldwater, it was appalling. Arnold and Reagan weren't qualified to run a union let alone a executive office, but he was apparently otherwise occupied when it came to talking of Al Franken's Senate position. Taken all that into account, taking into account just how great a president Reagan was, and taking into account the typical liberal behavior of attacking the person rather than their politics, yeah, I think I'll take the notion that Reagan was a puppet saying what he was told and file it with Keynesian economics and Marxist laments under the fantasy category.
Posted by: Briankhines.wordpress.com | November 03, 2011 at 04:08 AM
There have some actors that I have loved, because of the parts they play...however, when they open their mouths and tell the world that they are really airheads, I am disappointed!! There is just some information that the public does NOT need to know...just shut up and act!!
Posted by: Louise Smith | November 03, 2011 at 01:53 AM