Charlton Heston, Epic Film Star and Voice of N.R.A., Dies at 83
By ROBERT BERKVIST
Charlton Heston, who appeared in some 100 films in his 60-year acting career but who is remembered chiefly for his monumental, jut-jawed portrayals of Moses, Ben-Hur and Michelangelo, died Saturday night at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 83.
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What do you think accounted
What do you think accounted for his drift from left to right?
Alzheimer's? I don't know. I
Alzheimer's? I don't know. I know nothing of his politics before his famous NRA speech.
From what I understand, he
From what I understand, he went from being a moderate supporter of civil rights during the early years of the movement to being a die hard Reagan Republican. In 97 he decried the war being waged against "the God-fearing, law-abiding, Caucasian, middle-class Protestant... not only don't you count, you are a downright obstacle to social progress." He also claimed that Dr. King would stand by him in his battle against "cultural correctness."
Well, he's dead now.
Well, he's dead now.
Heston said that his
Heston said that his transformation occurred during the 1964 presidential race. He described himself as being a typical Hollywood liberal before that time but other than being against, he says, state sanctioned racial segregation I have no idea what he might have meant by that phrase. Heston was probably as deluded as many whites are about the degree and commitment of their political liberality. (It is entirely possible, though not likely, that one could be a devotee of Ayn Rand and be opposed to state sanctioned racial segregation at least in the abstract.)
Heston said that he was driving one day and saw a Goldwater sign that included Goldwater's signature phrase, "In your heart, you know he's right." Heston declared that the effect on him was nearly immediate. He switched sides and never looked back.
Like Saul of Tarsus. That
Like Saul of Tarsus. That means it was epilepsy.
"Like Saul of Tarsus. That
"Like Saul of Tarsus. That means it was epilepsy."