The Man Who Told The World Of RFK’s Death A MEMORABLE ANNOUNCEMENT, THE SUPERGROUP, EARLY REGGAE, A COUNTRY CLASSIC Frank Mankiewicz is best known as the press secretary for Robert Kennedy. He announced Kennedy’s death in June 1968, after Kennedy was shot in an assassination attempt. Mankiewicz came from a prominent Hollywood family, and after Kennedy’s death he was actively involved in the campaigns of George McGovern and Gary Hart. Jack Bruce was the Scottish guitarist and vocalist who, in 1966, joined drummer Ginger Baker and guitarist Eric Clapton to form the first supergroup, Cream. John Holt was the Jamaican writer/singer who wrote the classic The Tide Is High, which became a worldwide hit for Debby Harry and Blondie. Paul Craft was the country music songwriter who wrote the memorable 1970’s country, religious football waltz, Dropkick Me, Jesus (Through The Goalposts Of Life). He grew up in Beverly Hills, California, the son of Sara (Aaronson) and screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, who co-wrote Citizen Kane. His uncle, Joseph Mankiewicz, directed such films as All About Eve and Cleopatra. His brother is television writer Don Mankiewicz. He briefly attended Haverford college before dropping out to join the army infantry during World War II and fight in the Battle of the Bulge. [1] After the war Mankiewicz received a B.A. in political science from University of California, Los Angeles in 1947; a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1948; and an LL.B. from University of California, Berkeley in 1955. He had been president of National Public Radio, regional director for the Peace Corps in Latin America, campaign director for 1972 Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern, and presidential campaign press secretary in 1968 to Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, D-N.Y. In June 1968, Mankiewicz made the famous announcement of Kennedy's death about 26 hours after the Senator was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He told reporters: "I have, uh, a short..... I have a short announcement to read, which I will read, uh..... at this time. Senator Robert Francis Kennedy died at 1:44 AM today, June 6, 1968. With Senator Kennedy at the time of his death were his wife Ethel, his sisters Mrs. Stephen Smith, Mrs. Patricia Lawford, his brother-in-law Mr. Stephen Smith, and his sister-in-law Mrs. John F. Kennedy. He was 42 years old. Thank you." His work in politics earned him a place on the master list of Nixon political opponents. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Maryland in 1974. An animated parody of him appears in the Comedy Central television series Freak Show as a parking garage attendant at the Pentagon. In 1984, Frank Mankiewicz wrote for Quarante magazine owned by Kathleen Katz of Arlington. A piece he wrote for Quarante in 1985 was one of the first to point out how television coverage of politics had changed. The article was titled, "Politics and Media: In Search of An Angle." He wrote: John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce (14 May 1943 – 25 October 2014) was a Scottish musician and composer, known primarily as a member of the British rock trio Cream. Bruce maintained a solo career that spanned several decades and also played in several musical groups. Although particularly famous for his work as a vocalist, bass guitarist and songwriter, he also played double bass, harmonica, piano and cello. He was trained as a classical cellist and considered himself a jazz musician, although much of his catalogue of compositions and recordings tended toward blues and rock and roll. The Sunday Times said that "many consider him to be one of the greatest bass players of all time." In July 1966 Bruce, Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker founded the power trio Cream, which gained international recognition playing blues-rock and jazz-inflected rock music. Bruce sang most of the lead vocals, with Clapton backing him up and eventually assuming some leads himself.[7] With his Gibson EB-3 electric bass, Bruce became one of the most famous bassists in rock, winning musicians' polls and influencing the next generation of bassists such as Sting, Geddy Lee and Jeff Berlin.[8] Bruce co-wrote most of Cream's single releases with lyricist Pete Brown, including the hits "Sunshine of Your Love", "White Room", and "I Feel Free". Cream broke up in 1968.[9]

• published: 25 Nov 2014
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