Dear Jim

Jim Williams was my friend. I can't claim that I was the nearest or the dearest to him. But, we got along very well during the three and a half years we communicated with one another. I would fit our phone interviews awkwardly into lunch hours or breaks during my day job. Whenever I had a day off for a holiday, I would schedule a prolonged interview with him, knowing that he would be at his family's real estate office regardless of the day. We would plan to talk for an hour, it would always turn into two or three. If I needed to get somewhere in the afternoon, I would always get there late. He always made me want to stay on the phone.

We would always stay on the phone for hours chatting, he was so colorful, so open and modest that each conversation was like a marathon deeper into his humanity. He was a farmer, veteran, family man, devoted husband, outstanding citizen, a mentor to me, great conversationalist, and thoughtful public servant. He was state senator during Florida's Golden Age, who once stood up to a Police Chief who attempted to fire a deputy for of all things giving Jim Williams a ticket.  When Dempsey Barron the legendary Senate President tried to manhandle Williams and Bob Graham outside of the senate chambers, ho coldly informed him that "If he ever touched him like that again they were going outside!"

When at a Campaign rally during his first senate race, a jolly Claude Kirk approached him and informed "You're a great guy. But, we're gonna kick your a**!" He smiled at him and told him to bring it on. He was a man who went to war a hawk and who learned to love peace when he earned his Bachelor's degree later in life. He was a furiously loyal friend to Reubin Askew  and the two men had the most caring friendship of any Florida gubernatorial ticket. Trust me on that, I've known a few of them.
He was also blessed with quality that has become rare in politicians, he was kind. Again many politicians try to project kindness, and a lot of them are openly very decent people. But, Jim Williams like Reubin Askew were kind at their core. Decency was marrow deep in them.

When Askew was looking to replace his first Lieutenant Governor, most everyone thought he would ask Bob Graham to be his running mate in 1974. When Askew called Williams to meet him at the Governor's mansion, Williams said no because he had been working all day. The Governor finally got a yes out  of the state senator after it was agreed that Williams didn't have to wear a suit. After losing the democratic primary to Bob Graham, Williams took what he considered the greatest job he ever had in public office, deputy Secretary of Agriculture in the Carter White House.  "I had to have senate approval and I got my own car!" Williams would say with a laugh.

When I told him once I was going to see Carter teach Sunday School he told me to say hi, before mentioning, "He probably won't know who the hell I am."

Jim Williams always looked with amazement that many within his old Senate district looked on Buddy Mackay with such distrust. As some kind of left wing nut. "I'm the freaking liberal!"
And, Yes he was, a shameless Liberal. He grew to dislike the Republican mentality and looked on the tea party with total amusement.  He called himself a "Dove" openly and with total conviction believed in loving your fellow man. He called me his friend and it was an honor that I will always hold dear in my heart. Next only to my Grandfather and Reubin Askew, this man has shaped my political identity.

During what would be our final conversation he talked about how odd it was that he was in his eighties as both his parents died before sixty. He spoke about wanted to throw away all his awards, yet his kids weren't letting him. Being that I have four of my grandpa's awards at my house I told him it wasn't gonna happen. Then I told him about my new book (the one on Jimmy Carter) and he said he was proud of me. In that moment I had a deep respect and admiration for that kind old man, that I didn't think possible. I then had to go pick up my wife from work, as always on a Jim Williams call, I was running late.

Me and the Family in the Wakulla News

Robert Buccellato of Crawfordville is an author, as well as Historian for the Clerk of Court of Leon County.
He has published three books to date, “Florida Governor’s Lasting Legacies,” “Finding Dan McCarty,” and “Jimmy Carter in Plains: The Presidential Hometown.” The latter tells the fascinating and inspiring story of Jimmy Carter’s surprisingly successful campaign and 1976 victory of becoming the 39th President of the United States.
The book describes how growing up in the small town of Plains, Ga., shaped the man, and how together he and his community of supporters, known as the Peanut Brigade, changed the nation through an unprecedented hands on approach to politicking.
It walks you through the presidency, highlighting those things that set Carter apart from presidents before him, such as his position on civil rights and his eventually winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
Buccellato also describes the inevitable changes the town of Plains underwent as a direct result of the influx of tourists and media attention surrounding the campaign and presidency. Much effort went into preserving the small town’s charm despite it’s growth during this period.
The book is not only well written, but it is also artfully illustrated with an array of old photographs to support and enhance the story.
From the moment you meet Buccellato, it is obvious that he has a great appreciation for history.
More importantly, he is a story teller who enthusiastically imparts bits of historical whimsy to anyone who will listen.
When asked what inspired him to write this book or why Jimmy Carter, he generally answers that he was largely influenced by his grandfather, a 20-year legislator in the Florida House of Representatives during the Golden Years of Florida Politics.
However, in a speaking engagement and book signing at the Gwinnett County Public Library in Atlanta earlier this year, he admitted that upon further reflection, the answer actually runs deeper than that. Carter, as a peanut farmer from South Georgia, beat all the odds and became a huge success who “has the ability to make things that seem extraordinarily impossible not only possible, but easy, with hard work and determination,” he says.


“And that feeling that you and your community can run, and win, a presidential campaign, is something, I think, that speaks to the best of our system,” Buccellato says. “And it’s still evergreen, this possibility of improving and helping to evolve our system.”
An avid supporter of preserving the “pockets of history across the country, because many have been lost” Buccellato says that upon entering Plains, one sees “miles of hill and tree, people feel they’ve stepped back in time to a lifestyle of day’s past.”
In fact, he has been known to compare Crawfordville to Plains.
When asked about this, he readily offered noteworthy similarities between the two towns. For instance, the old world feel of the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s is still present in both places.
In Plains, it’s in the preservation of the old Train Depot that acted as campaign headquarters, largely because it had the only public restroom in town.
Here, the sense of old Florida can be found in the beach bungalows and white sand beaches.
Additionally, both towns have what he described as a detached sense of community, still supporting a feeling of “the leisurely agrarian lifestyle and a freedom from being plugged-in.”
The book mentions that shortly after the election, Plains received its first traffic light.
This brought back memories of growing up in Crawfordville, during a time when there was only one traffic light.


Buccellato has been writing since around the age of 12, beginning with fiction and later focusing on non-fiction. Originally from Hollywood, Fla., he moved to the panhandle in 1998.
After attending FSU, he married his wife Stephanie and welcomed their son Croston to the family last year.
In addition to his family, career as historian and numerous book publishing’s, Buccellato manages book signings, radio shows and speaking engagements, as well as a YouTube channel and a Florida history blog.
He is currently working on writing his fourth book, a biography of Jimmy Carter.




here is the link folks
http://www.thewakullanews.com/content/%E2%80%98preserving-pockets-history%E2%80%99

Tallahassee Democrat Blog Post

Here gang here is my first blog post with the Tallahassee Democrat Community blog
hope you like it

http://blogs.tallahassee.com/community/2017/02/01/within-the-margin-of-error/

Whenever I close my eyes, my mind takes me to that boiling hot room in the summer of 1776, when those brilliant and flawed men signed a document. Creating in a moment of anger a new nation. I know you think I’m trying to be poetic or wistful. But, my wife will tell, I really am that big of a dork.

Some of my conservative friends take the textualist approach when reading our founding documents, seeking to uphold the original meaning of the United States Constitution and statutes. These are usually those who are strong supporters of the Second and Tenth Amendments, and  view federalism with distrust. They are also more likely to approve tax cuts for big businesses, go to church daily, and are almost sociologically unable to picture themselves voting Democratic.

Many of the Republicans I know think that government should get out of their pockets and that the free market can solve most of our basic economic needs.  In their eyes labor unions are lazy thugs who limit growth, and government regulations should be reduced to allow the nation’s business sector to flourish.

They of course forget however that such regulations were created to safeguard against new levels of corporate greed that periodically brought our entire nation to the brick of financial collapse. That it was labor unions that gave us paid family leave, the five day work week, and ended child labor. Things that they themselves benefit from.

These voters who champion individualism over community, are promoting a very attractive product. It really is, its the belief that you aren’t responsible. Global Warming, crime, poverty, low test scores; who cares, its not your problem. The only thing you have to worry about is your family, your street, and whats for dinner. Is my fridge full? Is my job safe? What do I care about the faceless untouchables of the world. Its tempting to think that your lifestyle, that your actions, and that your involvement doesn’t matter.

But, here’s the thing, its not enough to claim your faith and project your values, you must also strive to place yourself in others shoes. To allow their struggles to become your own. The founding fathers for their part lived lives of constant advocacy, setting an example for posterity, as well as trying to improve their own flawed characters.

I’m afraid these next four years are going to be trying times in this country. Our relationships, values, human comforts, and even our faith in ourselves will be fiercely tested. But, thats okay folks disagreement will never be as difficult to face as silence. We can not afford to cut off one another over a dumb facebook post, or the filling out of a ballot. Even something so important as a president’s rocky first few weeks is not reason enough to end friendships. It is always going to be important for me to remember that while I am a registered Democrat, most of the people I love are not. It’s not enough for me to look at America with rose colored glasses. I have to share that vision, and I have to also be open to other precious forms of patriotism.

This blog post is my opinion only and does not express the views of any other institution or individual not noted above.

THE Top Ten Presidential portraits

Ten
Jimmy Carter




This is not the official White House Portrait for the Carter Presidency. But, it is in my opinion vastly superior. It is not only a great and detailed study of the Oval office, and in 1970s design. It has so many truly  revealing elements of  the Carter Presidency and candidacy (aka the Truman bust and the glass donkey)

nine Kennedy

 

When this was first hung in the white house, some critics thought of it as a "cop out". That Shikler was uncomfortable with drawing the face of a dead figure. For me, when i first saw this as a Child it had a lingering impact on me. He is clearly a thoughtful and mindful man in this painting, surrounded by the void in the background. Even from the age of five I got the sense that something tragic happened to this man and it is a perfect likeness of the fallen President.
Posthumous official presidential portrait of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
Aaron Shikler - The White House Historical Association



Nine  Franklin Delano Roosevelt
I'm not really a fan of the more well known portrait of Roosevelt, the study of his hands. This official portrait is more of a romantic image of the wheelchair bound President. His figure is slightly elevated, in what i always thought was a slight reference to his disability as the man was trying to adjust himself, and he is surrounded not by an American flag but the Presidential flag. His profile is shaded and dramatic looking with a desk, chair, and wallpaper that like the man and his suit seem to perfectly fit the time.
Official Presidential portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Eight Harding



I've always loved this image, and the small bit of red in the background trees, with the Capitol in the distance. Harding's deep eyes look tired and sad in this striking image, and his overall appearence is highly Presidential. Its a thoughtful image for a man not always regarded as wise or clever.
Official Presidential Portrait of Warren G. Harding

seven Clinton



I don't think any other President has been made to suffer from so many terrible portraits then Bill Clinton. I mean look at this one from the Yale Club of New York -



God lord, thats painful
But, I always liked the slick look of his official white house portrait and that his eyes are painted so that no matter what angle you are looking at you are always making eye contact with him.

speaking of terrible portraits



and



BAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Six Arthur



What can I say I'm a sucker for the carpet and the surrounding details
Official Presidential portrait of Chester Alan Arthur

Five Pierce


Four McKinley


Signing of the Peace Protocol Between Spain and the United States, August 12, 1898, (1899), by Theobald Chartran (White House Historical Association)
Not an official portrait but this is just one of my favorite painting ever. The details are incredible, the images from outside the window including the white house columns make you feel like your in that moment in time. The President towering over everyone as he looks at the signing of the treaty, its just a powerful image

Three Garfield


Two Lincoln


One Teddy

Rethinking "The Black Cauldron"

In 1985 Disney made a bold, really bold and innovative decision. They were going Dark. It was the determination of the studio's powers to be that their most recent projects were coming out a bit on the weak side. Since Walt's death in 1966, the studio was taking longer to produce films, the theme parks were the only things keeping them a float, and there was a lot of fat in the Animation department's bones. Plus, it seemed that the public was moving towards a more adult driven audience. Like 1979's Lord of the Rings, which was commercially very successful, if critically disappointing.



The Rescuers was the sole film that studio produced that seemed to bring in the kind of revue that Disney had once enjoyed. So some how it was decided to adapt The Black Cauldron from the book series The Chronicles of Prydain.



Now here is the summary and you tell me if this sounds like the kind of tale disney would usually produce

In the land of Prydain, Taran is an "assistant pig-keeper" on the small farm of Caer Dallben, home of Dallben the Enchanter. Dallben learns that the Horned King is searching for a mystical relic known as the Black Cauldron, which is capable of creating an invincible army of undead warriors, the “Cauldron Born”. Dallben fears the Horned King may try to steal his pig Hen Wen, which has oracular powers, and use her to locate the cauldron. Dallben directs Taran to take Hen Wen to safety; unfortunately, Taran's foolish daydreaming causes Hen Wen to be captured by the Horned King's forces.



Taran follows them to the Horned King's stronghold. Along the way, he encounters the small, pestering companion Gurgi, who joins Taran on his search. Taran leaves Gurgi to sneak into the castle and rescues Hen Wen, who flees, but all too soon he is finally captured himself and thrown into jail. A fellow captive, Princess Eilonwy, frees Taran as she is trying to make her own escape. In the catacombs beneath the castle, Taran and Eilonwy discover the ancient burial chamber of a king, where Taran arms himself with the king's sword. It contains magic that allows him to effectively fight the Horned King's minions and so to fulfill his dream of heroism. Along with a third prisoner, the comical, middle-aged bard Fflewddur Fflam, they escape the castle and are soon reunited with Gurgi.

Following Hen Wen's trail, the four stumble into the underground kingdom of the Fair Folk—a group of small fairy-like beings who reveal that Hen Wen is under their protection. When the cheerful, elderly King Eiddileg reveals that he knows where the cauldron is, Taran resolves to go destroy it himself. Eilonwy, Fflewddur, and Gurgi agree to join him and Eiddileg's obnoxious right-hand man Doli is assigned to lead them to the Marshes of Morva while the Fair Folk agree to escort Hen Wen safely back to Caer Dallben. At the marshes they learn that the cauldron is held by three witches—the grasping Orddu, who acts as leader; the greedy Orgoch; and the more benevolent Orwen, who falls in love with Fflewddur at first sight, which causes a frightened Doli to abandon the group. Orddu agrees to trade the cauldron for Taran's sword, and he reluctantly agrees, although he knows that to yield it will cost his chance for heroism.


Before vanishing, the witches reveal that the cauldron remains indestructible, and that its power can only be broken by someone who climbs in under his own free will, which is likely to kill him. Although Taran feels foolish for aspiring to destroy the cauldron alone, his companions show their belief in him; and it seems that Eilonwy and Taran will kiss. Suddenly, the glorious reverie is broken when the Horned King's soldiers interrupt, having finally reached the marshes all by themselves. They seize the cauldron and everyone but Gurgi, and take their prisoners back to the castle. The Horned King uses the cauldron to raise the dead and his Cauldron-born army begins to pour out into the world.



BLAH BLAH BLAH so you can see its a bit of a mixed bag of some of the source material and whatever Disney found compelling. So does it work? Well not for what it cost them. Reportedly it was made for 25 million, but figures say the number is closer to 40 million. It was met with a terrible series of negative reviews and the movie had to be cut because it was deemed too violent.


With their gums bleeding, Disney decided to cut the party short and it was years before the movie was released on VHS. It was in this second life in the Video and then DVD market that the movie finally received some much needed love.

It was this cult following that has made the film linger in the minds of many fans of Animation. Personally I was always a fan of this movie and its more serious tone. The visuals have always been deemed as innovative yet a bit rough around the edges. To me its in the realm of Characters that has always left this movie wanting. Where the hell are they? There is no depth, interest, or growth in them. Nothing to make them interesting and nothing to make you care if they live or fall off a freaking bay.

The film even has John Hurt as the villain and somehow manages to misuse him. Yet, there is a lot in the film to be happy about, at least for younger kids. I'd definitely watch it with a remote.

My Case against a dvd release of Remember WENN

Yeap you read right, absolutely correct.  I am now firmly, completely, forever and ever against a DVD release of our blessed and totally original remember WENN. Now I know you (my fellow fans all two thousand of us collectively) are currently either wishing my ill or so manner of swift return to mental health, because that is the only way I a huge fan of Remember WENN could ever proiclaim such a thing. To turn my Back on our long searched for and wished for goal, the holy grail of Aged and fabled AMC programming, a complete DVD release of all seasons of Remember WENN.

A wish so lofty and so completely unreachable, you would think that we were asking for the keys to heaven, proof of a unicorn, or a semester's free boarding at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft. And not what we are actually seeking, to give AMC money (and I mean a lot of money) for a freaking copy of our favorite/one of favorite shows for the purposes of watching it at home in front of the freaking television. I mean we're not asking for a Beatles reunion or winning lottery numbers!!! And we're not even asking for hand outs here either!!! I mean who the hell runs a business media empire like this anyway?!?!? What do you have an allergic reaction to easy money you dip shits!!!! OH MAYBE IF OUR FREAKING SHOW HAD ZOMBIES IN IT OR DRUG MAKING CHEMISTRY TEACHERS!!!!!!




Oh... Jeez! ok deep breath, sorry about that guys, deep breath. Sorry I blacked out there for a second, I do still have a bit of rage going on. Anyway I not going to let this blog post be turned into another rant about how earth shattering stupid AMC is, and all about acceptance. I resent the ignorance on the part of AMC for not allowing fans to enjoy the programming that they helped create and yet I have come past this cloud of anger to a surprising realization.

I am actually as odd as it sounds kind of glad that there is no DVD release, I will never really understand why they are choosing not to release it, in much the same way as George Lucas refused to release on DVD the original versions of Star Wars following his special editions, its almost like they are trying to forgot their own product. But, my acceptance has been born from the fact that they own refusal to submit and produce a dvd has actually made my own connection to the show grow.

Think about it for a second, think about that show you loved that was released years ago on dvd. Back during that great huge release in the early to mid 2000's of all those older shows. Taxi, Family Guy, Seinfeld, Welcome Back Karter, Soap, etc. You got the dvd, relived the excitement of seeing it the first time, binged watched it, and now its gathering dust. By contrast, Remember WENN is old about to be viewed in the manner it was first presented, on old tapes that retain the old commercials and AMC intros of yesteryear. Unlike all those other old shows, that are in brand new packages and with new documentaries and audio commentaries. Our show is just that, our show they way we remember it and every time we watch it, we get transformed back to that moment when we fell in love with this silly show.




Yes it seems odd that the network would disown something that was quite respectable and highly award winning. But, they did. And I'm pretty confident that they will never reward our patience with a dvd release.  Which all we have to do is look at the bond Remember WENN fans have for one another and the program, to note that a lack of a DVD will not mean the end of our interest. We have survived the long drought that was the pre-internet age and have come out  in fighting form. We have the kind of devotion for this show that many and I'd say vastly more famous shows would kill for. Could anybody want anything more from your favorite movie, book, or show, than for it to transcend itself. For the world or environment it creates to shine a little bit on your own life and personal outlook.



And if you really think about it. I mean deeply.. This is a show about radio, that takes place in a time when the program was delivered to the public, quickly, and hardly ever preserved for posterity by those that created the programming. Yet, it was preserved and captured by the instrument that helped bring it to the public in the first place, the radio waves. So, it seems almost perfect that we aren't able to catch this one brief bright moment in cable television history in any definitive manner. It has to remain in its current and fluid state of preservation, and not given its institutional dues.

Yes!!! No great big giant dvd entire series box set release for our show. We'll keep the file saves, downloads, old website shares, small multi link viewing parties, theories about who ends up with who, and you-tube playlists.

Because AMC!!! Remember WENN doesn't really belong to you. I mean not really, you don't even know who owns the dvd release rights do you? You disowned it, tried to forget it, and are now actively ignoring it. Like George Lucas before you, you have ignored the wishes of traditional artistic endeavors and produced something without any regard for those that were consuming said product.

Now its ours and its in good hands. So don't take our money and don't give us a DVD. Its too late and the twentieth anniversary has now passed. The hatchet shall never be buried and the fans shall take it from here.

For all these reasons I hope that Remember WENN will never get a dvd release and that we will always be in search of that empire in the sky that radio produces and our show promotes. The joy of imagination and they union of fandom.