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Monday, June 4, 2018
The Question is - Would You? in a grand jury session called to investigate the television quiz shows. The story turns to Charlie Van Doren - whose father is a noted professor at Columbia - exploring the ways in which he gradually compromises his standards during his time as a contestant on the show Twenty One. An appearance on the cover of Time and $129,000 in earnings do much to outweigh any internal considerations of conscience. Eventually, Goodwin cleverly exposes the fraud, ensuring that a Samuel Moore-Sobel is a congressional hearing would be freelance writer. He is currently held. The contestants had been fed working on a memoir and the answers, their impressive publishes a blog which can be intellectual feats a result of found by visiting preparation with the shows’ www.holdingontohopetoday.com producers. Millions of Americans Follow him on both Facebook and were misled, foolishly mistaking Twitter. acting skills for evidence of scholarly brilliance. “The quiz shows were the most extraordinary phenomenon in the In his book, Goodwin details the history of the television,” Dick dilemma with which he found Goodwin wrote in Remembering himself as he contemplated whether America. As a young lawyer or not to call Van Doren to the working for the House stand. “Compelling Van Doren to Subcommittee on Legislative testify at a congressional hearing Oversight in the late 1950’s, would destroy his reputation, Goodwin suddenly found himself severely damage his life,” he writes. thrust into the center of an After Van Doren issues a statement investigation that would alter the defending himself, Goodwin must course of many lives - not the least act. Troubled, Goodwin visits his of which was his own. old boss, Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter. “You’re not Dick Goodwin recently passed pursuing an innocent victim, but a away at the age of 86. At this point, willing participant,” the Justice tells his biography is well-known. First Goodwin. “The fact others may in his class at Harvard Law School, have done worse doesn’t make him an advisor and speechwriter to guiltless.” Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. His resume reads as a list of As this story unfolds, it would be impressive feats, all achieved well easy to shed light upon the conflicts before the age of 40. He portrayed of interest and scandal that an eagerness to make his mark on a seemingly perpetually plague our world thrust into utter confusion public figures. Perhaps this is during the turbulent era of the missing the point entirely. The 1960’s. fascinating part of this story are the implications it holds for each of us. Yet there is a part of his biography I have long struggled with the that has been glossed over in ramifications of this cautionary tale, countless obituaries published in wondering both silently and aloud the wake of his death. The role he the lengths to which I would go to played in exposing the deceit achieve the goals long set for peddled by television quiz shows myself. How many of us would be was a seminal moment in American willing to sell our souls in pursuit of history, one that I believe holds alluring success? important implications for our world today. His dogged Eventually, Van Doren tells the determination resulted in the rather truth. “I would give almost anything public fall of a charming yet tragic I have to reverse the course of my member of a well-respected midlife in the last three years,” he told twentieth century American family. the group of congressmen. The story is chronicled in the film Quiz Show, directed by Robert Redford. The movie mostly adheres to the account Goodwin provides in his book, although important differences remain. On screen, Goodwin is portrayed by Rob Morrow - a slightly arrogant yet brazenly honest figure, attempting to find his way in a world moving far too slowly. “You know, I feel like a racehorse whose gate won’t open,” he tells his wife near the beginning of the film.
Days later, Van Doren wrote Goodwin a letter. “…you must never, in any way, feel any regret for your part in this,” he writes. Despite his pleas, Goodwin still felt conflicted about his slaying of a man he seemingly admired. “And I always have. A little. Although it was the right thing to do.”
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Any Tips to Prepare Property Before Selling? Hi Taylor - My husband and I are thinking about selling our house this summer. If we decide to pull the trigger, any advice on how to prepare our property for potential Taylor Kovar buyers? - Marjorie
minded approach to your sale, preparing the house for strangers who aren’t interested in the home’s past, but rather what it can offer in the future. 3. Do some landscaping. Even if the inside is immaculate, the front yard and driveway and entrance are the first things people will see. Don’t expect them to ignore an unkempt garden or a carport that really needs to be repaved. It’s easy to get caught up in the general value of a property and the size of a lot, but you can’t overlook the superficial elements that drive the sticker price. Do your best to make the interior and exterior as presentable as possible.
Hey Marjorie - There are so many ways to prepare for selling a house, but a lot of the details will hopefully be handled by a realtor. As far as getting the house ready to go, there are a few things you should think about and get to work on. With a little bit of effort, you can maximize your returns and feel 1. Fix the obvious issues. Your great about the wealth your home house probably has minor defects generates. Keep your eyes on the that you started ignoring years future while holding your ago. While those are insignificant memories dear and everything to you, people looking to buy a will work out. Good luck, new house are going to inspect Marjorie! every detail and try to find any reason to knock the price down. If Disclosure: Information you have doors that stick or presented is for educational windows that don’t close all the purposes only and is not an offer way, those repairs are definitely or solicitation for the sale or worth making ahead of time. purchase of any specific Spend on fixing things now so you securities, investments, or can get more money from the investment strategies. Investments actual sale. Even though you’re involve risk and, unless otherwise about to stop living there, your stated, are not guaranteed. Be house is still an investment. sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or 2. Move past the nostalgia. One of tax professional before the biggest issues for people implementing any strategy selling their homes is letting go of discussed herein. Past the history they share with that performance is not indicative of location. You may have lived in future performance. To submit a that house through a marriage and question to be answered in this some wonderful family-building column, please send it via email years, and those memories are to Question@TaylorKovar.com, special and important. However, or via regular mail to Lessons on your past doesn’t factor into a Wealth, 106 E Lufkin Ave., prospective homebuyer’s future. Lufkin, TX 75901. There might be rooms you want to Taylor Kovar - Family Man. leave a certain way because it Wealth Manager. Author. reminds you of returning from the Speaker. Serial Entrepreneur. hospital with a newborn, but you Travel Lover. Chick-Fil-A have to remember you’re leaving Fanatic. Kovar is the CEO and this house. Those memories will founder of Kovar Capital live on, but they don’t need to be Management LLC of Lufkin, preserved in a home you’re trying Texas. to sell. Try to take a business-
injects moral clarity into our daily lives. The situation forces us to grapple with the darker parts of ourselves, wrestling with the implications of the possible cost inherent in achievement.
“No. Of course not,” Goodwin tells him. “And I would?”
Van Doren leaves the question hanging, an ashen look covering his One of the most moving scenes of face. Goodwin’s investigation of the movie is shared between television - and his subsequent Goodwin and Van Doren. In the wake of Dick Goodwin’s interactions with Van Doren Goodwin is pressing Charlie, passing, it seems only right that we - comprise only 15 pages of his 543 attempting to force an admission choose to entertain the same page epitome. Ignoring such a of guilt. Van Doren quickly turns question. Until suddenly it does. Goodwin minor appearance, however, would the table on this young lawyer. happens upon an article in The be failing to acknowledge the Samuel Moore-Sobel is a freelance New York Times - “the paper of strength of character inherent in the “If someone offered you all this writer. To have words of hope record,” as Goodwin’s character man who has now passed on. His money to be on some rigged quiz delivered to your inbox, visit informs his colleagues - regarding a willingness to do the right thing, show, instant fame, the works, www.holdingontohopetoday.com to judge’s decision to seal the findings regardless of the consequences, would you do it?” subscribe to his blog today.
