I sometimes worry that the younger generation doesnt know enough history. Its a darn shame because there were many great men. Eric Tarnley whoose parents immigrated from Austria grew up in a different time. While the cold war was going on America needed engineers and scientists. Eric recognized this need and earned a degree in civil engineering by the age of twenty from New York University. He also worked in the field of civil engineering while developing his real gift.
Eric Tarnley was throughout the cold war well kown for right wing commentary. Eric's most well known essey "Disaster!" was reprinted in the book "American Views of Soviet Russia".
He started off as a freelance writer but later on his talents were recognized by billionaire HL Hunt. He was hired to write scripts for the Lifeline program. Lifeline was an ultra-conservative radio program in the cold war era.
Later on in life, Eric Tarnley ran as a write in canidate against United States Congressman Buddy McKay and won 1,174 votes! Back in 1984 this was the second most of any write in candidate in Florida history.
By today's standards some of Eric's right wing views would be considered extremist but immediatelly after the invasion of Czechoslavakia and Hungarian Revolution, people feared the spread of Communism. Eric was never a right wing idealogue. He championed animal rights and helping the poor. He told me, "I was so busy fighting Communism I accidentally let the far right get in."
I dread the thought that a journalistic giant like Eric Tarnley will be forgotten. My favorite Eric line appeared in a column about civic associations.
He wrote, "Civic associations have the rigity of communism and intollerance of facsism". It cracks me up to this day. It reminds of an X-Files episode involving a tyranical civic association. If his life had not been slowed down by psychiatric problems, he might have won The Pulizer Prize but as is he made a huge contribution to cold war journalism.
