"The Jerry Litton Dialogues" to air on TV
CHILLICOTHE, Mo. – Feb. 7, 2011 – “Bringing Government to the People: The Jerry Litton Dialogues” is a new made-for-television documentary that looks back on a unique time in American politics. AGR Hall of Fame member and U.S. Congressman Jerry Litton broke new ground when he succeeded in bringing national leaders of both parties to appear on television with him in a monthly town-hall setting for the first time in U.S. history.
Some of his guests included former President Jimmy Carter, Speaker of the House Carl Albert, Secretary of Agriculture (and AGR) Earl Butz, presidential candidates Hubert Humphrey, Jack Kemp, Lloyd Bentsen, Morris “Mo” Udall and Consumer Activist Shirley Chisholm. There were many others, and all appeared with Jerry before television cameras on stage in an in-the-round theater setting.
Congressman Litton and his guests fielded questions from the audience that always led to lively dialogues on immigration, health care, education, energy, inflation, farm policy, deficit spending, defense spending, welfare, and other topics still on our minds today.
Other AGR brothers featured in addition to Litton and Butz include Litton’s Chief of Staff Ed Turner and past Missouri Secretary of Agriculture and Missouri Farm Bureau C.O.O. Lowell Mohler. The film is the culmination of the combined efforts of The State Historical Society of Missouri, the University of Missouri, the Jerry Litton Family Memorial Foundation, and Sharp Focus Video LLC.
Brother Jerry Lon Litton’s story is the personification of the classic American dream. It is the story of a shy young boy from “the sticks” who grew to be a man who “would have been President” according to any and all who knew him or knew about him.
This opinion is shared by his North Missouri constituents, most Missouri state leaders, and many national leaders of both political parties. Ironically, the very same night of Jerry’s greatest victory in winning the Missouri Democratic Primary for the United States Senate, he and his family were killed in an aircraft accident on the way to the victory celebration.
Along his path to success Brother Litton was Theta Chapter’s first Sophomore Noble Ruler, he was National FFA Secretary, and he was the major player in bringing the Charolais cattle breed to prominence in the United States. There were many more achievements too numerous to include here.
At this writing, air times for the film are unknown, but DVD copies of it and DVD copies of the entire “Dialogue with Litton” series and other Litton DVDs are available from the Jerry Litton Family Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 695, Chillicothe, MO 64601. The film can also be seen at the Alpha Gamma Rho Home Office.
My personal favorite of the series is the episode featuring Earl Butz. Although Butz was a Republican and Litton a Democrat, both had a deep interest in Agriculture and they shared the Brotherhood of Alpha Gamma Rho. While centered around serious issues of the time, this episode is interlaced by friendly jousting and great humor since both men were quick wits. I know that anyone who ever knew either man would enjoy both this episode of the original “Dialogues” as well as the new documentary.
article courtesy of past Grand President Larry Warren
