Bernstein and Politics
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
To millions of Americans, Leonard Berstein was a brilliant composer, savvy educator and cultural icon. But to the FBI, he was a person of interest. His support of left-leaning political causes drew government surveillance that changed the course of his career. Barry Seldes tells the story in his new book, Leonard Bernstein: The Political Life of an American Musician, and he joins us to talk about it.
- Barry Seldes' Politics and Culture Blog
- Leonard Bernstein: The Political Life of an American Musician on Amazon
- Soundcheck blog: Famous Musicians and the FBI
Comments [2]
I think I remember that, way back.
Fascinating discussion. How much were Bernstein's associations with the Black Panthers an issue with the Nixon cronies? Didn't he throw a party for a bunch of them at his Park Avenue apartment?
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