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Author
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Topic: Apollo 13: Nixon's plan in event of a disaster
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43576
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-16-2019 06:34 PM
   
It is fairly well known that William Safire prepared a plan and a speech for Richard Nixon to follow and read "in event of [a] moon disaster" on Apollo 11 (if not, you can read it here). This is the first time that I can remember, though, seeing the plan for Apollo 13, via Michael Beschloss on Twitter. |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1624
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 04-16-2019 07:17 PM
Very interesting, I have never seen this before. Seems like a scripted political event in my opinion. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 891
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 04-16-2019 07:44 PM
It is too bad the date is cut off. I am curious to know when it was written. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43576
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-16-2019 08:19 PM
The full page can be seen here. It is dated April 15, 1970 at 5:45 p.m. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2178
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 04-16-2019 08:34 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Fra Mauro:
Seems like a scripted political event in my opinion.
Would it have been better for the Administration to just "wing it"? |
Andy Anderson
Member Posts: 87
From: Perth, Australia
Registered: Dec 2009
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posted 04-16-2019 09:01 PM
I see in another letter illustrated on the Nixon Foundation page from William Anders on the 14th of April 1970, states; Replaced pilot, Ken Mattingly is shown clinical signs which could be the onset of measles Apart from the initial blood tests showing that Ken was "susceptible" to contracting measles, I never knew that he ever displayed any signs nor did he contract measles any time soon after the mission. |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1624
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 04-17-2019 10:53 AM
quote:
Originally posted by capoetc:
Would it have been better for the Administration to just "wing it"?
Just seems to lack sincerity, very robotic. A leader should know what's appropriate. The mayor of New York City doesn't have to have a script of what to do if a first responder is seriously injured/wounded on the job. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2178
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 04-17-2019 11:58 AM
First responders have been injured/wounded on the job many times before. This was the first time a US space mission was in serious jeopardy of being lost in space. I would be disappointed in the administration if they had not formulated a plan in advance. |
Tallpaul
Member Posts: 171
From: Rocky Point, NY, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 04-17-2019 03:59 PM
Why wouldn't he go and pay his respects to the Swigerts in Denver? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43576
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-17-2019 04:54 PM
There is a difference between visiting two houses while already in Houston versus planning a separate trip to another state.I do wonder though, why Swigert's parents were not (apparently) in Houston. Even without the emergency, one would have thought they might be there given it was their son's first spaceflight. |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 641
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 04-17-2019 05:35 PM
I think it would have been of poor taste if the President didn't visit Swigert's parents in the event the crew didn't return. Either way, if he didn't go to them, it would be almost certain they would have been brought to him either in Houston or to Washington.As for the scripted out procedure for the President's agenda surrounding the order of events, that is standard protocol especially when involving the POTUS. Mainly because of the position and secondly due to the security requirements that would have to be implemented. As a former Aide to a member of the JCS, anytime we were around the POTUS, everything was outlined down to the minute when it came to his movement and all Principles involved. |
Space Cadet Carl
Member Posts: 225
From: Lake Orion, Michigan
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 04-18-2019 06:59 AM
As far as Nixon visiting Marilyn Lovell and Mary Haise, but not Jack Swigert's parents... remember that it was 1970 and we Americans looked upon family, relationships and spouses in a different light than we do today. |
Skylon
Member Posts: 277
From:
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 04-18-2019 09:02 AM
Keep in mind this was written April 15. There were still two days remaining for the mission. I THINK the Swigerts flew to Houston before landing. Can anyone confirm this? If so, Nixon's plans may have altered to accommodate them. As far as the comment about this seeming "robotic." EVERYTHING the President does is best done scripted to keep things efficient not just for the politician, but for the families. I'm reminded of how George H.W. Bush as VP wanted to pay his respects to the families of the STS 51-L crew in an impromptu fashion - which resulted in them being stuck waiting at KSC for Bush, when they just wanted to go home to Houston. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3160
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-19-2019 09:19 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Andy Anderson:
...nor did he contract measles any time soon after the mission.
It wasn't measles, it was German measles (rubella). I have never understood why people keep referring to Mattingly being exposed to "the measles." They are different viruses, and having had both as a child, I know (and all of my school-friends knew) that German measles is less severe (unless you're a pregnant woman!).It is not my intention to start a debate about the relative severity of the two diseases in adults. I'm simply pointing out that Charlie Duke didn't catch "the measles" and Ken Mattingly wasn't exposed to "the measles." |
oly
Member Posts: 971
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 04-19-2019 10:00 PM
The above provided link to the Richard Nixon Library "Behind the scenes of Apollo 13" shown the Apollo 13 Status Report dated 16 April 1970. The reference given reads "Ken Mattingly is showing clinical signs which could be the onset of measles."This could be one explanation why people make such a reference. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 408
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 04-20-2019 08:27 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Fra Mauro:
Seems like a scripted political event in my opinion.
Actually, the memo is pretty apolitical because of the multiple references to Frank Borman's advice.At this time, Dwight Chapin was the "Appointments Secretary" for the President. Of course he would write a memo about Nixon's possible schedule given an Apollo 13 failure, especially given Chapin's reputation as a details guy. While Chapin had a long history with Nixon and worked on his campaign (and other presidential campaigns), this memo is hardly cynical political plotting. It's advance planning — sounding out Frank Borman — in the face of a possible tragedy. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3160
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-20-2019 10:17 AM
quote:
Originally posted by oly:
This could be one explanation why people make such a reference.
There are numerous NASA references to German measles (Apollo 16 press kit) and rubella (Apollo 13 Post-Launch Mission Operation Report), not to mention contemporaneous press reports, but the only victim of the condition (Charlie Duke) actually refers in his own book ("Moonwalker") to catching "the measles." It's just as well he didn't catch chicken pox... |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1624
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 04-20-2019 01:23 PM
I like the various angles presented here. I'm not into debating who has the best opinion. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 408
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 04-20-2019 04:05 PM
Well, there is some truth to the observation that, "When you're a politician, everything is political." For those of us who have walked the halls of power, it's certainly hard to deny that! |
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