Episode 2: Sweet Communion I William Preston Taulbee and Budd Dwyer

00:00:00
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00:51:15

January 8th, 2020

51 mins 15 secs

Season 1

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About this Episode

Hillary and Tina cover former Kentucky House Representative William Preston Taulbee and Pennsylvania State Treasurer Budd Dwyer.

Tina’s Story:
In 1986, Budd Dwyer found himself mired in a political bribery scandal. His alleged decision to take a 300K kickback mucked up his pristine reputation as Pennsylvania state treasurer. Dwyer professed his innocence and had a loyal following of supporters, but with an upcoming sentencing, Dwyer’s back was up against the wall. Then, he made a fateful decision that shocked Pennsylvania residents and gripped the nation.

Hillary’s Story:
In 1887, Kentucky House Representative William Preston Taulbee faces major repercussions after local journalist Charles Kincaid exposes Taulbee’s affair with a young, beautiful teenage clerk. With a marriage on the rocks and ruined career, Taulbee terrorizes Kincaid for years, until a fateful encounter on the stairs of a basement restaurant in the Capitol Building.

Sources:

Tina's Story
Wikipedia
R. Budd Dwyer

From Eighty Four Films:
Honest Man: The Life of R. Budd Dwyer

All That’s Interesting
R. Budd Dwyer and the Death of an “Honest Man”

Ranker
The Video of Budd Dwyer’s Suicide is Infamous, but Do You Know Why He Did It?

Associated Press--Michael Hirsh
“Dwyer Eulogized as Innocent Victim”

Penn Live
“Former Pennsylvania Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer's controversial death re-examined in new film”

The Morning Call
“DWYER SOUGHT SPECTER'S HELP TO GET A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON”

Washington Post--Elanor Randolph
“WITNESSES TO DEATH JOURNALISTS QUESTION THEIR ROLE"

Associated Press--David Morris
“Pennsylvania Treasurer Kills Self At News Conference”

LA Times
“Family to Get $1.28-Million Pension in Suicide of Pennsylvania Official”

PetaPixel
“The Day That Made AP Photographers Switch to 100% Color Film”

New York Times
“Governor’s Widow Goes to Senate”

Photos
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Photograph of Budd Dwyer--1980s

Dwyer Family
Budd Dwyer swearing in as Pennsylvanian state treasurer, 1984

News Lanc
Dwyer Final Statements

Observer Gazette
Dwyer Moments Before Death

Hillary's Story
Encyclopedia.com
Charles Kincaid Trial: 1891--Mark Thorburn

NPR
"A Historic Killing at the Capitol Building"

Law Library
"Kincaid Pleads Self-Defense"

Photos
Skeptical Inquirer
Taulbee as a young man--copy by Joe Nickell

WAMU Radio
Charles Kincaid Drawing--Robert Pohl

NPR
Taulbee Scandal Article--from 1887 Washington Post

Quest-France
Bloody Staircase Photo

NPR
Bloody Staircase Close Up Photo--Peter Overby

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