You read that correctly. Here’s how it happened:
On page 397 of her new memoir, “My Name Is Barbra”, Streisand recounts how, in 1973, she was asked to put on a fundraiser for Daniel Ellsberg, who was running out of money fighting his court battle against the Nixon administration over publishing The Pentagon Papers. The fundraiser took place on Ellsberg’s birthday, April 7, 1973 and raised $50,000 (roughly $360,877.50 in today’s dollars)
Before he died in 2023 at the age of 92, Ellsberg once again thanked Streisand for her help, “He said it was our 50 Thousand dollars that enabled the trial to continue for another two weeks...and those two weeks turned out to be crucial. That was just enough time for the news to break that Ellsberg’s psychiatrist's office had been burglarized and Nixon was behind it.”
The charges against Ellsberg were dismissed on grounds of government misconduct, and then the Watergate hearings began. And, the rest is history. It may have been the reason Ms. Streisand found herself on Nixon’s “enemies list”
Streisand also recounts her friendship with former NY Congresswoman Bella Abzug and her 1986 concert One Voice to raise money to elect more women to the House Of Representatives.
So, let’s wish Ms. Streisand a belated Happy Birthday (April 24) and consider her example in this election year. You don’t have to put on a concert but, there are many ways to help out in an election year. If have time on your hands, be a poll worker. If you have time and money on your hands, you might consider volunteering for Election Protection. I volunteered in 2004 and was sent to Toledo, OH ( Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s district) If you live in an area that has no candidates you want to give money to, consider giving to ballot measures that will reflect your politics.
Don’t sit at home this year when you can help whip up a blue tsunami the likes of which will be talked about for generations in our country.
McConnell’s — Streisand’s favorite flavor is Brazilian Coffee, which is, indeed, better than regular coffee ice cream. And they ship.
And, WYFP?