Firing Line

S1 • E1

Poverty: Hopeful or Hopeless?

After the unveiling of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War On Poverty," host William F. Buckley debates Michael Harrington, the author of "The Other America," on the issue of whether the United States government can assuage the hardships of impoverished citizens through federal initiatives.

S1 • E2

Prayer in the Public Schools

The controversial Bishop James A. Pike of the Episcopal Church presents his views on the subject of school prayer and the First Amendment.

S1 • E3

Vietnam: Pull Out? Stay In? Escalate?

Guest Norman Thomas, six-time Socialist Party candidate for President, debates William F. Buckley on America's involvement in the Vietnam War, which Thomas opposes.

S1 • E4

Capital Punishment

Steve Allen, host of "The Tonight Show," states his objections to the death penalty. Although Allen was an entertainer, he was also a social critic. Allen discusses whether the death penalty deters crime and the role of moral agency.

S1 • E5

Where Does the Civil Rights Movement Go Now?

William F. Buckley debates civil rights activist James Farmer on the controversial "affirmative action" policy and whether it supports substantive equality for the socio-economically disadvantaged or is it a form of reverse discrimination.

S1 • E6

Should the House Committee on Un-American Activities Be Abolished?

John Henry Faulk was a victim of the anti-Communist organization called Aware, which had brought him to the attention of the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Mr. Faulk sued Aware and was awarded "the most colossal judgment in libel history". He is now seeking the abolition of the committee which is the topic of this show.

S1 • E7

The Prevailing Bias

Buckley and David Susskind debate whether a liberal bias exists in the media. Susskind argues a liberal consensus exists among academics since the Progressive Era. Buckley insists a deeper bias exists that predates the Age of Enlightenment.

S1 • E8

The New Frontier: The Great Society

Writer and presidential advisor Richard N. Goodwin defends the "The Great Society", a series of domestic programs enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson with the goal of eliminating poverty and racial injustice in the United States.

S1 • E9

Civil Disobedience: How Far Can It Go?

S1 • E10

McCarthyism: Past, Present, Future

Leo Cherne deplores Joseph McCarthy's excesses; in particular, McCarthy's wild accusations that Dwight Eisenhower, George Marshall, and Dean Acheson were communist agents. Cherne then discusses the merits of McCarthyism in an open society.

S1 • E11

Vietnam: What Next?

William F. Buckley debates outspoken opponent if the Vietnam War, Staughton Lynd, who recently returned from a controversial visit to Hanoi, on peace negotiations.

S1 • E12

The Future of States' Rights

S1 • E13

The Future of the Republican Party

S1 • E14

The Future of the American Theater

S1 • E15

Bobby Kennedy and Other Mixed Blessings

S1 • E16

The Future of Conservatism

Former senator Barry Goldwater dryly estimates and tabulates the Republican Party's 1968 electoral prospects. A deferential Buckley solicits Goldwater's thoughts on Medicare and executive power.

S1 • E17

Public Power vs. Private Power

S1 • E18

Communists and Civil Liberties

S1 • E19

The Role of the Church Militant

S1 • E20

Why Are the Students Unhappy?

S1 • E21

Senator Dodd and General Klein

S1 • E22

Extremism

Dore Schary, the director of The Anti-Defamation League, defends his recent book on the subject of right-wing extremism in the U.S. Buckley objects to Schary's contention that Barry Goldwater's 1964 campaign was dominated by extremists.

S1 • E23

Civil Rights and Foreign Policy

S1 • E24

The President and the Press

S1 • E25

Are Public Schools Necessary?

S1 • E26

The Playboy Philosophy

Buckley interviews a pipe-smoking Hugh Hefner on the topics of the Playboy Philosophy, the Sexual Revolution of the 20th century, and the utility of moral codes. Near the end of the program, Buckley contends that Hefner's espoused beliefs are inconsistent with the rigid guidelines for female employees at Hefner's clubs.

S1 • E27

Do Liberals Make Good Republicans?

S1 • E28

Should Labor Power Be Reduced?

S1 • E29

Communist China and the United Nations

Should Red China be admitted to the United Nations, at the expense of expelling Nationalist China? Max Lerner is the guest.

S1 • E30

National Priorities and Disarmament

Seymour Melman, professor of industrial engineering at Columbia University, talks about disarmament .

S1 • E31

LBJ and Evans and Novak

S1 • E32

Civilian Review Board: Yes or No?

S1 • E33

Criminals and the Supreme Court

S1 • E34

Open Housing

S1 • E35

The Failure of Organized Religion

S1 • E36

What to do with the American Teenager?

New York disc jockey Murray the K discusses modern teen-agers and their communication problems.

S1 • E37

Elections 1966 and 1968

Robert Novak, co-author of "LBJ: Exercise of Power," talks with William F Buckley Jr. about the future of the Republican Party and possible GOP candidates for the Presidency in 1968.

S1 • E38

Sports, Persecution, and Christians

Sir Arnold Lynn, author of "Now I See," talks about the influence of political and religious ideas on international sports.

S1 • E39

The Warren Report: Fact or Fiction?

Mark Lane, the author of "Rush to Judgment," discusses his claims about John F. Kennedy's death. Buckley and Lane debate the accuracy of the Warren Report, the competence of Chief Justice Earl Warren, and the political context of Lane's investigation.