# 1972 Democratic telethon?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1972-democratic-telethon/31720>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 2, 2000, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1972-democratic-telethon/31720 "2000-09-02T00:38:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Phouchg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/41988e/32.png) [@Phouchg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phouchg)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1972-democratic-telethon/31720/1 "2000-09-02T00:38:43Z")

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While watching a rerun of “All In The Family” on TV Land, mention was made of something that I had never heard of.

In the episode, Mike inherits $200 and plans to donate it to the McGovern presidential campaign. Of course this sets Archie off, but Mike and Gloria talk about how the Republicans have $30 million, and the Democrats had to have _a telethon_ to raise money.

Did this really happen? Can you imagine if that was tried today, by any party?

## Phouchg

Next time bring your sister, you hump. - Tony Mendez

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1972-democratic-telethon/31720/2 "2000-09-02T01:26:18Z")

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Couldn’t find a reference to a 1972 telethon, but I did find a 1973 reference.

> [@](#):
>
> In 1973, she [Marcie Kripke} helped coordinate telethon activities for the Democratic National Committee.  
> source: [http://dizzy.library.arizona.edu/branches/spc/udall/nolaugh\_htm.html](http://dizzy.library.arizona.edu/branches/spc/udall/nolaugh_htm.html)

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1972-democratic-telethon/31720/3 "2000-09-02T03:31:29Z")

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I definitely remember _a_ Democratic telethon, although I don’t remember the year. Jackie Cooper was one of the “hosts.”

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1972-democratic-telethon/31720/4 "2000-09-02T06:53:55Z")

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I believe that the Democrats had telethons in 1972, 73, and 74. Changes in campaign financing rendered them obsolete.

The Democrats needed the telethons to raise money to pay off the campaign debts of 1968(!).