# Who could this article be referring to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412 "2016-01-17T16:40:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/1 "2016-01-17T16:40:03Z")
> **[Why Some Men Are Above the Law](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-some-men-are-above-the-law_b_8992754?utm_content=bufferf451b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer)** > > For one Bill Cosby, there are hundreds like him who will never be indicted. I think this way because I know it from experience. I have my own Bill Cosby tale to tell. The author describes, without naming, a person of the following description: 1. Was soon to be a famous TV dad in 1968 2. Ran for political office as a Democrat about thirty years later 3. Is now dead. She is intentionally refraining from naming him (the article describes a sexual assault she says he committed against her) but there’s a lot of info here. Who would this person be, based on that description? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/2 "2016-01-17T16:44:08Z")
Other info from the article: The man was around 40 in 1968, and performing in a major stage role in a play in New York City. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/3 "2016-01-17T16:47:18Z")
I think I got it. I betcha it’s [Ralph Waite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Waite#Political_involvement) of The Waltons. It matches the given facts. Age 40 in 1968. Stage roles in NYC in the 60s, certainly a TV dad in the 70s. Ran for office 3 times - all losses - in the late 90s. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/4 "2016-01-17T16:49:04Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > I think I got it. I betcha it’s [Ralph Waite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Waite#Political_involvement) of The Waltons. It matches the given facts. Stage roles in NYC in the 60s, certainly a TV dad in the 70s. Ran for office 3 times - all losses - in the late 90s. Yup sounds right. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/5 "2016-01-17T20:49:01Z")
_ **The Waltons** _ was based on the made-for-TV movie _ **The Homecoming** _, which aired in late 1971. I have very specific memories of this, so that part does not fit. **[Voice of Leonard Nimoy]:** I shall now do a scan of TV programs that debuted in 1968… ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/6 "2016-01-17T20:55:35Z")
Not that many actors ran for congress though. He could have been starting in on the Waltons project in 1968. Simply throwing that out there without a name is pretty bad. If this actually happened and the author wants to publicize it she should name it. Given the possibility her story is not objective this sounds much like a case of regret after the fact. If it’s true she’s decades too late in coming forward. ETA: If the incident occurred in 1968, then her statement that he was soon to be a TV dad could easily apply to a TV movie released late 1971. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/7 "2016-01-17T21:09:56Z")
> **[1967–68 United States network television schedule](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967%E2%80%9368_United_States_network_television_schedule)** > > The following is the 1967–68 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1967 through August 1968. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1966–67 season. > New fall series are highlighted in bold. > Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Resea... > **[1968–69 United States network television schedule](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968%E2%80%9369_United_States_network_television_schedule)** > > The following is the 1968–69 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1968 through August 1969. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1967–68 season. > New fall series are highlighted in bold. > Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Resea... After reviewing the TV schedules for 1967–1969 and looking at the stars of the new shows, this actor seems to be the only one who fits all the parameters: TV dad (though his show debuted in Fall 1967, rather than '68), performed on Broadway (at least early in his career), Democrat activist, now deceased: > **[Dennis Weaver | Activism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Weaver#Activism)** > > Weaver was an environmentalist, who promoted the use of alternative fuels, such as hydrogen and wind power, through the Institute of Ecolonomics, a nonprofit environmental organization he established in 1993 in Berthoud, Colorado. "Ecolonomics" is a term formed by combining the words ecology and economics. He was also involved with John Denver's WindStar Foundation, and he founded an organization called L.I.F.E. (Love is Feeding Everyone), which provided food for 150,000 needy people a Weaver ... Also around 40 in 1968. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/8 "2016-01-17T21:14:54Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _ **The Waltons** _ was based on the made-for-TV movie _ **The Homecoming** _, which aired in late 1971. I have very specific memories of this, so that part does not fit. I’m confused; what part does not fit? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/9 "2016-01-17T21:18:46Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’m confused; what part does not fit? That he was a TV dad in 1968? :dubious: Even if this is in reference to _ **The Waltons** _, I’m not sure I would call three–four years in the future “soon.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/10 "2016-01-17T21:20:44Z")
It doesn’t say that he was a TV dad in 1968. The sentence reads, “In the winter of 1968, when I was an enterprising twenty-year-old, I had a big crush on a well-known actor who shortly became another of America’s beloved TV dads.” It also says he had a major stage role in New York at that time. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/11 "2016-01-17T21:37:01Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It doesn’t say that he was a TV dad in 1968. The sentence reads, “In the winter of 1968, when I was an enterprising twenty-year-old, I had a big crush on a well-known actor who shortly became another of America’s beloved TV dads.” It also says he had a major stage role in New York at that time. It if was November-December winter of 68, then that rules 1968 right out. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/12 "2016-01-17T21:40:42Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It doesn’t say that he was a TV dad in 1968. The sentence reads, “In the winter of 1968, when I was an enterprising twenty-year-old, I had a big crush on a well-known actor who shortly became another of America’s beloved TV dads.” It also says he had a major stage role in New York at that time. And three–four years is “shortly”? :dubious: On the other hand, Ralph was performing on Broadway at the time. It would seem he is a better candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/13 "2016-01-17T21:44:41Z")
Sitting here 47 years in the future, I’m willing to accept that three or four years later is “shortly.” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/14 "2016-01-17T23:04:19Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > And three–four years is “shortly”? :dubious: > > On the other hand, Ralph was performing on Broadway at the time. It would seem he is a better candidate. In terms of something that happened almost 50 years ago? “Shortly” is vague enough to cover it, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/15 "2016-01-18T03:23:07Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > In terms of something that happened almost 50 years ago? Why the waite? ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2016, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/16 "2016-01-18T03:37:16Z")
Ralph Waite? John Walton? Jackson Gibbs? No! That can’t be true. But it can’t be Chester, either. This really depresses me. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2016, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/17 "2016-01-18T03:41:55Z")
Wiki now includes this: > [@](#): > > In 2015, Martha Nussbaum obliquely named Waite as her assailant in a piece about sexual assault. The cite is just to the Nussbaum article. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/18 "2016-01-18T03:47:12Z")
Some commenters on the HuffPo article also guessed it was Waite. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2016, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/19 "2016-01-18T04:12:20Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Some commenters on the HuffPo article also guessed it was Waite. How journalistic of them. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2016, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412/20 "2016-01-18T04:47:56Z")
What makes commenters journalists? Are you a journalist? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-this-article-be-referring-to/743412.md?page=2)