Well, I’m just swimming through Barack Obama’s amazing autobiography, “A Promised Land.” Can only it be four years ago that our president was erudite, witty, smart, funny, intelligent? His book has almost no “gossip.” He mentions few celebrities, and when he does, it’s in passing. He keeps everything on a high level, and still it’s all fascinating.
Michelle Obama has weighed in this week on Instagram on her feelings about the last four years. I wanted everyone to read this. She’s the classiest act going.
“This week, I’ve been reflecting a lot on where I was four years ago. Hillary Clinton had just been dealt a tough loss by a far closer margin than the one we’ve seen this year. I was hurt and disappointed—but the votes had been counted and Donald Trump had won. The American people had spoken. And one of the great responsibilities of the presidency is to listen when they do. So my husband and I instructed our staffs to do what George and Laura Bush had done for us: run a respectful, seamless transition of power—one of the hallmarks of American democracy. We invited the folks from the president-elect’s team into our offices and prepared detailed memos for them, offering what we’d learned over the past eight years.
“I have to be honest and say that none of this was easy for me. Donald Trump had spread racist lies about my husband that had put my family in danger. That wasn’t something I was ready to forgive. But I knew that, for the sake of our country, I had to find the strength and maturity to put my anger aside. So I welcomed Melania Trump into the White House and talked with her about my experience, answering every question she had—from the heightened scrutiny that comes with being First Lady to what it’s like to raise kids in the White House.
“I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do—because our democracy is so much bigger than anybody’s ego. Our love of country requires us to respect the results of an election even when we don’t like them or wish it had gone differently—the presidency doesn’t belong to any one individual or any one party. To pretend that it does, to play along with these groundless conspiracy theories—whether for personal or political gain—is to put our country’s health and security in danger. This isn’t a game. So I want to urge all Americans, especially our nation’s leaders, regardless of party, to honor the electoral process and do your part to encourage a smooth transition of power, just as sitting presidents have done throughout our history.”
I am really sorry to hear the news that Bruce Swedien has died at age 86 from COVID. He was a brilliant recording engineer, the man who made those Michael Jackson-Quincy Jones hits happen. He was also a good friend to me when I was writing about Michael, especially right after Michael died and there was wild speculation about what was unreleased.
He started working with Quincy Jones in 1977 on the “Roots” TV soundtrack. With Michael Jackson was involved in “The Wiz” soundtrack in ’78, and 1979 brought “Off the Wall.” For most of the next 20 years or so, Bruce was wrapped with Michael, with Quincy’s other projects, Patti Austin, James Ingram, George Benson, and all their hits. (“Give Me the Night” by George Benson, one of many outstanding records.)
Not one but two versions of an R^B classic written by Valerie Simpson and her late husband Nik Ashford are in the iTunes top 10 R&B today.
