1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,159 Speaker 1: Welcome to episode for your Russia Limbaugh, the man behind 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: the Golden EI B microphone. If you haven't heard episodes 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: one through three, you can always go back and listen 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: to those exclusive stories from people who knew Rush on 5 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,080 Speaker 1: and off the air, including Dawn and Brian, who were 6 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: with Rush and me in the E I B Southern 7 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:22,159 Speaker 1: Command studio every day for more than twenty years. But 8 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 1: today we have a very special episode for you. We 9 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: have a chance to hear from Russia's brother, David Limbaugh. 10 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: Now I've known David for a very long time decades, 11 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: and David and I are friends, and I want to 12 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: tell you something about David. And this is very touching 13 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 1: to me, and it's something that I will always remember. 14 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: When the day, that day that Rush gave us the 15 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: bad news about his diagnosis, it was a very tough day. 16 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 1: I got a call um before the show ended that 17 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 1: day from David, and David just said, James, I'm just 18 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: calling to see whether you're all right. We're all worried 19 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: about you because we know how much you love Rush. 20 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: Of course I broke down, and of course you know 21 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: David was was just as emotional as David can be 22 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: under those kind of circumstances. We were all just on 23 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: the edge. And and and that's who David is, and 24 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: and that's who this family is. I knew Rush and 25 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: David's mom, Millie, and I hung out with Millie and 26 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: I rocked David's one of David's daughters to sleep while 27 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: we were all traveling somewhere with Rush to to on 28 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: on one of our great traveling adventures. I don't even 29 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: remember where we were going, but I just remember hanging 30 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: out with them. You hear this expression, the salt of 31 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: the earth, the Limbaugh family. I've met so many of them. 32 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: These people are the people that you would want to 33 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: be your neighbors. They're the people you would want to 34 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 1: be your friends. These are the people that you would 35 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: want to be your family. And you'd be grateful if 36 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: you were in their family. Not only do they love 37 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: this country, not only do they love their family, they 38 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: love their friends, and they create an incredibly loving environment. 39 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: And it is so easy for me to see where 40 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: Rush came from by knowing his family. Whether you listened 41 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: every day you are at the E I V Network 42 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 1: and the Russia Limball program heard on over six hundred 43 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: great radio stations every now and then nation's leading radio 44 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: talk show, the most eagerly anticipated program in America. Stories 45 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: You Never Hurt from the people behind the scenes who 46 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: knew him best and loved him most. Rushmod Or having 47 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: more fundily human being, It should be allowed to hear 48 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: Rush Limpough, the man behind the Golden EIP microphone, hosted 49 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: by James Golden. Hey, James Golden here, you know what 50 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: it's time that you treat yourself to a little bit 51 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: of luxury. You know the company, It's my Pillow. But 52 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: what you may not know is that my Pillow makes 53 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: more than just the incredible pillows that have captivated America. 54 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: They make sheets. And these aren't just any sheets. These 55 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: sheets are smooth, they're soft, They're comfortable. 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Now 65 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 1: that's my pillow dot Com Promo code Icon Today. Special 66 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: guests we have with us David Limbaugh, Russia's brother. David. Welcome, 67 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: How are you hey, James, How are you doing? Thanks 68 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: for having me on. I am so pleased that you're here. David, 69 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: how are you doing. I am still in a state 70 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: of shock and disbelief. I wake up some days and 71 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: I still can't believe it when I hear Russia's voice. 72 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: I'm still part of my mind still can't wrap around 73 00:04:55,240 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: that Russia's gone. Yeah, it is really u very hard 74 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: to believe, and it's tough and I kind of compartmentalize 75 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 1: sometimes and deal with it that way. But I was 76 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: very surprised the way it hit. I mean, we expected him, 77 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: and we knew it was it was going to happen, 78 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: but I didn't think it was imminent. And then when 79 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: Catherine called and said he had really taken a turn 80 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: for the worst, my heart sunk. And then it was 81 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: downhill from that point. So yeah, I was kind of shocked, 82 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: even though we had been well prepared for it. So, David, 83 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 1: I want to go back with you today to the 84 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 1: beginning of David the younger Brother. I want to know 85 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: what life was like in the Limbaugh household. I have 86 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 1: I have had the wonderful opportunity of meeting your mom. 87 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,799 Speaker 1: I never met your dad, but I met your mom. 88 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 1: And she was such a wonderful and delightful person. She 89 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: had sparkling blue lies. She would send me music. I 90 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 1: don't know whether you know that or not. She would 91 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 1: send me cassettes with music. Yeah, yeah, that she who 92 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 1: wanted me to hear that. She had an infectious laugh. 93 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: She was just such a wonderful person. What was it 94 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 1: like growing up in your house? Well, my mom and 95 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: dad were both unique characters in their own right, very different. 96 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: My dad was, as I said in that tribute I 97 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: wrote to Rush, he was a lawyer's lawyer and brilliant 98 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 1: and uh he was pretty serious most of the time 99 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 1: and had a worse bark than his bite. Uh. He 100 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 1: was tender at heart. But you know, some people sometimes 101 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: people thought he was gruff, but the truth is he was. 102 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: He was really good to us, but he disciplined us, 103 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: don't get me wrong. And my mom was just a 104 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 1: cut up. She was a comedian and always funny and happy, 105 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 1: and everybody loved her, and and everybody loved my dad too. 106 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: Don't get me wrong. People would come over. This was 107 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 1: the interesting thing. They come over to our house when 108 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: we were kids in high school, and people would our 109 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: friends would sit around in the living room and just 110 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: listen to my dad pontificate about politics and religion, mostly politics, 111 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: and so it is. It is gratifying to me to 112 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: see Rush in his career, put together both of the 113 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: best attributes of my parents, uh and turn it into 114 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: the most successful radio show in American history. So that's 115 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: really cool to me. It's I see both my parents 116 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: in Rush, the best of both of both of them. 117 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 1: And your granddad was still Rush had your granddad on 118 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: the air. Your granddad lived to be over a hundred 119 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 1: years old, and he was active. He was still practicing 120 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: lawl right when you would coming here. Oh yeah, I 121 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: joined the firm in and my grandfather was still there, 122 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: the patriarch, My dad was there, my uncle was there, 123 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: my cousin Steve uh so a lot of balls there 124 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: at the time. In fact, our cousin John started out 125 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: there too, So it was very limball heavy and there 126 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: were some non limballs there too. And my grandfather continued 127 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: until probably nineteen ninety three or four, when he was 128 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: almost a hundred four. He died at a hundred four, 129 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: but he practiced law almost until the very end. My 130 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: dad died four or five years earlier than my grandfather, 131 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: so my grandfather outlived him and um, but my grandfather 132 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: was amazing in terms of how vibrant he was and 133 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 1: how brilliant he was still at at an very old age. Okay, 134 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: so your kids, what kind I look at my childhood 135 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: and I contrasted to what I see kids going today, 136 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: and I am so grateful to God that I had 137 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 1: what I considered to be a normal childhood. You know, 138 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: went to church, went to school. You know, two parents 139 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: in the home. You know, we did things that most 140 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,719 Speaker 1: middle class families did. You know, you go to the church, picnics, 141 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: you do? You know? I was a little mischievous in 142 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: school and once in a while, and and and but 143 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 1: it was normal. What was your childhood like? This sounds 144 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: like a leading question based on information you have may 145 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: have been supplied to you about our past. And I 146 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: don't know whether or not to invoke the fifth or 147 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: not at this point, I need to know what your 148 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: intentions are. My intentions are you with FBI? What was 149 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: it like, David? That's all my intentions are you? You 150 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: wouldn't Russian brothers. You're not that far apart in age. Now. 151 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: He's two years older than I am, or he was 152 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: two years older than I am. And Uh. We were 153 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: mischievous as kids. I mean, I mean, if I told 154 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,960 Speaker 1: some of these stories, I wonder if the statute of 155 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: limitations is still open on a few of the felonies 156 00:09:55,360 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: we committed. But I mean we were We were really 157 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: bad on prank phone calls. I mean, it was pretty 158 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 1: much harmless stuff, and we were creative. As I think 159 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: I saw in one of these Steve Martin movies or 160 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 1: I can't remember the name of it, one of his daughters, 161 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: who was mischievous, called it a dark gift. Well, she 162 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 1: had nothing on us. We we were gifted. We had 163 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: a dark gift for mischief, and we pulled pranks on 164 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,559 Speaker 1: people all the time, since we sent cabs to people's 165 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 1: houses that that didn't order, and we ordered pizzas, then 166 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: sent a cab for the pizza to Uh to pick 167 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:33,719 Speaker 1: up the piece and take it to the people's house. 168 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 1: We ordered cabs for residents addresses that were non existent, 169 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,079 Speaker 1: and then we're sitting in the houses by the uh 170 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:45,319 Speaker 1: these non existent residents, and watched these cab guys perplexed. 171 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: And I mean it was terribly mean in retrospect, but 172 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:52,199 Speaker 1: you know, we we had uh slowly formed conscious consciousness 173 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: at the time, So that's my only excuse. But we 174 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: we had a lot of fun. What was your favorite one? 175 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: If you had to pick, Okay, your favorite too, there 176 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: was I wonder. I hope no one's still around that 177 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: that would have been a victim of this. But we 178 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: we had to know your Bible contest and know your 179 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 1: American history contests. So we would call people randomly out 180 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: of the phone book and ask them, uh, certain totally 181 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: easy questions and then they'd answer them. We'd get them right, 182 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: and so we we told them they'd win prize money. 183 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 1: So we sent cabs to pick them up and take 184 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: them to a certain hotel in town to pick up 185 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: their prize money. Keep in mind that there was no contest, 186 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: there was no prize money. The cab people weren't in 187 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 1: on it, so I mean, it was it was pathetic 188 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: how bad we were, but did you ever get busted? 189 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: Not for that. We we got busted. I got taken 190 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: to jail on Halloween for throwing balloons at people's cars. 191 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 1: Rush was less was not part of that misdemeanor. But 192 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 1: we were eight kids, We were walking around, we threw 193 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: I mean, we didn't hurt anything. We bet we got 194 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 1: we got taken to the police station. But no, we 195 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: just we just had a lot of fun doing crazy stuff. 196 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 1: But most of it was not miss if I just 197 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 1: say that because Russ was so tickled about it talking 198 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: about those things we did in later years. But Rush 199 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: was very interested in baseball, uh and pursued pitching and 200 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 1: and uh he was a good batter and very good picture. Yeah. 201 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: Now when you look back on it, did you get 202 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 1: any hints? Did you did you notice anything? Because Russ 203 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: just talked before about when he started to call games 204 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: on using the the TV, turning the sound down on 205 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:43,839 Speaker 1: the TV and calling a baseball game or the the 206 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: carvel toy with radio. Did you was that like, were 207 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: you conscious that something was going on there or was 208 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: it just kind of he's you know, well it was 209 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: We lived on Sunset for twelve Sunset and Cape Girardo Missouri, 210 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: and I specifically remember that toy at that address, and 211 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 1: it would you could broadcast on the A M radio 212 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: waves within the confines of your home, and so my 213 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: mom and I would listen to Rush broadcast either as 214 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: a DJ, spinning records and giving his little commentary as 215 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: he went, or announcing baseball games as he watched it 216 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,679 Speaker 1: on TV and turning down Dizzy Dean or whoever the 217 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 1: baseball announcer was at the time. So yes, and I 218 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: think your question is did we recognize his talent at 219 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: that time when we were just really young, We probably 220 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: recognized most his enthusiasm for it, in his devotion to it. 221 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: But when we moved over to the other house and 222 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 1: he was fifteen, he went to Dallas to take to 223 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: get his radio license, I don't know the technical term. Yes, 224 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:04,239 Speaker 1: and then he then he became a radio disc jockey 225 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: on the local station. He was really really talented, especially 226 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 1: for his age, and people started noticing how gifted he was. 227 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: We we did some tapes, kind of made an audio 228 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: movie and that it was just totally creative and hilarious 229 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: and Rush. Rush could do voices. He was a mimic. 230 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: He was an impressionist. The first moment that Trump does 231 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: anything that he is, the unraveling of an Obama agenda item. 232 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: Obama's gonna be on TP. Hey, you know what'll gleat 233 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: you're exclusive Trump Trump about Detroit Obama. Sometimes, you know 234 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: what I was on a stage like this, I wish 235 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: I weren't married. And I can say what I I 236 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: really think. I don't mean that in a negative way. 237 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: I'm happy. I'm happy, wink wink, you know what I mean. 238 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: So what does my voice sound like? You roy, sound 239 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: like Stephen Hawking or something? So like a union FuG 240 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: that's really chipped offered me. And if I don't say 241 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: the right thing here, I might be in some trouble 242 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: exactly right. Uh And I know that people think he 243 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: brilliant because the way he speaks, and people think people 244 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: are brilliant because the way they speak. They say a 245 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 1: lot because that's how you make people think of thinking 246 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: when you're talking. And uh so, yeah, if I weren't 247 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: married to her, As you know, in each episode, we've 248 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: been sharing the biographical journey of Russia's life, chapter by chapter, 249 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: narrated by some of Russia's colleagues and closest friends. Today, well, 250 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: this guy needs no introduction. Long time listeners to Rush 251 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 1: knew him as f Lee Levin. Today he's a huge 252 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: star in his own right, radio broadcaster Mark Levin the 253 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: Life of Russia Limbaugh, Chapter four, narrated by Mark Levine. 254 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 1: Despite being fired from his first three jobs in radio, 255 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: Jeff Christy a k A. Rush Limball didn't stay down 256 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: for long. He worked aggressively to return to the airwaves, 257 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: and by nineteen seventy five landed the afternoon show at 258 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: top forty k u d L in Kansas City. Still, 259 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: Russia's time at k u d L was short lived, 260 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: listening barely two years before he was let go. For 261 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: the first time in his life, Russia had become disenchanted 262 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: with radio. After serious thought, he chose to temporarily walk 263 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: away from his dreams of a successful radio career. In 264 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy nine, Rush said, a new career course major 265 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: League Baseball. Remember my father when I when I quit radio, 266 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: was the happiest he ever was. I quit radio age 267 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: because I figured it burned out, that was playing records 268 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: the son, what does that mean? I mean, where is 269 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 1: that going to take you? When I got that job 270 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: of the Kancity Royals, making thirteen thousand dollars. He was 271 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: happier than he had ever been. Russia's four years with 272 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 1: the Royals were successful at had to a lifelong friendship 273 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,719 Speaker 1: with Hall of Famer George Brett. After baseball, Rush returned 274 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: to radio in three as the afternoon news and sports 275 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: anchor at k m b Z Radio. The first time 276 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 1: in his career used his given name on the airwaves, 277 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 1: Rush Limbaugh. But he even boasted to his general manager quote, 278 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: It's only a matter of time before you're going to 279 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 1: fire me. Russia's prediction became his reality, and after less 280 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,679 Speaker 1: than a year at camb Z, he was out by 281 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 1: Rush replaced Morton Downey Jr. In mid days on kf 282 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 1: b K and Sacramento. Kf b K was a perfect 283 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: fit for Rush, and he was soon dominating the market 284 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: in his time slot. I finally got to do a 285 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: radio show the way I wanted to do it, the 286 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 1: things that I cared about, the things I thought people 287 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: would listen to, and it was basically just sharing my passions. 288 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 1: I love sharing my passions. I come up with things 289 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: are passion and I want everybody to know about it 290 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: and want everybody experienced it. I want everybody to agree, 291 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,679 Speaker 1: and finally all came together for me in Sacramento, California. 292 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:06,400 Speaker 1: After three years of ratings success in Sacramento, Rush left 293 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: KFBK to become part of ED McLaughlin snowly formed e 294 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: f M Media Network. Still, his departure from kf b 295 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:16,920 Speaker 1: K was better. Sweet. I'm just the guy in the radio. 296 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: When I started this thirty years ago, I never envisioned 297 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 1: any of this happening. What I wanted to become was 298 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,199 Speaker 1: the best radio guy in the country. I had this 299 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: great opportunity. I could be me, I could be honest, 300 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 1: I could talk about whatever I wanted to talk about, 301 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 1: and there was nobody that could tell me I couldn't. 302 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 1: And I have to, folks, I have to tell you 303 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: it is the greatest blessing that I've ever had, is 304 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,159 Speaker 1: to have the opportunity I do each and every day. 305 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: Born from the tragedy of nine eleven, the Tunnel to 306 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 1: Towers Foundation supports our nation's fallen and catastrophically injured service members, 307 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: first responders, and their families. Thanks to your generosity, the 308 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: Stand Up for Betsy Rose k Pain, a five million 309 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 1: dollar donation was made to the foundation to honor dozens 310 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 1: of heroes killed or injured in the line of duty 311 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 1: protecting our communities and our freedom. That's shocking, that's disorienting, 312 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:19,159 Speaker 1: that's life changing enough, But the prospect of losing a 313 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 1: home and losing everything else and not knowing where to 314 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 1: go next. Helping to maintain the nest, to maintain the 315 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:33,399 Speaker 1: home is one of the great offers of security that 316 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: people in these circumstances need, and you've made it all possible. 317 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:41,920 Speaker 1: Your help changed lives forever for the better. Now, I'm 318 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 1: asking you to join Tone to Towers on their mission 319 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 1: to do good for America's heroes and their families. Donate 320 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: eleven dollars a month at T two t dot org. 321 00:19:55,440 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: That's t the number two t dot org. So Rush 322 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:10,239 Speaker 1: was it disc jockey at a young age. He's a 323 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 1: teenage disc jockey in Cape Girardo. Did this lead to 324 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: him being popular? Was he in the m crowd in school? 325 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: How did that affect his life and and how did 326 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: it affect the family's life? Well, Rush was never really 327 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 1: into school and he was not that social at a 328 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:31,439 Speaker 1: young age when he was just a workaholic. He was 329 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: so into his radio show, uh that that he worked 330 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: all the time, and he just loved it. And but 331 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: it's kind of a foreshadowing of what would happen. I mean, 332 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:47,400 Speaker 1: imagine having been diagnosed with terminal cancer in his final year. 333 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:52,119 Speaker 1: He gets his life energy uh of course from the 334 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: family and friends, but his primary source of energy and 335 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 1: motivation to live, in my opinion, was his love for 336 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 1: his audience and and what he did, uh, and his job. 337 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 1: He loved doing what he did, and that was the 338 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: case when he first started out. So while he would 339 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 1: have been popular had he had had his priorities been there, 340 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,719 Speaker 1: he mainly just loved to work. But he developed some 341 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: friends in in the class ahead of him a few 342 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 1: years later when he was like seventeen and eighteen. They 343 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:28,400 Speaker 1: they took a particular interest in Russi. He was more 344 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 1: mature minded than and more serious. I mean, he's a comedian, 345 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: don't me wrong, but you know what I mean, he's 346 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 1: he's a serious minded person in his real life. And 347 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:40,120 Speaker 1: so he's a guy who never wore blue jeans. For example, 348 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:44,160 Speaker 1: I could never remembering him wearing blue jeans. And these 349 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 1: guys sought him out, these older guys, and they ended 350 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,160 Speaker 1: up becoming really good friends. They were at our house 351 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 1: all the time, and I I latched onto them like 352 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: a little kid. But it was just fun having those 353 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,640 Speaker 1: guys around. And so Rush was extremely popular with them 354 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: and they looked up to him. They saw his talent 355 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 1: from an ELA's. But truthfully, before that, I think he 356 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: didn't have as big as social life because he was 357 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 1: more into his work and that that. You know, it's 358 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: almost like he was a mirror of his younger self 359 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 1: from what you were describing. Yes, that is so true. 360 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: And he always stayed true to himself. He he did 361 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: what he wanted to do. Uh, and luckily what he 362 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:24,919 Speaker 1: wanted to do was productive and wholesome. I mean, he 363 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 1: wanted to be on the radio and he wanted to 364 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: work hard, and those are all obviously good values. Uh. 365 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: There's been a lot of you didn't ask me this, 366 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 1: but I might as well anticipate it and answer it. 367 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: People have said, well, your dad wanted him. He was 368 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 1: probably disappointed because he didn't go to college and didn't 369 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 1: become a lawyer and all that. And my dad, like 370 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: any parent back then, wanted us to go to college. 371 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 1: But he never pressured Rush to go into law. My 372 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,439 Speaker 1: dad was not that way. He just believed that the 373 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 1: best avenue to becoming well rounded for later success was college. 374 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: You know, they they betted heads about that because Rush 375 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 1: saw no value in it. He knew, he knew his 376 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:07,440 Speaker 1: own head, he knew his own heart, he knew he 377 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 1: didn't want to do it. He did it on his own. 378 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,360 Speaker 1: He did it his way. My dad has been unfairly 379 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: criticized for pressuring Rusciple or he never did it, and 380 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 1: he never did it. He did want to keep him 381 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 1: in school, and I think that was a reasonable thing, 382 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: and even Rush would have said later, there's no way 383 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:24,719 Speaker 1: my dad could have anticipated that Rush would break all 384 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:29,200 Speaker 1: odds and be phenomenally successful, not going the conventional route. 385 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: So I think Rush, as you say, from the from 386 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 1: the time he was young until the time he died, 387 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 1: knew his own head, and he was a reflection of 388 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 1: his when when he was an older person, he was 389 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: a reflection of his younger person. But that's simply because 390 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:47,200 Speaker 1: because he never changed, he always knew what he wanted 391 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: and he went for it. Well, I want to talk 392 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: to you about you for a few minutes, because you 393 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: just said something about you knew what you wanted to 394 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: do earlier on in life. Too, and you wanted to 395 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 1: be a lawyer, and did you also want to be 396 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:07,400 Speaker 1: a writer. Because you're an accomplished writer. Between your writings 397 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 1: on the political and cultural scene in America and you're 398 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: exceptionally gifted books on Christianity, you have carved out a 399 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:24,919 Speaker 1: real niche for yourself. Interesting question, I I have. Uh, 400 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:27,879 Speaker 1: I first one to acknowledge that that, regardless of how 401 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 1: well I've done, I wouldn't have been able to uh 402 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,680 Speaker 1: reach the levels I have, which are very modest compared 403 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: to what Russia did. Not that I'm competing, It would 404 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 1: be foolished to put myself in competition with him. But uh, 405 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:44,520 Speaker 1: it would not have been possible it had Russian out 406 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: open those doors. Now, I was already a lawyer before 407 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 1: Rush God his syndicated show and all that, so I 408 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:53,679 Speaker 1: was doing fine. But he opened some doors for me 409 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: in both my writing profession and my legal profession that 410 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:02,919 Speaker 1: we're just awesome. The opportunity to work on his radio 411 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 1: contract and and then watching his success inspired me to 412 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: want to become a writer, a better writer, And um, hey, 413 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 1: my brother is doing it. Maybe I Maybe I I 414 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: come from the jet same gene pool. Maybe I have 415 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 1: enough talent to do a little bit better than I'm doing. 416 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 1: So it was inspirational and he was always supportive of 417 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: that as I As I also said in the tribute, 418 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:27,639 Speaker 1: but you you you to answer your specific question that 419 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: I always know that I wanted to do these things. 420 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 1: I can give you tangible answers to that as proof 421 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:38,880 Speaker 1: that I did. One is I remember in in Franklin 422 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 1: school when I was in second grade, Mrs Swink, our teacher, 423 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 1: asked us to draw a picture of what how we 424 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 1: envisioned ourselves. Uh, it went working when we grew up, 425 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:51,200 Speaker 1: and I drew a picture of a courtroom. And I 426 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: don't know why I remembered that all my life, but 427 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:56,159 Speaker 1: I just did. And I never deviated for wanting to 428 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 1: become a lawyer. I always wanted to become one until 429 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: I became one. Okay, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. No, I've 430 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: enjoyed it. I've enjoyed it, but I but I glamorized 431 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:07,679 Speaker 1: it all the way through. I I was one of 432 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 1: these weird guys that even like law school because I 433 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 1: just loved the study of law. Now, the practice of law, 434 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:15,240 Speaker 1: the general practice of law is a hard grind and 435 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,879 Speaker 1: very stressful, and it is not as glamorous as you 436 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:21,120 Speaker 1: anticipate that it will be. But then if you can 437 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 1: specialize and you get a better idea of what you're doing, 438 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:26,479 Speaker 1: then you feel better about it. And that's what I 439 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: would recommend anyone to do. So I knew that I 440 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 1: wanted to be a lawyer from an early age. And 441 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: you asked me about writing why. I was a fanatic 442 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: on the Hardy Boy books. I read all the Hardy 443 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: Boys books and Tom Swift was kind of a science 444 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:43,400 Speaker 1: fiction thing. Ken Holt, Rick Brant all these series and 445 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 1: they can go back and check. And I was a 446 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:50,240 Speaker 1: fanatical reader of those kinds of books. And uh, I 447 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:53,400 Speaker 1: was so into that those books that I started writing 448 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: my own books. Although what I called the book was 449 00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: like seven handwritten pages and I'd color them. The cover 450 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: I would draw, and I had no talent to draw, 451 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 1: but I so I had like forty five books, seven 452 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,960 Speaker 1: page books, mystery books. And I call him the Right Brothers. 453 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 1: And I was obviously just imitating the Hardy Boys. But 454 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 1: so yes, from that age, I was probably in second 455 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:17,880 Speaker 1: and third grade when I did that. That's amazing. Did 456 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,640 Speaker 1: you read Nancy Drew? No? Because I thought it would 457 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:23,919 Speaker 1: be a little feminine. So no, I didn't always wondered 458 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 1: about it, but I never Some of our girlfriends good 459 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:29,639 Speaker 1: I know, I know it was good, but you know, 460 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:33,160 Speaker 1: false pride, false mail. Now that I'm a full blown feminist, 461 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:35,640 Speaker 1: I'd probably go back and read them. I read The 462 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 1: Hardy Boys, the Bobsy Twins. I mean I would read yeah, yeah, yeah, 463 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:44,879 Speaker 1: all of that stuff. Tom Swift, that Tom Swift books 464 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: were excellent. Yeah, I had the whole series. Yes, oh oh, 465 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: I got it. I got an interesting tidbit about my 466 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: dad to show you. I don't know why, but when 467 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: I when I came an adult, I thought back on 468 00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:02,000 Speaker 1: this story. I uh, and and what it says about 469 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 1: my dad. My dad was just a he was. He 470 00:28:05,119 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 1: was a voracious reader. I get distract and it takes 471 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:09,959 Speaker 1: me longer. Rest was like my dad. He was a 472 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: steel trapped mind. And I'm not cutting myself down. I'm 473 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 1: just saying the Rush had my dad's ability to read 474 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:21,200 Speaker 1: fast and to comprehend. One time when I was into 475 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 1: the I think I think it was Tom Swift's first book, 476 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 1: like The rocket Ship to the Moon or something like that. 477 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,520 Speaker 1: By the way, they're two Tom Swift's series one when 478 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: my grandfather was a kidter and then when one we 479 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:35,679 Speaker 1: were a kid, or maybe my dad. But I was 480 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 1: so enthused about the book when I was reading it, 481 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: I asked my dad if he would read it and 482 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 1: then talk to me about it. Now. Had I had 483 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 1: one of my kids asked me to to reign in 484 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 1: my A D. D And read a kid's book at 485 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 1: that time, I would have. I would have faked it somehow, 486 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: but my dad, I don't. I got up in the 487 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 1: middle of the night one time, I walked down the 488 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 1: stairs and I walked into the living room where he 489 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:58,840 Speaker 1: sat in his rocking chair, and he always had a 490 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 1: card table in front, and he was reading in the 491 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 1: middle of the night, he was reading that book. And 492 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: uh so he actually read the book and I that 493 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 1: was that. In later years, that has been very touching 494 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 1: to me to think about that. Wow. My my dad 495 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 1: was in World War Two but in um Flu in 496 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:24,760 Speaker 1: the China Burma what they call the China Burma Theater, 497 00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:27,920 Speaker 1: and a good friend of his was also in the 498 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:32,200 Speaker 1: same place, and they wouldn't talk about it. My brother 499 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 1: and I would would ask, you know, we'd watch a 500 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 1: war movie kids on TV. What was it like. I 501 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:46,560 Speaker 1: wouldn't tell us. Um, he simply would not talk about it. None. 502 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: Let's jump ahead. You know, Russia had went through a 503 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 1: series of jobs, but the big success had eluded him. 504 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:58,560 Speaker 1: He had been fired a few times, he you know, 505 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: and I'm sure that those no one likes to get fired, 506 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 1: So I'm sure he had to go through some grief 507 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 1: with all of that. At one point he left radio 508 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:14,160 Speaker 1: to work with the Kansas City Royals. And do you 509 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:17,480 Speaker 1: remember anything about Pilli's perog you're off doing law. You 510 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 1: guys have grown now you're often two different directions where 511 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 1: you still in touch with each other. What was that like? Yeah, 512 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 1: I think what you're getting at is is inquiring about 513 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 1: his professional growing pains. And I would say, yes, he 514 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 1: definitely had him. He he knew again he wanted to 515 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:38,880 Speaker 1: be in radio. But it's one thing to say he 516 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:41,160 Speaker 1: wanted to be in radio and he knew that's where 517 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 1: he belonged, and another to believe that it would end 518 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:46,960 Speaker 1: up happening. Because you can think you're the best person 519 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: that ever lived at a certain uh profession or skill 520 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:55,120 Speaker 1: and still not have the circumstances in life UH develop 521 00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:58,600 Speaker 1: and materialized to enable you to to actualize your potential. 522 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:05,040 Speaker 1: And so I think through a series of firings and obstacles, 523 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:08,080 Speaker 1: he was getting pretty discouraged. He was not a person 524 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:12,080 Speaker 1: to adapt. Again, it goes back, he's never really changed. 525 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 1: He always wanted to be who he wanted to be, 526 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:18,560 Speaker 1: and that is a commentator. At the time, there wasn't 527 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 1: There weren't really even any talk shows, not just political 528 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:24,240 Speaker 1: talk shows. There just weren't any talk shows that I remember. 529 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 1: But Rush always wanted to comment. So when he when 530 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 1: he did, when he spent spun records for these shows, 531 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:32,840 Speaker 1: he would always comment and he and it was funny 532 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:35,720 Speaker 1: and he was talented, but that was not his job description. 533 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:39,960 Speaker 1: So these program directors invariably got irritated with him and 534 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 1: told him to curve it down. That was not what 535 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:44,320 Speaker 1: he was supposed to do, and invariably he would disobey 536 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:48,640 Speaker 1: because that he knew. That's where that's where his destiny was. 537 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 1: Not because he was intrinsically insubordinate. That's not why he 538 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:56,240 Speaker 1: got fired. He got fired because, Uh, he just did 539 00:31:56,280 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 1: what he thought he was born to do. Not that 540 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,479 Speaker 1: he thought through this film sophically, but he kind of 541 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 1: just did what he did and when he get fired 542 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:06,040 Speaker 1: a few times, then he talked to my dad and 543 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:09,480 Speaker 1: mom and okay, let's go the conventional route. So he'd 544 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 1: worked for the Royals, and I think he enjoyed it, okay, 545 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 1: but he's mostly bored. He was director of group sales 546 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:17,400 Speaker 1: and he sold tickets and he was really good at 547 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:20,440 Speaker 1: what he did, but it was just not for him, 548 00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:22,840 Speaker 1: and so he was just looking for a way out 549 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:25,400 Speaker 1: and he'd get he'd get opportunities, and he would go 550 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:28,960 Speaker 1: and get fired again. It wasn't until uh he was 551 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:31,240 Speaker 1: and you've heard this story. Wasn't until he went to 552 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:37,000 Speaker 1: Sacramento that some program director finally let him be himself 553 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,920 Speaker 1: and then he just flourished like a rocket ship. It 554 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 1: was explosive. I mean, I went out there to to 555 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:48,400 Speaker 1: Sacramento to see Rush and he took me to Alliance 556 00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:51,880 Speaker 1: Club luncheon that he was the invited speaker because he 557 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,400 Speaker 1: was already a big celebrity in Sacramento. And I had 558 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:58,400 Speaker 1: no idea. I had no idea he was a celebrity 559 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:00,840 Speaker 1: really because he didn't brag about it. He he just 560 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 1: did what he did. I think he might have taken 561 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,160 Speaker 1: me there with the hidden purpose of letting me see 562 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:08,880 Speaker 1: just how talent he was. And I went there and 563 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 1: I'm sitting there, I can't. I don't think I've ever 564 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:13,000 Speaker 1: heard a better speaker in my life. And I'm going, Wow, 565 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: I'm blown away by my own brother. But when we 566 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 1: were growing up, we didn't do a lot of talking. 567 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 1: We did a lot of listening. My dad was the talker, 568 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 1: and so I didn't particularly know that Rush was as 569 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:28,120 Speaker 1: uh talkative as he was capable of being when he 570 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:30,040 Speaker 1: got on the air. And I think this is true 571 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:32,560 Speaker 1: a lot of celebrities they said Johnny Carson was a 572 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:35,320 Speaker 1: little bit shy in his personal life. Rush wasn't shy, 573 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:38,880 Speaker 1: but he wasn't a real talkative person. I mean, he 574 00:33:39,040 --> 00:33:41,200 Speaker 1: was one on one, but he wasn't the guy guy 575 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:43,400 Speaker 1: that would go just be the life of the party 576 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:45,840 Speaker 1: and entertain people. But when when he got on the air, 577 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 1: he lit up. As you know, when I was with 578 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:52,960 Speaker 1: him at that Lions Club luncheon, my my jaw was 579 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:55,280 Speaker 1: dropping at how talented he was. It's not that I 580 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:57,720 Speaker 1: didn't know he was smart. I just hadn't seen that 581 00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:00,600 Speaker 1: side of him. And it's it's funny because you know, 582 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 1: I saw that side of him next the rest of 583 00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:06,800 Speaker 1: his life after that. So David, now let's jump to 584 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:10,800 Speaker 1: New York and the next thing you know, he's becoming 585 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:15,239 Speaker 1: a household name. Were you surprised by any of this? 586 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:19,720 Speaker 1: What was the reaction inside your family, your extended family 587 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:22,839 Speaker 1: as well as you know of the family. Well, I 588 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:25,879 Speaker 1: think and I remember this, and I could be off 589 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:28,239 Speaker 1: by one or two, but I think rest started with 590 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:33,919 Speaker 1: fifty six stations. The sheer talent, uh is what led 591 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:37,040 Speaker 1: to the to the explosion of the number of stations, 592 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:39,160 Speaker 1: and within a matter of years, I don't know how 593 00:34:39,160 --> 00:34:41,360 Speaker 1: many years, he was up to six hundred stations, and 594 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:44,480 Speaker 1: he held him for the rest of his career. My mom, 595 00:34:44,520 --> 00:34:48,480 Speaker 1: I will say, my mom was always his biggest supporter 596 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:52,200 Speaker 1: and she was so thrilled with with this success. She 597 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:55,839 Speaker 1: always knew how talented he was and it was just 598 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 1: extremely gratifying for her to see it. My dad was 599 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:03,560 Speaker 1: more of a skeptic because again he my dad, I think, 600 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:08,719 Speaker 1: had this preconceived notion that to succeed you had to 601 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:12,000 Speaker 1: go through the traditional route, college and all that, and 602 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:16,160 Speaker 1: he he was slow to realize that Rush had broken through. 603 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:19,880 Speaker 1: But once Rush did break through, my dad was blown away. 604 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 1: I'm not saying my dad wasn't a big supporter of Rush, 605 00:35:22,719 --> 00:35:28,680 Speaker 1: but he wasn't as predisposed too. It happening the way 606 00:35:28,680 --> 00:35:31,239 Speaker 1: it happened. And I remember, and you might have heard 607 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:34,120 Speaker 1: this story or read it in one of the various 608 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:37,719 Speaker 1: biographies of Rush, were my mom and dad are sitting 609 00:35:37,719 --> 00:35:41,480 Speaker 1: around while Rush is being interviewed by Ted Copple on 610 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:45,960 Speaker 1: the what was it not? The what do you call that? Yeah? Nightline? 611 00:35:46,280 --> 00:35:52,360 Speaker 1: And he Rush made some profound, articulate response to something 612 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:56,080 Speaker 1: Ted Copple asked him, and Rush turned my my dad 613 00:35:56,480 --> 00:36:00,399 Speaker 1: Russia and I always called my dad affectionately Rush. So 614 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:04,480 Speaker 1: Rush our dad turned to each other, not to him. 615 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:10,600 Speaker 1: We wouldn't have dared do that, but but so he 616 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:13,160 Speaker 1: he uh turned to my mom, Millie, where does he 617 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:15,840 Speaker 1: get this? In other words, can you believe how talent 618 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:17,960 Speaker 1: he is? And my mom turned in and says, well, 619 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:21,200 Speaker 1: you silly, and and the and the answer was, of 620 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:23,280 Speaker 1: course that he got it from both of them. But 621 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:25,600 Speaker 1: but it was my way of my it was my 622 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:31,239 Speaker 1: dad's way of rhetorically affirming just how great Rush was. 623 00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:34,360 Speaker 1: And that was just a cool turning point, I think. 624 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:37,120 Speaker 1: And I'm glad that Rush got a chance to actually 625 00:36:37,239 --> 00:36:41,200 Speaker 1: know that you know, and and to understand that that 626 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:44,399 Speaker 1: his parents knew, both of them, and and and the 627 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:48,680 Speaker 1: the extended family too knew this talent. How was it 628 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:51,399 Speaker 1: for you, because all of a sudden, here you are. 629 00:36:51,480 --> 00:36:55,200 Speaker 1: Your brother's famous. It's not and famous a double edged sword. 630 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:58,280 Speaker 1: It's not just the good stuff, it's all the horrible 631 00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:01,840 Speaker 1: stuff that comes along with beings, and that stuff impacts 632 00:37:01,840 --> 00:37:05,400 Speaker 1: the family too. What was it like? Well, it's interesting. 633 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:10,839 Speaker 1: I when he was in Sacramento, and I'm just a 634 00:37:10,880 --> 00:37:14,200 Speaker 1: general practitioner of law, he he asked me to review 635 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:17,919 Speaker 1: his contract, his radio contract. Well, I didn't know anything 636 00:37:17,920 --> 00:37:20,719 Speaker 1: about radio contracts, and he wanted to trust me enough 637 00:37:20,719 --> 00:37:22,440 Speaker 1: to do it even though I had no expertise in it. 638 00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:24,520 Speaker 1: And when he did his when he was asked to 639 00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:28,280 Speaker 1: do his syndicated show, he asked me to do the contract. Well, 640 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:33,520 Speaker 1: I had no clue about the business aspects of of syndication. 641 00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:37,040 Speaker 1: But I remember I think I spent twelve hours preparing 642 00:37:37,080 --> 00:37:39,800 Speaker 1: that contract to submit to Ed McLaughlin and his lawyer. 643 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:43,319 Speaker 1: His lawyer was Howard Howard Abraham's really good guy and 644 00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:45,399 Speaker 1: New York lawyer. I hadn't dealt with any New York 645 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:49,600 Speaker 1: lawyers and prepared that contract and and so that was 646 00:37:49,680 --> 00:37:51,560 Speaker 1: really cool that rush brought me. And I was a 647 00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:54,480 Speaker 1: little intimidated, a little nervous, But I will tell you 648 00:37:54,560 --> 00:37:58,480 Speaker 1: in terms of how it affected. His fame affected me multifaceted. 649 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:01,680 Speaker 1: But one one thing I remember. I was so excited 650 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:06,520 Speaker 1: when he finally inaugurated his national show out of New 651 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:11,840 Speaker 1: York and uh he I remember driving in town. I 652 00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:14,200 Speaker 1: went and I went out in my car to listen 653 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:17,440 Speaker 1: to the radio. And when I was so excited when 654 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:20,640 Speaker 1: he came on, I I got goose bumps. I said, 655 00:38:20,640 --> 00:38:23,200 Speaker 1: that's to me. Nobody was with me, that that's my brother. 656 00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:26,799 Speaker 1: I said, that is so cool. And so I was 657 00:38:26,880 --> 00:38:30,759 Speaker 1: in ecstatic about his success, so proud of of what 658 00:38:30,840 --> 00:38:33,399 Speaker 1: he had done and what he was doing. And I saw, wow, 659 00:38:33,520 --> 00:38:35,560 Speaker 1: you know all. And I even said to Ed McLaughlin, 660 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:39,000 Speaker 1: I said, I there's no reason and just what Ed said, 661 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:41,920 Speaker 1: there's it's there's no reason what he did in Sacramento 662 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:44,239 Speaker 1: won't translate to the rest of the country. There's no 663 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 1: way it won't. I mean, I was convinced. Once I 664 00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:49,319 Speaker 1: heard him in Sacramento, I knew and so I was 665 00:38:49,560 --> 00:38:54,279 Speaker 1: I was so supercharged. Uh with that. Now that's the 666 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:58,879 Speaker 1: upside to to it, the negative, a negative side of this, 667 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:01,319 Speaker 1: a potential of his site. And what he did was 668 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:05,240 Speaker 1: he very controversial on politics. Well, I happen to believe 669 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:09,920 Speaker 1: exactly like he believes politically, And so anytime anybody would 670 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:13,320 Speaker 1: would give him grief over that, I was just defensive, 671 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:17,719 Speaker 1: a protective on his behalf. And if they would go 672 00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:20,600 Speaker 1: after him, I would I would be very upset about it. 673 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:23,920 Speaker 1: But it never bothered me. And since oh, this is 674 00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:27,840 Speaker 1: gonna hurt our reputation, our family's reputation because he's controversial, No, 675 00:39:28,080 --> 00:39:31,560 Speaker 1: I was totally proud of what he was doing because 676 00:39:31,560 --> 00:39:34,960 Speaker 1: I think he was making a difference and and mainstreaming 677 00:39:35,080 --> 00:39:38,440 Speaker 1: conservative thought. I mean, Bill Buckley of course is the 678 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:41,200 Speaker 1: father of the modern conservative movement. I'm not talking about 679 00:39:41,239 --> 00:39:46,200 Speaker 1: Russell Kirk and all these intellectual people, but Buckley brought it, Uh, 680 00:39:46,440 --> 00:39:50,160 Speaker 1: brought the conservative movement to the forefront, and then Rush 681 00:39:50,320 --> 00:39:52,920 Speaker 1: brought it to the mainstream. And what he did, but 682 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:59,120 Speaker 1: the downside to me seeing him be savagely attacked and scapegoated, 683 00:39:59,480 --> 00:40:03,040 Speaker 1: that deeply bothered me through the years personally. And that's 684 00:40:03,040 --> 00:40:05,480 Speaker 1: where he that's where he did. He finally just said, 685 00:40:05,520 --> 00:40:08,000 Speaker 1: I've got to do my own thing, and I'll do it. Well. 686 00:40:08,040 --> 00:40:10,120 Speaker 1: I can't. I can't be all things to all people. 687 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:12,800 Speaker 1: And he ended up being one of the most charitable people, 688 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:17,160 Speaker 1: celebrities or people period. In fact, as a as a 689 00:40:17,200 --> 00:40:22,759 Speaker 1: collateral point, he wasn't just charitable with charities. He was 690 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:28,720 Speaker 1: so generous with the family, with other people, with fans. Uh. 691 00:40:28,760 --> 00:40:32,080 Speaker 1: He gave gave away so many things. He's he's been 692 00:40:32,120 --> 00:40:36,000 Speaker 1: so generous to me and my family, And sometimes he 693 00:40:36,040 --> 00:40:39,799 Speaker 1: would offer stuff so much that you'd feel guilty. And 694 00:40:39,840 --> 00:40:43,520 Speaker 1: then I finally realized, I gotta not make this about me, 695 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:47,120 Speaker 1: because HiT's one of his greatest joys is giving things 696 00:40:47,160 --> 00:40:52,160 Speaker 1: away that he likes himself, such as his uh Apple products. 697 00:40:52,520 --> 00:40:54,840 Speaker 1: And so if he wanted to give me four watches, 698 00:40:55,600 --> 00:40:59,680 Speaker 1: I was, uh, you know, I can't. I finally said, okay, 699 00:40:59,680 --> 00:41:02,120 Speaker 1: give my So one time he gave me four four 700 00:41:02,239 --> 00:41:06,279 Speaker 1: Apple want this hilarious. I mean, it's it's disgraceful if 701 00:41:06,320 --> 00:41:08,520 Speaker 1: you if you're a non capitalist. But he gave me 702 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:11,000 Speaker 1: four watches and I put them all on my wrist. 703 00:41:11,080 --> 00:41:13,759 Speaker 1: This is like a year before he died. Put every 704 00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:15,400 Speaker 1: one of them. There were different colors. I took a 705 00:41:15,400 --> 00:41:17,239 Speaker 1: picture of him, send it to him. So here I'm 706 00:41:17,239 --> 00:41:19,759 Speaker 1: wearing all the watches and he just loved it. I 707 00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:22,640 Speaker 1: mean he you saw it, didn't He give you those 708 00:41:22,680 --> 00:41:25,839 Speaker 1: phones all the time and the iPads and watches? Oh yes, 709 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:28,920 Speaker 1: oh yes. He was so generous and just, and he 710 00:41:29,080 --> 00:41:31,880 Speaker 1: loved being generous with the people that he loved and 711 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:38,520 Speaker 1: new sister, you know, he was amazing. First off, today, 712 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:42,560 Speaker 1: Happy birthday to my brother David. He turns a weaven today. 713 00:41:42,680 --> 00:41:49,279 Speaker 1: I don't know this is the eleventh's it's just birthday 714 00:41:49,080 --> 00:41:54,520 Speaker 1: as sixty five today, and he doesn't look a day over. 715 00:41:55,120 --> 00:41:59,440 Speaker 1: I'm telling you forty every wait, so happy birthday day 716 00:41:59,440 --> 00:42:02,640 Speaker 1: of nickname him doctor. I gave him a brand new 717 00:42:02,920 --> 00:42:08,319 Speaker 1: I've fallen ten my brother for his birthday about two 718 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:10,239 Speaker 1: or three weeks ago. So I wouldn't forget it. So 719 00:42:10,239 --> 00:42:16,080 Speaker 1: I wouldn't forget it. So, David, time is dwindling down 720 00:42:16,120 --> 00:42:18,480 Speaker 1: here sadly, and I want to ask you one question. 721 00:42:19,120 --> 00:42:24,040 Speaker 1: What's the one thing about Rush as a person that 722 00:42:25,080 --> 00:42:30,759 Speaker 1: very few people know or people would be surprised to 723 00:42:30,840 --> 00:42:32,879 Speaker 1: hear about him. Is there anything that comes to your 724 00:42:32,880 --> 00:42:36,960 Speaker 1: mind I'd have to think about this. I'm never good 725 00:42:36,960 --> 00:42:39,959 Speaker 1: at these open ended questions like that, But I would 726 00:42:40,040 --> 00:42:45,160 Speaker 1: say he was not an extrovert uh in his private life. 727 00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:50,840 Speaker 1: I was even surprised when I first started seeing him 728 00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:55,040 Speaker 1: display his talent and how he would light up in 729 00:42:55,080 --> 00:42:57,759 Speaker 1: front of an audience. I just never saw. I mean, 730 00:42:57,760 --> 00:43:00,560 Speaker 1: I saw glimpses of that when he would perform on 731 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:03,280 Speaker 1: the radio and all that, but I had no idea 732 00:43:03,760 --> 00:43:06,960 Speaker 1: the extent to which Uh he would become, not a 733 00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:10,840 Speaker 1: different person, but a more open person. It's an interesting 734 00:43:10,920 --> 00:43:14,560 Speaker 1: paradox to me that he he doesn't He didn't open 735 00:43:14,640 --> 00:43:16,759 Speaker 1: up to that many people in his private life now. 736 00:43:16,760 --> 00:43:18,239 Speaker 1: A lot of times, by the way, he would open 737 00:43:18,320 --> 00:43:20,080 Speaker 1: up to me when we were younger and have a 738 00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:22,520 Speaker 1: girl problem. We'd share these issues. What do you think 739 00:43:22,560 --> 00:43:24,239 Speaker 1: of this? Does she still like me? Does she not 740 00:43:24,320 --> 00:43:25,840 Speaker 1: like me? So he would open up to me, and 741 00:43:25,880 --> 00:43:29,000 Speaker 1: I'm sure it's his real close friends. But on the air, 742 00:43:29,040 --> 00:43:32,360 Speaker 1: I think you would agree that he considered his audience 743 00:43:32,719 --> 00:43:36,880 Speaker 1: intimate and he would tell them his deepest, innermost thoughts. 744 00:43:37,320 --> 00:43:39,440 Speaker 1: And I don't know about you. I think that is 745 00:43:39,520 --> 00:43:41,960 Speaker 1: so cool, and I think that's one of the things 746 00:43:42,360 --> 00:43:45,799 Speaker 1: that has made him uniquely popular among his audience that 747 00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:49,680 Speaker 1: developed a bond, and and since he's died, I have 748 00:43:49,800 --> 00:43:59,600 Speaker 1: received thousands of communications, emails, Twitter, messages, Facebook, personal letters, 749 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:04,040 Speaker 1: unbelievable numbers of people who would say who do say 750 00:44:04,440 --> 00:44:07,640 Speaker 1: I loved him? I feel a personal void. He was 751 00:44:07,680 --> 00:44:09,680 Speaker 1: the best friend I never met. Now this is sounds 752 00:44:09,719 --> 00:44:13,160 Speaker 1: like a cliche unless you read They're not just saying, oh, 753 00:44:13,160 --> 00:44:17,560 Speaker 1: I love your brother passively. No, they're saying I feel wounded. 754 00:44:18,080 --> 00:44:20,320 Speaker 1: I feel a hole in my heart that he died. 755 00:44:20,960 --> 00:44:27,759 Speaker 1: It is an active presence, centered deeply abiding love that 756 00:44:27,840 --> 00:44:32,359 Speaker 1: he generated with millions of people. I mean, I don't 757 00:44:32,360 --> 00:44:35,360 Speaker 1: remember being in the studio the day a guy called 758 00:44:35,400 --> 00:44:38,200 Speaker 1: in and tried to explain it all, and he just 759 00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:40,560 Speaker 1: ended up. He think he ended up in tears and 760 00:44:40,640 --> 00:44:42,600 Speaker 1: ended us putting us in tearious when he said, I 761 00:44:42,680 --> 00:44:45,160 Speaker 1: just need to hear your police because it had becomes 762 00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:51,080 Speaker 1: that much of a comfort to just hear his voice. 763 00:44:51,520 --> 00:44:54,239 Speaker 1: And people try to figure out why he was so successful, 764 00:44:54,320 --> 00:44:58,080 Speaker 1: you you just can't put it in a easy define 765 00:44:58,120 --> 00:45:02,760 Speaker 1: herble box. He had some the attributes that went into 766 00:45:02,800 --> 00:45:05,000 Speaker 1: that final product, and I think a lot of it 767 00:45:05,040 --> 00:45:08,120 Speaker 1: had to do with with his personality is openness, his 768 00:45:08,400 --> 00:45:10,520 Speaker 1: love of his audience, his love for what he did, 769 00:45:10,760 --> 00:45:17,600 Speaker 1: his intelligence, his wit, his genuine interest fascination with politics, 770 00:45:17,640 --> 00:45:22,480 Speaker 1: and his uncanny, I would say, unparalleled insight into politics. 771 00:45:22,520 --> 00:45:26,279 Speaker 1: As he used to talk about laughingly being able to 772 00:45:26,320 --> 00:45:28,440 Speaker 1: see the stitches on the fastball. Well that is a 773 00:45:28,480 --> 00:45:32,040 Speaker 1: great metaphor. He could see the stitches on a fastball. 774 00:45:32,360 --> 00:45:35,280 Speaker 1: Maybe I should add to this that so many people 775 00:45:35,520 --> 00:45:38,880 Speaker 1: who don't get it, see, they just don't get it. 776 00:45:38,920 --> 00:45:40,759 Speaker 1: And these are not the ones who ended up being 777 00:45:40,800 --> 00:45:43,160 Speaker 1: his fans. Are the people who think he was full 778 00:45:43,160 --> 00:45:46,640 Speaker 1: of himself, he was a megalomaniac, that he was a narcissist, 779 00:45:46,880 --> 00:45:50,160 Speaker 1: because he would brag all the time. That was all stick. 780 00:45:50,480 --> 00:45:52,440 Speaker 1: Don't get me wrong, he knew he was talented, but 781 00:45:52,520 --> 00:45:55,320 Speaker 1: when he was talking about his talent, it wasn't to brag. 782 00:45:55,440 --> 00:45:58,960 Speaker 1: It was just to be over the top ridiculous and 783 00:45:58,960 --> 00:46:02,640 Speaker 1: and just to be a performer. And and it stuck. 784 00:46:02,680 --> 00:46:06,000 Speaker 1: Those kind of things, and people that understood Rush understood 785 00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:08,160 Speaker 1: that he was saying these things tongue in cheek, even 786 00:46:08,239 --> 00:46:10,239 Speaker 1: though at the same time he did know he was 787 00:46:10,360 --> 00:46:12,640 Speaker 1: very talented. But that wasn't the reason he was saying it. 788 00:46:12,719 --> 00:46:14,840 Speaker 1: He was saying it just for blister and just me. 789 00:46:15,120 --> 00:46:18,080 Speaker 1: But he didn't. Here's what bothers me. He never said 790 00:46:18,120 --> 00:46:20,879 Speaker 1: other than when he was joking and putting people on 791 00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:25,239 Speaker 1: for a routine. He always said what he believes. So 792 00:46:25,360 --> 00:46:27,920 Speaker 1: you read these stories and they say he's bombastic, and 793 00:46:27,920 --> 00:46:30,799 Speaker 1: he wasn't bombastic. And that's another thing. By the way, 794 00:46:30,880 --> 00:46:33,520 Speaker 1: he might have started off being a little bigger than life, 795 00:46:33,520 --> 00:46:36,840 Speaker 1: but as as as his show evolved in these later years, 796 00:46:37,719 --> 00:46:39,759 Speaker 1: they talked about him being mean. Have you ever heard 797 00:46:39,840 --> 00:46:42,920 Speaker 1: him be mean to a caller? It's the most unfair 798 00:46:43,000 --> 00:46:46,920 Speaker 1: thing in this crap about him being a racist. I just, 799 00:46:47,600 --> 00:46:50,239 Speaker 1: I just it blows my mind. He was the tip 800 00:46:50,320 --> 00:46:53,719 Speaker 1: of the spear. He took the arrows for all of 801 00:46:53,760 --> 00:46:56,640 Speaker 1: the rest of us and for the country, and people 802 00:46:56,719 --> 00:46:59,319 Speaker 1: now are taking some of the heat. He took it 803 00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:01,839 Speaker 1: before all the rest of us, and he had no 804 00:47:01,880 --> 00:47:03,920 Speaker 1: one defending I mean, we all tried to defend him. 805 00:47:03,960 --> 00:47:06,360 Speaker 1: There was no mechanism to defend him. And he was 806 00:47:06,400 --> 00:47:08,799 Speaker 1: the toughest guy I've ever seen, not just in the 807 00:47:08,800 --> 00:47:11,759 Speaker 1: way he fought cancer and bounced back and powered through 808 00:47:11,800 --> 00:47:15,040 Speaker 1: that last year, but his whole career who could be 809 00:47:15,120 --> 00:47:17,960 Speaker 1: deaf and be a radio host. And he overcame that, 810 00:47:18,040 --> 00:47:22,319 Speaker 1: He overcame addiction, he overcame all the obstacles that were 811 00:47:22,360 --> 00:47:25,680 Speaker 1: placed in front of him, and all the hate for 812 00:47:25,800 --> 00:47:29,040 Speaker 1: media matters and the rest, and he powered through bigger 813 00:47:29,040 --> 00:47:31,759 Speaker 1: than every one of them to be the most successful 814 00:47:31,840 --> 00:47:34,640 Speaker 1: person that I've ever met in my life, and that everyone, 815 00:47:35,320 --> 00:47:37,600 Speaker 1: at least on our side ended up loving. And I 816 00:47:37,600 --> 00:47:42,000 Speaker 1: am really really proud of him and really miss him. David. 817 00:47:42,080 --> 00:47:45,279 Speaker 1: Thank you me too, And David, I'm happy that you 818 00:47:45,400 --> 00:47:48,960 Speaker 1: shared and and and and those people that are listening 819 00:47:49,000 --> 00:47:53,680 Speaker 1: to our podcast series got a chance to know a 820 00:47:53,680 --> 00:47:57,319 Speaker 1: little bit more about you two. And aside from all 821 00:47:57,360 --> 00:48:01,600 Speaker 1: of the other accomplishments as an author, as a columnist, 822 00:48:02,200 --> 00:48:07,480 Speaker 1: and as a great guy, you are one of the nicest, 823 00:48:08,360 --> 00:48:12,520 Speaker 1: most incredible men I've ever met. It runs into family 824 00:48:12,719 --> 00:48:15,000 Speaker 1: thank you, So are you just so? I I don't 825 00:48:15,000 --> 00:48:18,040 Speaker 1: want to affirm everything you say and come across is conceded. 826 00:48:18,080 --> 00:48:21,879 Speaker 1: I don't think I am and this isn't false modesty. 827 00:48:21,920 --> 00:48:24,600 Speaker 1: I have been so blessed. I don't think I'm particularly 828 00:48:24,600 --> 00:48:27,560 Speaker 1: gifted in any of those areas that I've done, but I. 829 00:48:27,560 --> 00:48:29,640 Speaker 1: I hope that I've done as well as I could 830 00:48:29,680 --> 00:48:32,960 Speaker 1: do in in the with the opportunities that I was given. 831 00:48:33,160 --> 00:48:35,680 Speaker 1: It's an honor to represent the people I've represented. But 832 00:48:35,800 --> 00:48:38,520 Speaker 1: I will repeat none of that would have been possible 833 00:48:38,520 --> 00:48:41,640 Speaker 1: without Rush. I wouldn't have had the confidence to do it, 834 00:48:41,719 --> 00:48:44,080 Speaker 1: nor would I have had the opportunity. And the fact 835 00:48:44,080 --> 00:48:46,759 Speaker 1: that that I have, the fact that he wanted me 836 00:48:46,800 --> 00:48:50,479 Speaker 1: to and open doors for me and tried to get 837 00:48:50,520 --> 00:48:53,439 Speaker 1: me to and to encourage me in my career, both 838 00:48:53,440 --> 00:48:57,160 Speaker 1: careers writing and law, shows what kind of selfless person 839 00:48:57,239 --> 00:49:01,000 Speaker 1: he was. Just another aspect of his self selflessness and 840 00:49:01,080 --> 00:49:04,560 Speaker 1: brotherly love. So thank you for the compliments. But I realized, 841 00:49:04,680 --> 00:49:08,200 Speaker 1: tell if I had not had these boosts and these opportunities, 842 00:49:08,239 --> 00:49:10,760 Speaker 1: that would never have happened. I'm just grateful for everything 843 00:49:10,800 --> 00:49:12,720 Speaker 1: that has happened, and thank you for your kind words 844 00:49:12,719 --> 00:49:15,359 Speaker 1: on that. All right, David, thank you so much. We'll 845 00:49:15,360 --> 00:49:17,959 Speaker 1: talk my man. Love you, David, Thank you so much. 846 00:49:18,680 --> 00:49:21,960 Speaker 1: Thank you you too, Love you too. So have no fear. 847 00:49:22,040 --> 00:49:28,280 Speaker 1: My brother, noted columnist, attorney, broadcast agent, audio video expert 848 00:49:28,800 --> 00:49:31,879 Speaker 1: send me a little note last night and said, are 849 00:49:31,920 --> 00:49:35,839 Speaker 1: you okay? How are you holding up. I said, well, 850 00:49:36,040 --> 00:49:40,680 Speaker 1: what because it was about nine. He said, well, all 851 00:49:40,719 --> 00:49:44,200 Speaker 1: this demonization. I said, what demonization? I haven't seen any tonight. 852 00:49:44,680 --> 00:49:46,520 Speaker 1: Oh it's all over the place, is well, I haven't 853 00:49:46,520 --> 00:49:50,880 Speaker 1: had the television on him, been doing other things. God 854 00:49:50,960 --> 00:49:54,680 Speaker 1: love it. My little brother David, My little brother David 855 00:49:56,680 --> 00:50:04,600 Speaker 1: m thanks for listening to episode four. My very special 856 00:50:04,600 --> 00:50:08,200 Speaker 1: thanks to Russia's brother David. Now on our next episode, 857 00:50:08,320 --> 00:50:10,600 Speaker 1: You're not gonna want to miss this. It was a 858 00:50:10,719 --> 00:50:13,840 Speaker 1: very special moment in the life of not only Rush 859 00:50:13,920 --> 00:50:16,960 Speaker 1: but Russia's fans. The night Rush was awarded the Medal 860 00:50:17,080 --> 00:50:20,400 Speaker 1: of Freedom by President Trump. Sean Hannity joins me to 861 00:50:20,440 --> 00:50:23,200 Speaker 1: discuss that night on our next episode. It was a 862 00:50:23,320 --> 00:50:28,280 Speaker 1: night that surprised all of us, including Rush himself. Rush Limbaugh, 863 00:50:28,360 --> 00:50:31,239 Speaker 1: The Man behind the Golden e I B Microphone is 864 00:50:31,280 --> 00:50:35,279 Speaker 1: produced by Chris Kelly and Phil Tower, the Best producers 865 00:50:35,440 --> 00:50:41,360 Speaker 1: in America, production assistance Mike Mamone, and the executive producers 866 00:50:41,400 --> 00:50:45,160 Speaker 1: Craig Kitchen and Julie Talbot. Our program distributed worldwide by 867 00:50:45,280 --> 00:50:48,560 Speaker 1: Premier Networks, found on the I Heart Radio app or 868 00:50:48,560 --> 00:50:52,760 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite podcast. This is James 869 00:50:52,760 --> 00:50:56,879 Speaker 1: Golden This is both Snerdley. This is James Golden. I'm 870 00:50:56,920 --> 00:51:00,000 Speaker 1: honored to be your host for this in every single episode, 871 00:51:00,000 --> 00:51:02,960 Speaker 1: mode of Russ Lumbaugh, the man behind the Golden E 872 00:51:03,080 --> 00:51:07,080 Speaker 1: I B microphone. Thank you for being with us. H