The ‘Butz’ of the Joke

By on February 5th, 2008 In Media

Earl Butz died Saturday. I don’t know much about Earl Butz, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under Richard Nixon. But what I do know is that he was ousted from office after making a racial remark.

After 98 years on this earth, during which he presumably did a lot of things, he will always be remembered for his one big gaffe in life.

The Arizona Republic headline: Earl Butz Dies; Race Joke Led to Cabinet Ouster

The NY Times headline: Earl L. Butz, Secretary Felled by Remark, Dies at 98

I’m sure the headlines were similar around the country. I suppose the PR lesson here is that if you screw up big (publicly) you’re pretty much doomed to have this screw up lead your obituary. And who says the media doesn’t hold a grudge!

What, if anything, could Mr. Butz have done to change these headlines? Well, certainly he might have avoided the mistake altogether by being tolerant of our differences. But given that he made this remark in 1976 and he lived some 32 more years, perhaps if he’d have spent his last years fighting for racial justice the headline on his obit could have left a nicer legacy.

I wonder what my obit headline would say if I croaked tomorrow?

Gutman Dead at 41; Led Unsuccessful Recall Campaign Against State Senator John Huppenthal

Gutman, Runner-up for LA Times Journalism Internship in 1988, Dead at 41

Gutman, Wrote Caustic Left-Wing Columns About Arizona Politics, Dies at 41

I better get working on a legacy!

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