Writing the President

Both Archie and Mike send letters to the White House with their differing views.

A very good early episode. It begins with Archie coming home and tasting a spoonful of something on the stove, he then finds out it was Gloria boiling one of Mike's shirts! Then Archie and Mike get into an argument over what to watch on TV. Archie wants football highlights and Mike wants to watch a PBS documentary on pollution with Jack Lemmon, guess who wins. Then they talk about actors with Archie complaining about liberal ones like Lemmon, Paul Newman and Marlon Brando (he calls him Marlo Brandon). Mike then insults John Wayne which gets Archie furious. Edith says Archie would lay down his life for the Duke but not for her. Edith is less high pitched here than she was later, more world weary and with dry sarcasm. Mike then tells Archie he is sending a letter to President Nixon to criticize who he is handling the country. Archie decides to send a letter praising Nixon. There is an unusual fantasy sequence when the family watches Nixon on TV calling Archie Bunker one great American. The series would get better by the next season, but this is one of the best 1st season episodes.

Mike eggs Archie on again. Mike's not a real contributor to society. Wonder how realistic that a father would take any guff from a freeloading son-in-law? Gloria idolizes her Mike. I think Edith tolerates Mike for Gloria's sake. Rich Little's Nixon surprisingly weak. Very good 2nd episode with some good laughs.