[Election Nite ’72]

Interviews with candidates, staffers, and residents on the night of elections for local government in Woodstock and Ulster County in 1972.

00:08Copy video clip URL Interview with a local Independent candidate about losing to the Republicans. He discusses the other candidates for local elections and talks about spreading the Independent movement and still working to pursue a political agenda and supporting the local politicians that will hold Republicans accountable. Some image distortion throughout the tape.

04:00Copy video clip URL Yelling at an unseen person: “Sam, you’re full of shit!” The candidate then nods and thanks the reporter. 

04:07Copy video clip URL Another commenter makes a “final statement” about Bill West: “We have a very good legislator who’s won and I wish him a lot of luck.” 

05:28Copy video clip URL Another party member talks about the necessary efforts to perform better in the future. 

06:50Copy video clip URL Another interview: “I think that the town of Woodstock has realized that you can’t just run any Republican and win. And I think that the Democrats and the Independents also realize that any time we split votes between us we lose.” The good that comes from greater involvement in local politics.

08:07Copy video clip URL Another interview. Having at least one Democrat on the town board will provide oversight to the Republicans. 

08:58Copy video clip URL A man with designs painted on his face discusses his own candidacy. He thinks he got at least 14 votes. “I had a hell of a good time, which is the most important thing.” He discusses the results of the race. 

13:08Copy video clip URL Another interview. “I think that the election is fantastic. I do hope that we get one more victory with John Gardner.” Discussion of individual candidates and the Independent movement. The importance of building on the success for the next election cycle. 

15:05Copy video clip URL Another interview. The next two years seeing the implementation of the winning candidates’ agendas. 

15:30Copy video clip URL An interview with winning candidate John Gardner. Jokes about him now being required to take the abuse of the town’s residents. Discussing of council members giving up their salaries to hire a town ecology officer. 

17:18Copy video clip URL People sing Gardner “Happy Birthday” and deliver a cake to him. 

18:36Copy video clip URL A staffer speaks on the phone about the results of the election. 

20:44Copy video clip URL An interview about the election results with a losing candidate. “Nixon and Ham Fish lost the first time around. You haven’t seen the last of me.” 

21:22Copy video clip URL Static. 

21:35Copy video clip URL Interview with a losing Democratic candidate about the election. The effects of his opponents “going around town bad-mouthing” him and running attack ads. 

26:11Copy video clip URL Lessons taken from the election. Possibilities for coalition-building.