CHESS MEN VAPORIZING FISCHER
The U.S. Chess Federation should do more than just simply revoke Fischer's membership.
Every effort should be made by the Executive Board
to pressure the Chess Hall of Fame to remove Fischer from their exhibits,
and further, an attempt should be made by FIDE [World Chess Federation]
to strip Fischer of his Grand Master title --
we can't strip him for his World Championship title,
but strip him from his Grand Master title....
We have a couple products in our inventory line:
one book is "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess".
We'll change the title, just leave a blank.
Instead of selling the book "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess"
it will sell under the title "Blank Blank Teaches Chess".
In previous articles on ORWELL TODAY I've compared what happened to Bobby Fischer to what happened to Winston Smith -- the hero of Orwell's masterpiece, 1984 (which he originally named THE LAST MAN IN EUROPE). In many ways, Bobby Fischer is the last man in America, or America's last great hero who stood up to Big Brother and was Orwellianly "vaporized" for it. Readers may recall that in "1984", to quote Orwell:
People who had incurred the displeasure of the Party simply disappeared and were never heard of again. Your name was removed from the registers. Every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten. You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized was the usual word.... One never had the smallest clue as to what had happened to them. The only real clue lay in the words 'refs unpersons', which indicated that the person was dead. He did not exist: he had never existed. Perhaps thirty people personally known to Winston, not counting his parents, had disappeared at one time or another. Very occasionally some person whom you had believed dead long since would make a ghostly reappearance at some public trial where he would implicate hundreds of others by his testimony before vanishing, this time for ever.
In 1984, Winston Smith's friend Syme was a chess player who had incurred the displeasure of Big Brother by reading too many books and saying things that were better left unsaid. One day Syme was absent from work at the Ministry of Truth (where Smith also worked). Here's the passage from "1984":
Unquestionably Syme will be vaporized, Winston thought. ...There was something subtly wrong with Syme. There was something that he lacked: discretion, aloofness, a sort of saving stupidity. You could not say that he was unorthodox. ...Yet a faint air of disreputability always clung to him. He said things that would have been better unsaid, he had read too many books, he frequented the Chestnut Tree Cafe, haunt of painters and musicians...
The eyeless creature with the quacking voice would never be vaporized. The little beetle-like men who scuttled so nimbly through the labyrinthine corridors of Ministries - they too, would never be vaporized. It seemed to Winston that he knew instinctively who would survive and who would perish: though just what it was that made for survival, it was not easy to say....
Syme had vanished. A morning came, and he was missing from work: a few thoughtless people commented on his absence. On the next day nobody mentioned him. On the third day Winston went into the vestibule of the Records Department to look at the notice-board. One of the notices carried a printed list of the members of the Chess Committee, of whom Syme had been one. It looked almost exactly as it had looked before -- nothing had been crossed out -- but it was one name shorter. It was enough. Syme had ceased to exist: he had never existed....
Now, with the above scenario from "1984" in mind -- ie Syme's name being removed from the Chess Committee list -- read how in 2002 the USA Chess Federation tried to vaporize Bobby Fischer from chess and make him a "refs unperson" -- even to the point of removing his name from the title of his own book.
All the best,
Jackie Jura
USCF PLANS TO EXPUNGE THE NAME "BOBBY FISCHER" FROM CHESS
(over allegedly objectional remarks Fischer made on September 11, 2001)
U.S. Chess Federation Executive Board Meeting, February 10, 2002
posted on Sam Sloan Chess Page
Background: ...The United States Chess Federation Executive Board proposes to expunge the name of Bobby Fischer, even though the USCF President, John McCrary, has admitted that he has never heard the tape on which Bobby Fischer made his allegedly objectionable remarks and that he does not know exactly what it was that Bobby Fischer said on September 11, 2001. The USCF Executive Board newsletter states that at a meeting held on October 28, 2001, the following resolution was passed 7-0: "The U.S. Chess Federation disassociates itself from the remarks made by Robert J. Fischer about the terrorist actions. The U.S.C.F. Executive Board expresses the deepest sympathy for the victims of the tragedies and the strongest condemnation of the actions of the terrorists. Dr. Frank Brady moved to amend by adding, "Mr. Fischer will be informed that his membership may be revoked." The amendment passed 6-0-1, McCrary abstaining. Then the main motion as amended PASSED 7-0.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: ...Why don't we take this one next, the Bobby Fischer matter. I will start by giving the floor to Frank Niro to explain what has been done since the last meeting, and then we'll have discussion.
MR NIRO: Well, simply George DeFeis followed through and sent a letter as requested at the October board meeting to Bobby Fischer through his attorney in Los Angeles. That was mailed on January 17th. And to this point we have no response.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Okay, discussion.
DR FRANK BRADY: If I may. I was disappointed to see on page eleven of the March issue of Chess Life such a tiny little notice of what we're doing. I think this is, it just simply states what the board had agreed to do, the U.S. Chess Federation disassociates itself from the remarks made by Robert J. Fischer about the terrorist action. USCF Executive Board expresses the deepest sympathy for victims of the tragedy and the strongest condemnation of the actions of the terrorist -- it should say terrorists plural, but it doesn't. Mr. Fisher will be informed that his membership may be revoked. Well, that's all true, except that I'll bet you that 90 percent of the people who read the magazine wouldn't even notice it. It looks like a little tiny ad in there. And I think this is an extremely important juncture that has infiltrated the U.S. Chess Federation.
And admittedly, I have some very personal involvement in that 64 people from my university were killed in the World Trade Center. But aside from my own personal involvement, what Fischer is saying -- and of course it's not indicated here what he's saying -- some of you may have read about it on the Internet or even heard his radio broadcast. His statements are of course outrageous. They are mean. They are unkind. They are perhaps legally treasonous. We are at war. And someone pointed out, well, you know, what would you do in terms of Alekhine during the Second World War? Well, if this was the Second World War -- we are at war -- if this was '44 and Alekhine made those pro-Nazi statements, I think we should stand up against Alekhine as well.
I was absolutely devastated that the Hall of Fame installed Fischer prominently, despite my complaints. If anything, I think the U.S. Chess Federation should do more than just simply revoking Fischer's membership. Some people are getting very technical and saying he's not really a member. Well, I don't know what that means. I think that all Grand Masters automatically become members and receive Chess Life. And I believe that
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Okay, well, I would support revocation of the right to membership, which he's entitled to as a Grand Master. I would also support a larger piece of some type in Chess Life, which might include such quotes as we are sure were correctly attributed to him. And I believe you actually heard his interview, so there's no question of the authenticity.
FRANK BRADY: Yes.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: And I would also concur with expressing our concerns about this both to the Trust and to FIDE for the areas that fall within their jurisdiction. Now, the question of how to do this as a motion partly comes in with the fact that the letter was sent very late, and so therefore the 30 days have not yet expired. They would expire I believe next Saturday, the 16th. So perhaps we could phrase a motion today which we could pass by objections procedure at that time. Would that be acceptable?
FRANK BRADY: That would be acceptable. Or we could wait until the May meeting. You know, there's no great rush to do this, but I think it has to be done.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Any other comments on that?
MR CAMARATTA: Well, I guess, you know, it obviously has been suggested that Fischer never made those comments*, and that the tape recording was a fraud. I think we need to know whether or not those suggestions are pure conjecture or whether we have absolute proof that it was said. That's one. And I've already written my feelings about the other. He was installed in the Hall of Fame in 1986 for his chess playing prowess, not for some of his idiotic thoughts. And I don't think it's appropriate, A) to expunge him from history. He's certainly a major part of chess history and don't see the point on pressing FIDE [World Chess Federation]. His World Championship he was; no longer. It is a fact that actually happened. You can't change history. As much as we despise what he said, if they are his words, they are just words. I don't believe going beyond that really serves any purpose. I don't want to be in a position where this board supports changing history. This has already happened. Fischer is what Fischer is. He's a great chess player, an historical figure. Being an historical figure means he belongs in the Hall of Fame. That's the history of chess. We may not like him, but he's there. Alekhine is going to be there. There are some unsavory people that play chess unfortunately.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Any other comments? Steve.
MR SHUTT: How would you determine -- you said you would like to know whether or not he said the words. How would you go about even determining if the tape is a fraud or not? I wouldn't assume that it was, but if you think it is, how would you determine that?
CAMARATTA: I didn't say it was. I said I heard it.
MR SHUTT: How would you determine whether or not he actually said those words?
MR CAMARATTA: A voice print.
MR SHUTT: What?
MR CAMARATTA: A voice print.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Okay, I'll recognize Don Schultz.
MR SCHULTZ: Yes, I'd just like to say a couple of things. One I think whatever the board does on this it really should do unanimously. I think the reason to do this -- I mean we don't care much about Fischer I don't think -- it is to completely disassociate the U.S. Chess Federation from these terrible things that he said. As far as history goes, I don't think it's a question of correcting history. I think Fischer had ratings, maybe the highest rating of all times, and that can be changed. He was given a Grand Master title, that can be changed. But you can take that title away, and that really doesn't affect history. The Hall of Fame is just that. It's a Hall of Fame, not a hall of infamy. And he was put in it, and no one is going to say he wasn't. But there's no reason why you can't take him out of the Hall of Fame. I think the thrust here should be to publicize what you're doing. It's not that you want to do something to protect individuals or the federation in a small way. You just want to make it very clear. That's why I think Frank's point, the little thing in the magazine is not so good. There have been some very strong letters on this, letters to the editor to post that, maybe a little article in the magazine and see the reaction to it. But I think it's a public relations problem. Because as time goes on and things get worse perhaps, it could really reflect bad on the USCF for honoring somebody who has -- I couldn't listen -- I started to listen to the tape, and after about 60 seconds I had to turn it off. It was so terrible. It really was. And I believe it was Fischer. I don't see how it could not be.
MR CAMARATTA: I'm not saying it was or wasn't. All I'm saying is I heard that allegation. Just reporting what I heard.
MR SCHULTZ: Yeah, I appreciate there are two sides of the argument.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Okay, Dr. Brady.
DR BRADY: There are some people that believe that Fischer walks on water. And our support of Fischer, no matter what he did, if he assassinated the president of the United States, they would still want him to remain in the Hall of Fame. And there's nothing we can do about that. One of his biggest supporters indeed posted something on the net saying maybe this isn't Fischer. I listened to the entire tape -- not that I am expert in the field, but I am Fischer's biographer and indeed spoke to him hundreds and hundreds of times over the telephone and in person. And if expert testimony prevails, I am telling you that that was Bobby's voice. And it was not anybody else making it up. We don't want to make this another Watergate where we have tapes and missing gaps and so forth and so on. We'll spend all of our time trying to determine the authenticity of the voice and so forth. I don't think that that's necessary. We all know any reasonable person who hears the tape will know that it was Fischer, and anybody who has ever spoken to Fischer will know that it's Fischer.
I just stand by my feeling that the Hall of Fame is indeed that. It is recognizing this person. I think sometimes we have to forget about the chess and look at the person. And I know that's heretical among chess players to say. But I believe let's look at the person, and if the person is indeed in this particular case, when the United States is at war and the United States has lost thousands of people, innocent people, and someone says he applauds the act, he's glad United States got what they wanted, the people in the World Trade Center deserve what they got, I think we can not tolerate this. This is our group, this is our organization. As our group and we do have the right -- it's part of the bylaws, that we have a right to expunge people for reasons that we so deem reasonable. So I think that we can wait till that date -- February 16 -- and then revoke his membership. I don't know if you want to take a vote on sending the people at the Hall of Fame a letter asking them to do away with the Fischer exhibit. Again, I don't by any way, shape or means want to hurt the museum. I want it to prosper. I think it is good. I'm not trying to interfere. But under the circumstances I think something should be done.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Okay, Frank Camaratta.
MR CAMARATTA: Yeah, I want to get back, you know keep in mind, it is not just a Hall of Fame. It is a museum. It deals with history in chess. Bobby Fischer is a piece of history in chess, whether or not we like it. I still feel very strongly we can not change history. There is nothing in the bylaws I ever saw that says we can expunge anybody. We can deprive them of their membership, but we can't make them a non-person.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Okay, I'll recognize myself. First of all, as I indicated earlier, I would support revocation of the right to membership. I do support a statement in Chess Life which states more clearly what the basis for that is. And I would support a letter to the Trust and to FIDE expressing our concerns, that it is an area of jurisdiction. It is somewhat ironic -- I woke up early about 5:30 and in fact picked up Dr. Brady's book on Bobby Fischer to read. And obviously it is a classic book and very well written, and it's fascinating to read. And it is tragic that this person who made such an impact has allowed himself to degenerate the way he has. Regarding the general issues of Hall of Fame and museums, it is an awkward matter. If we expunge museums of all undesirable people, you know, we won't have any museums. The question of Hall of Fame is a different matter. In the baseball Hall of Fame, there are persons who were indicted and later found to be involved in serious gambling activities. So baseball has faced the same situation. I guess first I want to ask one question, and then I want to poll the board on a couple of things. And I'm going to put you on the spot, Mr. Belcher. You just came in to visit, and you've got to be put to work immediately. You're an attorney. Do you feel just from a legal standpoint, would there be any issues we would have to consider here?
MR BELCHER: Well, as I was listening, I mean all I could think about was what you just said. And as I was listening to what John just said, you know, I just thought about what a tragedy, what a tragedy it is. And frankly, some of my thoughts had to do, I guess with not legal, but had to do with the association. Because I know that in marketing usually when you try to disassociate yourself from some bad news, you just make it worse. You know, people just link; if they see more items out there, they just link the USCF with Bobby Fischer. So, you know, that's -- so I think how we disassociate ourselves -- I guess, you know, I wouldn't recommend a big article about it. Because frankly, even before this happened, I thought it was probably one of the biggest tragedies for scholastic chess anyway, because here was this hero for the children of America. And if ever there was, you know, a terrible hero, there you are. I don't think that really there's a legal issue. And you know, I think that the -- your notice that was already put in the magazine was, you know, a nice notice, very simple. You know, it wasn't as big as I'm sure we all would want it to be. But in terms of a legal point of view, I'm sure that that would suffice. But, you know, I think there's other reasons to continue to do exactly what you're thinking about.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: So just to follow up before I get to Steve, I didn't hear you express any legal concerns that you could think of off the top of your head about the actual revocation of right to membership?
MR BELCHER: I don't think so.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Okay, Steve.
MR SHUTT: Yeah, I haven't seen the exhibit on Fischer, and is it up? Is it complete?
PRESIDENT McCRARY: There are some items there, yes.
MR SHUTT: I think that when you put an exhibit up there's a wide latitude as to how the exhibit is displayed. You can simply list all the world champions and maybe show their picture, the dates they were world champion, and that's recording history. And I wouldn't put a big gap or hole there. But on the other hand I know when you get a hero you want to glamourize him and we have always wanted to take our American heroes, whether Paul Morphy or Bobby Fischer -- because we haven't had a great number of chess world champions -- and promptly display them and showcase them. And I think certainly that's an area that we don't need to do in this case. We don't need to put in a big glamorous display showcasing him and building him up up as something that could be idolized. So there's a lot that could be done to restrict the kind of prominence that he is given in the Hall of Fame, should they elect to continue displaying him. It could be merely as an historical figure listing he was world champion at such and such a time without putting a lot of paraphernalia, like this is Bobby Fischer's first chess set, whatever. Which you often find happening. It doesn't have to be a high visibility kind of thing. And that I think would be in poor taste. Even if we don't have the authority to dictate that, I think that if they did that, showcase him in a prominent way, that would be in poor taste. Basically I agree with the rest of the membership.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Okay, Frank Camaratta.
MR CAMARATTA: A couple of things real quick. Of course we can always show Spassky prominently and mention who he played. But we will overlook that trick. We know there are people -- that some people believe are legitimate candidates for halls of fame -- that were never inducted because of their behavior. We can mention one very prominent person who we won't. Have any people actually been removed from Hall of Fame?
PRESIDENT McCRARY: I'm not aware of one. Except I'm only familiar with the baseball Hall of Fame.
DR BRADY: Are you talking about chess or just general?
MR CAMARATTA: In general.
DR BRADY: In general, I don't know of people being removed from halls of fame, but I remember people having just recently, people who were stripped of their titles, including that of champion of the world.
MR CAMARATTA: That's happened a number of times.
DR BRADY: Yeah, yeah, yeah, boxing and in other things. So the fact of stripping the title is done all the time.
MR CAMARATTA: Let me respond to that though. People that have been stripped of titles when they had them, but they have never been stripped of ex. When Ali lost his he was world champion, he was always referred to as former. Never lost that. You would be very correct if he were world champion, but the fact that he was, he was, that's a fact.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Dr. Brady.
DR BRADY: If I may, just one other very short thing. I'm sorry to keep harping on it. I don't know how you people have responded in your individual worlds, but at university, where I teach, I must have had about a half a dozen people -- which is pretty high -- students and faculty have come to me, knowing that I'm a chess player and knowing that I've written a biography of Bobby Fischer, saying what's going on with Fischer? I even had one student say to me: How could you have written a biography of Bobby Fischer?.
MR CAMARATTA: A perfect example. I didn't write it.
DR BRADY: I said, you know, that was in '72, and that I'm sorry. You know, but I'm constantly having to explain it. If that's just in my little world, what about the entire chess world? The blight of damage that he's already done is incredible. So if you want to talk about marketing or publicity value and so forth, the harm is already done. And so I think that maybe we can -- through statements and through articles and through press conferences and through other media outlets -- we can soften a little bit the damage that he has done to American chess.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Steve, go ahead.
MR SHUTT: Most of the people that I've talked to, most of them are going to be younger than the college age, and they aren't aware of it. They did not hear it. They don't know anything about it, and I don't know. Those that haven't heard about it, I would just as soon they not even know. I don't go into a big long thing with them about it. But I'm a little -- what do you think, Frank, about -- is there a danger of us --
DR BRADY: Well, that is altering history unto itself, if we don't -- you know, if you're giving instruction to your students about chess and Fischer comes up. I mean, I think you're going to have to say what he's like.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Okay, I'm going to actually, at this point, I want to get this matter resolved so I'm not going to recognize persons from the audience. I think the cat's out of the bag already. I mean, I suspect based on what's in the March chess life that there will be other letters coming to the editor already and that Peter will probably be considering those for publication. And I think it is within his rights to do so. That being the case, one alternative might be -- your timing was very good, Peter. Peter Kurzdorfer, I just mentioned your name, we are talking about the issue of Bobby Fischer, and I am assuming that you might have received other communications other than the ones already published on the matter.
MR KURZDORFER: Yes.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: So I think to address one of the concerns of the board, it is likely that Chess Life is going to have to address this matter anyway and I don't think it can be avoided at this point. I could be wrong, but I think it is a legitimate matter of discussion. That being the case, one suggestion might be that perhaps Dr Brady could write a statement for the letters column on the matter. What do you think, Frank?
DR BRADY: I'm perfectly willing to do that, and shall, if invited. But could we entertain a motion or is that not right now?
PRESIDENT McCRARY: No, that's my next point.
DR BRADY: Okay.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: I wanted to poll the board on the several points that were discussed and just see where we are informally. First of all, on the matter of revoking his right to membership, is there a board member who would object to doing so? Okay, hearing none I assume there is not. On the matter of conveying our concerns in a letter to the U.S. Chess Trust and to FIDE [World Chess Federation] is there any board member who would object to doing so?
MR CAMARATTA: Question, what would be the tenor of it?
PRESIDENT McCRARY: My recommendation would be to state what has been expressed here, that because of these incredible statements that in fact the board would like the responsible bodies to consider whether action should be taken, specifically such as membership in the Hall of Fame and Grand Master status. And I'd refer it to those boards that have jurisdiction.
MR CAMARATTA: Let me comment a little further. I would support a letter that went out in more of an interrogatory, like what are your opinions, rather than stating our position in a hard 'we think should'.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Okay, what do you think, Frank?
DR BRADY: Why not give our opinions? If indeed the board feels that we are going to revoke the membership, you can poll the board as to whether or not you think we should recommend that FIDE [World Chess Federation] revoke his title of Grand Master, and the U.S. Chess Trust revoke his prominence in the Hall of Fame. I would say I would prefer that.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Peter, did you have something?
MR KURZDORFER: Just one thing about revoking Grand Master. Wouldn't that be politicizing the title? Which is one thing I thought we were trying to avoid. Because essentially, he won his Grand Master title through playing chess, and what he's doing now has nothing to do with chess.
DR BRADY: Nor was Pete Rose doing that in baseball.
MR KURZDORFER: It is the chess world. But chess itself, he's still --
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Alright, seems like there was a third point. I guess those are the mains ones. It sounds as though we are in agreement on the first two, which is revocation of right to membership and having Dr Brady offer something to you for publication to be associated perhaps with the letters that you are going to be getting anyway.
MR KURZDORFER: Oh, sure.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Because I think the issue will come up. I think chess players will have strong opinions one way or another. After the issue came out and before I received my copy, I think I got the last copy in America, when it finally got to my mail box. But I had already received an email from someone who I had never heard of complaining that we used the word "may", that we should have definitely thrown him out. So you're going to get strong opinions both ways. So I think it's going to come into the issue, and I think that's the best way. And it's possible that other board members might want to join with you in doing that after you've drafted something. Perhaps a letter sent to these other bodies from board members who are interested.
MR CAMARATTA: Real quick.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Yes.
MR CAMARATTA: There is a way to do that. I would like to not tell anybody what to do. I would like to have a letter going out asking these bodies to join us in condemning this reprehensible act and do it that way, rather than suggest remedies. We could say we revoked the membership, and we are looking for the World Chess organization to join us, and that type of a letter.
MR SHUTT: Statement of condemnation.
MR CAMARATTA: Yes, absolutely.
DR BRADY: Yes, that's acceptable.
MR SMITH: Condemnation in the very strongest terms.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: It sounds like now we have achieved agreement, is that correct?
DR BRADY: Yes.
MR SHUTT: Can I?
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Yes.
MR SHUTT: I also think we can let the museum know that the kind of display should be carefully considered, and that the word "prominent" is very important. We don't have to change history. We can recognize the historic fact that he was world champion without giving him a prominent type of display that glorifies him - I think that would be in bad taste. And I think we could convey our feelings about that to the museum.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: I would agree. I think as they stand now the display is focussed on his chess achievements, because before this he was making pro-Nazi statements and everything else. So this is the way that he did before. There's not a heroism concept there. Did you have something else?
DR BRADY: Just to clarify. The statement that we agreed upon in October was that his -- and the letter stated that his membership may be revoked. Now, if he does not respond by January 16th -- or February 16th, does that mean are now agreeing that we will revoke his membership?
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Well, that was my next point.
DR BRADY: Oh, sorry.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: We're thinking alike. It sounds as though if we've reached agreement that we could probably past a motion by objections procedure after the 16th without difficulty on these points. Would that be reasonable?
MR CAMARATTA: Yeah, we could do it now and have it become effective. I mean anyway you want to do it is fine.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: I could write up something while we are doing something else and see what it sounds like. I am a little hesitent from a legal standpoint to say if we don't hear this we will do that. That kind of anticipates the process. I would prefer to do it by objections procedure. And I think we can expedite it and people would email me back very quickly with their responses. We could expedite it.
MR CAMARATTA: Just a matter of when you get an email response -- how do you keep a record of that, just for the record and so that it is people other than yourself, other boards can access if necessary; what is your procedure?
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Well, for objections procedure motions, we have a file that I have, a personal file that I print it out. All the responses. And then that is entered into the minutes of the following meeting. And all the responses should be copied to the full board at the time they are sending them.
MR CAMARATTA: Alright.
MR NIRO: Just a clarification.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: Yes.
MR NIRO: You mentioned earlier that we were talking about his right to membership. I thought you said that. I think technically -- and it's merely a technicality -- he is not a member and has not been a member since 1985. And we have no record of sending him Chess Life since 1985.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: I think it would be the right to membership as a Grand Master -- well, even if he were to send in his $40 it would be taking away his right to pay up.
MR NIRO: Just to clarify.
PRESIDENT McCLARY: Joan.
MS DUBOIS: We have a couple products in our inventory line, one book is Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, and there's a couple other ones where his name is prominently in the title. Would that have any effect?
PRESIDENT McCRARY: No, because one of those would be in fact the outstanding work by Dr. Brady. In fact, it should remain.
MS DUBOIS: Just need to know.
MR SHUTT: Change the title, just leave a blank.
MR SMITH: Blank teaches chess.
PRESIDENT McCRARY: It sounds like that matter is resolved then. We'll proceed to the next matter, which I've labeled the membership drive....
~ end quoting from USCF board meeting expunging Bobby Fischer ~
USCF Plans to Expunge the name "Bobby Fischer" from Chess, Sam Sloan Chess Page
*BOBBY FISCHER'S STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN MISREPRESENTED
Sam Sloan Chess Page
The United States Chess Federation Executive Board newsletter states that, at a meeting held on October 28, 2001, the following resolution was passed 7-0: "The U.S. Chess Federation disassociates itself from the remarks made by Robert J. Fischer about the terrorist actions. The U.S.C.F. Executive Board expresses the deepest sympathy for the victims of the tragedies and the strongest condemnation of the actions of the terrorists. Mr. Fischer will be informed that his membership may be revoked." Dr. Frank Brady moved to amend by adding, "Mr. Fischer will be informed that his membership may be revoked." The amendment passed 6-0-1, McCrary abstaining. Then the main motion as amended PASSED 7-0.I heard about this resolution last month. However, I decided not to say anything until I saw it in print. I feel that this resolution was a mistake and it would be a bigger mistake to publish this in Chess Life, unless the purpose is to get worldwide publicity for the USCF.
I have played over the broadcast by Bobby Fischer many times. There are several things about his broadcast which seem to be overlooked: According to the tape, the remarks made by Robert J. Fischer were broadcast from the Philippines on September 11, the same date as the attack on the World Trade Center. However, the Philippines is 13 hours ahead of New York and Bobby was in Japan, which is 14 hours ahead of New York. The first tower of the World Trade Center to be hit was hit at 8:45 AM New York Time and did not fall down until 10:30 AM, which was 11:30 PM Philippines time. Thus, assuming that it is correct that the broadcast occurred on 9-11, it was almost impossible for Bobby to have known the extent of damage or loss of life at the time he made the broadcast. What undoubtedly happened is that the interviewer, who had interviewed Bobby on a regular basis over the previous two years and knew his home telephone number, called him, perhaps even woke him up, informed him of the attacks and asked his reaction. The interviewer states that the attacks occurred "a few hours ago", which confirms that this interview took place immediately after the attack on the World Trade Center.
If you listen to the exact words Bobby used, you will find that he never mentions the attack on the World Trade Center. Nowhere in the interview does he say the words "World Trade Center". If you listen carefully, you will also see that the interviewer does not say that the World Trade Center has been attacked. Rather, the interviewer refers to "the attack on the White House and I think the Pentagon too". As we all know, the White House was not actually attacked, so this interview took place during the period when nobody really knew what was happening. The interview lasted 11 minutes 58 seconds. All but the first few seconds are concerned with such historical events as the US dropping the A-Bombs on Japan, the institution of slavery in America and the conflict between the Jews and the Arabs over Israel. Bobby berates the USA for supporting Israel in the Palestinian conflict. He says that the US should withdraw its forces from all over the world. If you make a transcript of his exact words and take a street poll, asking people whether they agree or disagree with his specific statements, a significant minority and perhaps even a majority will agree with what Bobby said. As far as I am aware, no transcript of his actual words has been made. Bobby expresses extreme views, such as when he says that white Americans should go back to Europe and Black Americans should go back to Africa and give America back to the Indians. While this is a silly idea, once again there are many who agree with it.
In summary, Bobby never says that he is happy that innocent people died. To the contrary, he expresses the hope that a war will not break out over this. At the time of the broadcast, he could not possibly have known of the extent of loss of life, because the World Trade Center had not fallen down yet. Also, the attack on the Pentagon, which Bobby did know about, was not by definition a terrorist act. Under any reasonable definition of "terrorism", the Pentagon is a legitimate military target....
On December 2, 2001, an article appeared in the London Daily Telegraph which quoted Bobby as saying: This is all wonderful news. It is time to finish off the US once and for all. . . . I was happy and could not believe what was happening. All the crimes the US has committed in the world. This just shows, what goes around comes around, even to the US. I applaud the act. The US and Israel have been slaughtering the Palestinians for years. Now it is coming back at the US". This statement is taken out of context. Fischer did not state what "the act" was that he was applauding or what "the news" was that was wonderful. Again, at the time of this statement, he did not know and could not have known that the World Trade Center had collapsed....
~ end quoting from Sam Sloan Chess Page ~
*Bobby Fischer's statements have been misrepresented, Sam Sloan Chess Page
BOBBY FISCHER ORWELLIAN ENDGAME
CHESS MEN VAPORIZING FISCHER
listen excerpt from Bobby Fischer's Statement of Facts, YouTube
Match of the Century Chessboard up for sale, Chess Base, Jun 12, 2012
The greatest chess match in history took place in the summer of 1972, when the reigning Russian World Champion Boris Spassky (1937-) was challenged by the American Bobby Fischer (1943-2008). The venue was Arena Laugardalshöll in Reykjavik, Iceland, midway between Moscow and Washington, at the peak of the Cold War. Thus the match became a symbol of the political confrontation between the two superpowers. Bobby Fischer won the dramatic, hyper-exposed showdown in Reykjavik, making him the first American to win this prestigious title after W. Steinitz in 1886 (The 1st World Chess Champion).
To mark the 40th anniversary of the world famous chess match, Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers in Copenhagen will be offering the chessboard used during the legendary chess match in Iceland in 1972. In addition, the original contemporary Staunton pieces from the match equipment and Garde chess clock (same brand as used in the match), are also up for auction. The chess table itself, with its two matching side tables, was designed by Icelandic furniture designer Gunnar Magnússon and made by cabinetmaker Ragnar Haraldsson, and its design and beautiful execution caused quite a stir. Two extra tables were made after the famous chess match. They are identical to the table used during the actual tournament. The chess table up for auction is one of the two, and has since been used, among other things, at the World Championships candidate match between Boris Spassky and Vlastimil Hort in Reykjavik in 1977. The lot up for auction consists of board, table, chess pieces and clock.
watch Bobby Fischer Lost His Title April 4, 1975, On this day, Chicagoist, Apr 4, 2012 (Chess player Bobby Fischer lost his world championship title to Boris Spassky of the USSR when he declined to defend his title in a dispute over the terms of the rematch in Reykjavik, Iceland....)
Brady: Bobby Fischer's Game of the Century, Chess Base News, May 29, 2011 (We recently published a review by Sean Marsh on Frank Brady's new biography of Bobby Fischer. In the meantime we have received the handsome volume from the author and are actually reading it – with immense pleasure. To give you an impression of the quality of this book we bring you a short excerpt of a story you know. Read how wonderfully Dr Brady weaves the well-known tale....In 1960, Brady was the Founding Editor of Chess Life as a magazine. (Previously it had been a newspaper), and later Editor of Chessworld Magazine....Frank is a writer, editor and publisher of international renown. He wrote one of the best-selling chess books in history, Profile of a Prodigy, the biography of Bobby Fischer, as well as countless other books and articles on chess and other subjects. His new biography of Fischer, Endgame: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Bobby Fischer was published in 2011.... Recently Garry Kasparov visited the Marshall Chess Club, where Dr. Frank Brady showed him the board used in the famous teletype match which Bobby played in 1965 in Havanna...)
Review: Endgame, ChessBase, Apr 25, 2011 (Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall, From America’s Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness. That's the full title of a fascinating book we are currently reading, one which was written by Dr Frank Brady, who knew Fischer from his early youth onwards. It is going to take us some time to go through all 402 pages, so for now we bring you, courtesy of the English magazine CHESS, an in-depth review by Sean Marsh...)
watch Frank Brady reads from ENDGAME, YouTube, Mar 9, 2011 (Frank Brady examines the life of chess master turned international fugitive Bobby Fischer (1943-2008). At thirteen-years-old Fischer became the youngest chess master in U.S. history and gained world recognition for his 1972 championship match against Soviet, Boris Spaskky during the Cold War. Mr. Brady recounts Fischer's reclusiveness, his issues with the U.S. government, and his reemergence later in life as a man who championed conspiracy theories and suffered from paranoia. Frank Brady recalls the life of Bobby Fischer at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in New York City.)
USA FORFEITS ICELAND TO RUSSIA
THE HOUNDING OF A CHESS LEGEND
20.Thought Police & 27.Goodthink
Jackie Jura
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