August 1979 News Today

Queen in an ever changing world, she was stability. And a link to a proud past. As britains longest reigning monarch, she saw unprecedented change. Womens empowerment, the fight for racial equality, and lgbtq rights, technological revolution, the decline of the church of england. She was admired worldwide for her lifelong dedication to his subjects, following a pledge she made by her 21st birthday. I declare before you all, that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to you...

Juggling motherhood and the crown, the queen had her hands full. her son, charles, we made a strong bond with the queens cousin, a senior naval officer. in august 1979, mountbatten-windsor murdered by the irish republican army, a sworn enemy of the monarchy as a symbol of the british oppression of ireland. it was sailing off the coast of ireland when the bomb exploded. the assassination rocked the royal family. >> i think probably one of the darkest days for the queen and for prince charles, as ...

>> melvin was suspected in the 1978 disappearance, a young teen slated to testify against melvin in an arson case. >> he had relatives that lived on the vineyard. we were going to put him over there for a few days just to keep him out of trouble. we watched him get on the ferry. watched the ferry leave the dock. he didnt get off. >> he was never seen again. then there is john busby, a falmouth police officer who dared to arrest two reine family members in 1979. >> in august 1979, i was going to ...

That i would still be drinking. i would also be unemployed, unmarried, and probably dead. in august 1979, i took my last drink. it was about 4:00 on a saturday afternoon. the hot sun streaming through the windows, i put a glass of scotch and soda down on the living room table, went to bed, and pulled the blankets over my head. i couldnt take it anymore. >> the next time i saw roger ebert, he was in aa. >> i was drinking very heavily. >> when i decided to out myself as a recovering alcoholic, i h...

>> the last week he was drinking, i even realized that there was a serious problem going on. watching him when he pulled out at night in front of ororks and almost ran into the north avenue bus. >> i remember being in the drugstore that was on the corner there one morning. and roger came in and he looked like absolute hell. im like are you okay? whats the matter? he said im on a bender, can you come have a drink with me? >> he said to me one time, and i dont think hell regard this will as a betr...