[Buckhead]

Howlin, every single one of these memos to file is in a proportionally spaced font, probably Palatino or Times New Roman.

In 1972 people used typewriters for this sort of thing, and typewriters used monospaced fonts.

The use of proportionally spaced fonts did not come into common use for office memos until the introduction of laser printers, word processing software, and personal computers. They were not widespread until the mid to late 90's. Before then, you needed typesetting equipment, and that wasn't used for personal memos to file. Even the Wang systems that were dominant in the mid 80's used monospaced fonts.

I am saying these documents are forgeries, run through a copier for 15 generations to make them look old.

This should be pursued aggressively.

[NYCVirago]

Howlin, every single one of these memos to file is in a proportionally spaced font, probably Palatino or Times New Roman. In 1972 people used typewriters for this sort of thing, and typewriters used monospaced fonts....I am saying these documents are forgeries, run through a copier for 15 generations to make them look old. This should be pursued aggressively.

You're absolutely correct. I just looked at the files, and they don't pass the smell test. Most typewritten items from that era would have been in Courier font. And why would these items be copies, anyway, if these memos were for the guy's own personal file? They wouldn't have that run through the copy machine a zillion times aura to them in that case.

[jpers36]

For visual comparison: This unrelated gov't memo from 1972 (googled).

[mcg1969]

Further evidence of forgery is given here:

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/007760.php

How do we get this to CBS?

[Juke2]

I guess your point depends upon what you mean by "common use".

I was certainly using an IBM typewriter, with proportional pitch type-balls by 1969. At the time, I was working at a very low-budget publication, where most of the staff never drew a salary. We could afford the typewriter, though.

I don't think you've actually caught anything here.

[Thud]

My wife says she used an IBM "ball" typewriter with a porportionately spaced font in 1971, and that it wasn't much good at it. She also says that none of the "ball" typewriters she ever used had special characters such as the "th" for use in "#th".

She says the "ball" typewriters of this period were huge, heavy, and confined to the desks of secretaries who typed constantly. It is unlikely that the Texas National Guard had any during this period.

IMO the proportionately spaced fonts of "ball" typewriters of this period would be distinctive, and easily distinguished from those produced by later specialized word-processors, and modern computers.

[TheGeezer]

You may have been instrumental in bringing down MSM organs NYT, The Globe, and even CBS (and particularly Dan Blather) by noticing the proportional spacing in the memo. If it is indeed a forgery (and with the superscript "th" adjacent to "187" in the first paragraph, I think it a certainty), may I offer my heartfelt congratulations to you?

America Thanks you.

[kphockey2]

It would interesting to look at other memos from this Lt. Col. Jerry B. Killian from the same time period that are unrelated to Pres. Bush.

All documents from that timeframe should have the same properties....

[GraniteStateConservative]

Tell us the truth-- you're really the Deep Throat in this operation.

: )

[Atlas Sneezed]

Congratulations, kudos, and best regards to Freeper who made a real difference today!

[ettwein]

Indeed! The raised "th" is a dead giveaway. This just wasn't possible on the typewriters of the day. Where's the letterhead? Military paper of the day was not 11" long... where's the tell-tale line at the bottom?

[Dr.Deth]

The reply that's rocking the nation BUMP!

[jokar]

OH Rah Buckhead You are rady for your 15 minutes of Fame. What is your real name for the History books.

YOU TOOK DAN RATHER DOWN.
He must resign.

[Stentor]

Applause.

[AmJon]

Easy, Bumpsters. Read this, from a non-partisan source:
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/IBM-Executive-series-typewriter (a.k.a. http://tinyurl.com/5tb25 )

>>>The IBM Electric typewriters were a series of electric typewriters that IBM manufactured, starting in the late 1940s. They used the conventional moving carriage and hammer mechanism. Each model came in both Standard and Executive versions; the Executive differed in having a multiple escapement mechanism and four widths for letters, producing a near typeset quality result. [!!!]

One model of the series was introduced in the late 1940s:
IBM Model A Two models of the series were introduced in the 1950s:
IBM Model B
IBM Model C One model of the series was introduced in the early 1970s:
IBM Model D Modified Standard versions of the A, B, and C models were commonly used as "console typewriters" or terminals on many early computers (e.g., JOHNNIAC, IBM 1620, PDP-1). Following the introduction of the IBM Selectric typewriter in 1961, which was much easier to interface to a computer, these typewriters were rarely used anymore as "console typewriters" or terminals.
<<<

"Near typeset quality". I don't mean to rain on any Freeper's parade, and I'm happy to dump on Kerry's, but let's not make a stink about this until we know -- otherwise we lose credibility.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Can I just say that if there were a FReeper of the hour award, I would nominate you for your brilliant post!!! Absolutely FANTASTIC, I say! I just grow more and more proud to be a FReeper b/c of FReepers like you!!! Bravo, FRiend!!

[js1138]

Bumping for first blood. FR was first in the world to post the likelihood of the Space Shuttle disaster, and no FT has scooped the world on Rathergate.

[Zechariah11]

Congratulations. Thanks for the great job.

[GeorgiaYankee]

Congrats on spotting that!
Bookmark for History.

[Prince Charles]

Kudos to you for getting the ball rolling!

[nutmeg]

See post 47