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Radiolab

Oliver Sipple

Radiolab

WNYC Studios

History, Science, Documentary, Natural Sciences, Society & Culture

4.6 • 44.5K Ratings

🗓️ 22 September 2017

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

One morning, Oliver Sipple went out for a walk. A couple hours later, to his own surprise, he saved the life of the President of the United States. But in the days that followed, Sipple’s split-second act of heroism turned into a rationale for making his personal life into political opportunity. What happens next makes us wonder what a moment, or a movement, or a whole society can demand of one person. And how much is too much?  Through newly unearthed archival tape, we hear Sipple himself grapple with some of the most vexing topics of his day and ours - privacy, identity, the freedom of the press - not to mention the bonds of family and friendship.  Reported by Latif Nasser and Tracie Hunte. Produced by Matt Kielty, Annie McEwen, Latif Nasser and Tracie Hunte. Special thanks to Jerry Pritikin, Michael Yamashita, Stan Smith, Duffy Jennings; Ann Dolan, Megan Filly and Ginale Harris at the Superior Court of San Francisco; Leah Gracik, Karyn Hunt, Jesse Hamlin, The San Francisco Bay Area Television Archive, Mike Amico, Jennifer Vanasco and Joey Plaster. Support Radiolab today at Radiolab.org/donate.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Just a quick note, this story contains some profanities.

0:05.2

Here and there.

0:05.7

Here in there.

0:06.4

A couple.

0:07.1

So just know that before we get going.

0:09.0

Wait, you're listening.

0:10.1

Okay.

0:11.4

All right.

0:12.6

Okay.

0:14.0

All right.

0:15.6

You're listening to Radio Lab.

0:18.4

Radio Lab.

0:18.9

From W. N. Y. W. N.Y.

0:20.9

Six.

0:21.8

See?

0:22.1

Yeah.

0:26.2

Hey.

0:28.0

Hey, I'm Jan Abumran.

0:29.5

I'm Robert Krollwich.

0:30.7

This is Radio Lab.

0:31.6

And today we are going to start.

0:33.0

Okay, so let's start.

...

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