Radio newsman and commentator Paul Harvey gave warning to America in 1965 in one of his most memorable broadcasts.
In April 1965, radio personality Paul Harvey Aurandt (September 4, 1918 – February 28, 2009), known on the radio as Paul Harvey, broadcast a radio segment that would go down in history as one of the most popular and chilling of all time. It was a warning to Americans and simply entitled, “If I Were the Devil.” That broadcast took place 57 years ago this year and Harvey predicted or “prophesied” with accuracy the future and spiritual condition of these United States. It was almost as if he were reading from a script what was coming in the future, but anybody who is Biblically literate knows that nothing is new under the sun, the behavior of unregenerate men never changes.
In the mid 1960’s his words may have been considered beyond possible by some. Certainly there were men who thought that with the ‘communist revolutions‘ on college campuses and riots in the streets at that time may have been considered his predictions possible. But, probably none would have ever thought the U.S. could fall so far, so fast as this country has in the past twenty years, especially since the 44th and 46th U.S. Presidents have occupied the Oval office. Yet, here we are. The transcript from Harvey’s “If I Were the Devil” broadcast is below the audio recording:
“IF I WERE THE DEVIL” TRANSCRIPT of PAUL HARVEY RADIO BROADCAST
If I were the devil… If I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And I’d have a third of its real estate, and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree — Thee. So I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first — I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: ‘Do as you please.’
“To the young, I would whisper that ‘The Bible is a myth.’ I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘square.’ And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’
“And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.
“If I were the devil I’d soon have families that war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames. If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions — just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.
“Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography — soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.
“If I were the devil I’d take from those who have, and give to those who want until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.
“And what do you bet I could get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would caution against extremes and hard work in Patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on the TV is the way to be. And thus, I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words, if I were the devil I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing.”
I remember listening to Paul Harvey way back then. He was one of those memorable voices I enjoyed listening to tell about the news, along with his commentary and his “The Rest of the Story”. Harvey would typically end each regular broadcast with his customary “good day”. The recording of “If I Were the Devil” appears not to have ended that way, and for good reason. A very sobering message for those who had not been paying attention. That message so long ago rings especially true today where we see it playing out before our eyes much more clearly than in 1965.
Michael Reed is Editor and Publisher of The Standard newspaper, print and online, and TheStandardSC YouTube channel where many video reports may be found. Please share freely and donate to The Standard on this page to assure the continued availability of news that is ignored too often by the dominant media.
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