Talk:Norman T. Whitaker

Whitaker's criminal history

It's adequately covered but should be mentioned in the intro. Whitaker should also be added as a line to the Lindbergh kidnapping page, as he served a prison term for his involvement in Means' scheme. --71.162.82.49 (talk) 05:03, 5 July 2009 (UTC)

IM Title (Chess)

As I recall, the issue about granting the title involved his criminal past and was eventually awarded based simply on his chess playing results. I think this controversy deserves coverage in the article.--Jrm2007 (talk) 22:30, 26 June 2010 (UTC)

I know there was controversy about it. I'll try to check the biography of him. Bubba73 ^{(You talkin' to me?)}, 22:40, 26 June 2010 (UTC)

I been googling it but nothing specific comes up on this. I used to have Hilbert's book where I would guess this is discussed, but I don't remember.--Jrm2007 (talk) 23:09, 26 June 2010 (UTC)

The chapter where he gets the IM title only has one paragraph about it (page 271). It says that he had been fighting for it for more than 10 years and he had detractors: Major, Graves, and Kenneth Harkness. But there are no details. The book has no index, so one would have to go back several chapters and read in detail. Bubba73 ^{(You talkin' to me?)}, 00:06, 27 June 2010 (UTC)

How wrong would it be to suggest at least that campaign for the IM title was required because he was being denied it because of his criminal past? Of course, it may be more complicated: his chess results may have legitimately been considered questionable with regard to the title.

It is certainly an important chessic issue -- he may be the only person in history to have had an earned chess title put at risk by criminal behavior -- are there other examples??--Jrm2007 (talk) 22:01, 27 June 2010 (UTC)

Because at this point I don't know why people were against Whitaker having the IM title. It may be because of his criminal background or it might be because people didn't think he deserved it. The IM title started in 1950 - 15 years before he got it. He had been "fighting" for it for more than 10 years. In 1950 the IM title was pretty high. And when they started the title in 1950 they awarded it to some living players who were past their prime, based on their past play, but they didn't award it to Whitaker. So without more reading, I don't know the reason why he was denied it for so many years. Bubba73 ^{(You talkin' to me?)}, 22:20, 27 June 2010 (UTC)

Yes, his actual chess results might have been part of the issue with his character not helping matters. Anyway, as I said, I think it is important and I will do what I can to help answer the question.--Jrm2007 (talk) 22:54, 27 June 2010 (UTC)

A Minor Quibble

His being "skillful" at resetting odometers with a screwdriver actually is at odds with his own statement about it as I recall -- he said something to the effect that "anyone who can use a screwdriver can do it" implying to me that rather than requiring skill, resetting the odometer, at least on a VW bug, is very easy.--Jrm2007 (talk) 02:33, 7 February 2016 (UTC)