HISTORY This Week: "From Radio Diaries: Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier"

Release Date: March 12, 2026
Podcast: HISTORY This Week (with material from Radio Diaries)
Main Theme: The story of Isaac Woodard, an African American WWII veteran blinded by police brutality, and how Orson Welles' radio broadcasts turned a small-town crime into a civil rights flashpoint.

Episode Overview

This episode recounts a harrowing incident of racial violence at the end of World War II—the brutal blinding of Sgt. Isaac Woodard, a Black soldier, by a white police officer in South Carolina. The show explores how Orson Welles, famed director and then-radio commentator, used his influential national platform to demand justice and thrust this little-known case into the national consciousness, helping spark early momentum for the civil rights movement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

[02:44] "Orson Welles Commentaries" & the Context of 1946

• Orson Welles (02:44): Introduces his radio commentary show, pledging to discuss stories and speak candidly about the news:

  "Hello, this is Orson Welles. I've come to visit with you for a few minutes... I'll try to have a story for you each time, and I'm going to speak my mind about the news. You know, we don't have to agree on everything to be friends."

• The episode highlights Welles’ prominence in the post-war era and his unique willingness to address controversial topics.

[03:15] The Crime & Initial Secrecy

• Narrator: Sets the scene—late WWII, racial tensions still high, and an unknown Black soldier beaten by police in a small Southern town.
• Eyewitness Corrine Johnson (04:07): Offers first-hand memories of the attack, emphasizing the silence and secrecy around the event:

  "I saw a man by the drugstore. He was down on the street there being beat up by the police. I didn't know who it was... I'm the only witness living that can tell it, and I ain't never forgot it."

[05:20] Isaac Woodard’s Backstory

• Historian James L. Felder Sr. (05:20): Describes the attack occurring on Woodard’s discharge day, while he was still in uniform.
• Richard Gerkel, Author (05:55): Frames it as a classic whodunit, with the police officer and the town remaining anonymous.

[06:04] Woodard’s Own Words

• Orson Welles (reading Woodard's affidavit) (06:04): Details Woodard’s military service, honorable discharge, and the start of the incident.
• Richard Gerkel (06:26): Recounts the chain of events—Woodard and fellow soldiers drinking on a segregated bus; Woodard asking to use the restroom and being refused by the driver.

[07:00–08:15] The Assault

• Orson Welles (07:00): Recounts Woodard’s perspective, with direct quotes from the affidavit:

  "About one hour out of Atlanta, the bus driver stopped at a small drugstore. ... When he cursed me and Isaac Woodard, I cursed him back."

• Richard Gerkel (07:14): Explains the bus driver’s escalating anger and the police overreaction.
• Orson Welles (07:47): Describes the violent assault:

  "The policeman struck me with a billy across my head and told me to shut up. ... He started punching me in my eyes with the end of the Billy."

• The beating in the jail leaves Woodard permanently blind.

[08:28] Aftermath & the Challenge of Finding Justice

• Laura Williams (Woodard’s niece) (08:28): Shares the family’s confusion and frantic search for Woodard:

  "Immediately after the attack, there was so much confusion because my family didn't know where he was. Isaac didn't even know where he was."

• Richard Gerkel (08:48): Highlights how activist and reporter John McCrae brought the story to the NAACP’s attention.

[09:06] The NAACP & Orson Welles’ Involvement

• James L. Felder Sr. (09:06): Notes the NAACP’s outrage over the attack on a decorated uniformed Black veteran.
• Richard Gerkel (09:23): Details how the NAACP reached out to Welles, knowing his civil rights sympathies.
• Orson Welles (09:44): Delivers a searing condemnation on national radio:

  "There's a price for everything. There's nothing that does not have its cost. What does it cost to be a Negro in South Carolina? It cost a man his eyes."

[09:53] The Power of Public Narrative

• Beatrice Welles (Orson’s daughter) (09:53): Comments on the rarity of addressing such issues on air in 1946.
• Orson Welles (10:06): Expresses solidarity with Woodard:

  "The blind soldier fought for me in this war. The least I can do now is fight for him. I have eyes he hasn't. I have a voice on the radio he hasn't."

• Welles as Investigator: Pledges to uncover the perpetrator’s identity, naming the unknown officer "Officer X" and addressing him directly:

  "Officer X, I'm talking to you. ... You won't blot out the blood of a blinded war veteran." (10:29)

• James L. Felder Sr. (10:50): Emphasizes the unforgettable impact of Welles' tone.

[11:07] Demanding Accountability

• Richard Gerkel (11:07): Welles demands white Americans confront racial violence and their responsibility.
• Orson Welles (11:17): Vows to relentlessly pursue the perpetrator's identity and justice:

  "You're going to be uncovered. We will blast out your name. I will find means to remove from you all refuge. Officer X. You can't get rid of me."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Orson Welles (09:44):

  "What does it cost to be a Negro in South Carolina? It cost a man his eyes."

• Orson Welles (10:06):

  "The blind soldier fought for me in this war. The least I can do now is fight for him."

• Orson Welles, addressing 'Officer X' (10:29, 11:17):

  "Scrub and scour. You won't blot out the blood of a blinded war veteran. ... You're going to be uncovered. We will blast out your name."

• James L. Felder Sr. (11:01):

  "It's not something that just hits you and bounces off. It just kind of sears itself into your brain."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:44: Orson Welles introduces his radio show and approach
• 04:07: Eyewitness Corrine Johnson recounts the blinding incident
• 05:20: Historian summarizes the event’s brutality and its context
• 06:04: Welles reads Isaac Woodard’s affidavit
• 07:47: The assault and its aftermath in Woodard’s own words
• 08:28: Family struggles to find Woodard
• 09:44: Orson Welles’ powerful radio appeal for justice
• 10:29: Welles targets "Officer X" on national radio
• 11:17: Welles vows to unmask the perpetrator

Episode Tone & Style

The episode skillfully blends documentary narrative with archival audio and contemporary interviews. The tone is sobering, urgent, and deeply human. Welles’ original broadcasts—relentless, rhetorical, and confrontational—still shock and inspire. The voices of historians, family members, and eyewitnesses add gravity, memory, and emotional resonance, underlining the tragedy and significance of the Isaac Woodard case.

For Further Exploration

• This is episode one of the "Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier" series from Radio Diaries.
• Additional episodes found on the Radio Diaries Podcast.
• Further reading: "Unexampled Courage" by Richard Gerkel.

Summary
This episode powerfully illustrates how one voice—armed with a platform and moral conviction—can draw national attention to injustice and help galvanize the struggle for civil rights. The intersection of personal tragedy, public outrage, and a celebrity’s sense of responsibility helped ensure that Isaac Woodard’s story would not be forgotten.