loss. April 29, 1971: Robert Mitchum interview Actor Robert Mitchum, known for avoiding public appearances, gave a rare interview as the sole guest. Mitchum talked about his childhood, Hollywood, his disdain for politics and politicians and his 1948 arrest. The show featured film clips from Ryan's Daughter (1970) and The Night of the Hunter (1955). June 7, 1971: J. I. Rodale's on-stage death On June 7, 1971, publisher J. I. Rodale, founder of Rodale, Inc., a health and wellness publishing conglomerate headquartered in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, died of a heart attack during the taping of a segment for the show. Cavett was speaking with journalist Pete Hamill when Rodale began to make a snoring noise. Cavett's reaction to this is contested: he claims that both he and Hamill realized immediately that something was wrong, while other accounts have him addressing the unconscious man with "Are we boring you, Mr. Rodale?" The audience did not realize anything was seriously wrong until Cavett asked if there were any medical doctors present. The program was never aired and a rerun was shown in its place. On the following night's program, Cavett discussed the previous night's event in depth. He has said that he is often approached by people wanting to discuss the incident, mistakenly convinced that they saw it on television. He would usually ask if the person was in the studio audience, which was the only way to witness it since the episode was never broadcast. June 1971: Vietnam War debate with John Kerry During a debate about the Vietnam War, Cavett had two veterans debating on the show. The anti-war side was led by a young John Kerry and the pro-war side by John E. O'Neill, later the founder of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. It was later revealed through then-President Richard Nixon's secret White House tapes that Nixon wanted to "get rid" of Cavett because of this debate. August 2, 1971: Ingmar Bergman Director Ingmar Bergman appeared for the first time on a US talk show, one of the few television interviews he ever granted. November 24, 1971: Danny Kaye Actor/singer Danny Kaye appeared for the entire show with film clips, performing and promoting UNICEF. December 15, 1971: Norman Mailer vs. Gore Vidal Moments before the episode with Gore Vidal, Norman Mailer and Janet Flanner, Mailer, annoyed with Vidal's less-than-stellar review of Prisoner of Sex, headbutted Vidal and traded insults with