BY PAUL HARVEY | APRIL 3, 1965

YouTube Channel | EVERYTHING cpo

TRANSCRIPT

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.

Paul Harvey, good day.”

Paul Harvey (full name Paul Harvey Arrant) was one of the most influential and longest-running radio broadcasters in American history,

In 1951, he joined the ABC Radio Network, where his flagship program Paul Harvey News and Commentbecame nationally syndicated. It aired weekday mornings and mid-days, plus Saturdays, reaching millions. At its peak, his broadcasts were carried on over 1,200 radio stations, plus hundreds more on the Armed Forces Network, and syndicated in newspapers—peaking at an estimated 24 million listeners weekly.He was perhaps best known for two things:

  • His distinctive sign-offs, like “Good day!” and the dramatic pause before revealing a twist.
  • His popular segment The Rest of the Story (launched in 1976, with stories often written by his son, Paul Harvey Jr.), which told surprising backstories behind historical events or figures, ending with the famous line: “And now you know… the rest of the story.“

Paul Harvey was a staunch conservative voice, often called the “Voice of Middle America,” blending news, opinion, and folksy storytelling. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.

He continued broadcasting well into his later years, retiring in 2008 after more than 70 years in radio. Paul Harvey passed away on February 28, 2009, at age 90 in Phoenix, Arizona.He’s remembered today for pieces like his 1965 broadcast “If I Were the Devil“, which many view as remarkably prescient in its cultural warnings. His unique style made him a radio legend whose voice still resonates with generations of listeners.

Last Updated on March 8, 2026 by Real KBrett