NBC airs the 21st episode of the military drama The Lieutenant, created and produced by future Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and starring Gary Lockwood (2001: a space odyssey) and Robert Vaughn (The Man From UNCLE). Nichelle Nichols, in her first television acting role, and Dennis Hopper (Easy Rider) guest star in an episode that is pre-empted by some network affiliate stations. 
Three new Marines report to Lt. Rice’s platoon, and when Rice hands the incoming men off to their NCOs, a fight breaks out between Private Cameron and Corporal Devlin. Rice and Sgt. Kagey, both unaccustomed to having to ask a question more than once, have to dig deep to discover why: Devlin and Cameron knew each other in high school, and Cameron suffered racial harassment at Devlin’s hands. Rice assigns Cameron to a different NCO, and makes Captain Rambridge aware that he’s inexperienced with dealing with racial issues – and would rather learn how to handle them in training than in combat. Rice meets Cameron’s fiancee, learning from her that Cameron’s anger runs so deep that sometimes no one can reach him, not even her. Rice is determined to do away with both men’s prejudices, so he partners them for everything from boxing to abseiling. But the bond that Rice hopes to see develop between the two men never happens, because each, in his own way, is much more accustomed to hate.
written by Lee Erwin
directed by Vincent McEveety
music by Jeff AlexanderCast: Gary Lockwood (Lt. William Rice), Robert Vaughn (Capt. Raymond Rambridge), Dennis Hopper (Cpl. Peter Devlin), Don Marshall (Pvt. Ernest Cameron), Ed McReady (Mr. Taylor), John Milford (Sgt. Kagey), Nichelle Nichols (Norma Bartlett), Preston Pierce (Pvt. Peter Vronsky), Woody Strode (Sgt. Logan Holt), Ling Wilson (Pvt. Winston Barlow)
Notes: Urban legend (probably helped along by Gene Roddenberry’s own fondness for telling a good tale) would have it that this episode never aired anywhere, but some NBC affiliates did reportedly air it, while others pre-empted it. (If NBC refused delivery of the episode, why not simply move In The Highest Tradition up to this week?) The extent to which is was shown, or not, is difficult to determine. One part of the legend, however, is true: the Department of Defense withdrew its support for The Lieutenant after this episode (an odd thing to do if it was never shown), which meant no more military advisors and, perhaps more importantly, no more copious displays of military hardware and no more access to the real Camp Pendleton. This episode was Nichelle Nichols’ first guest starring credit on TV, before she went on to become a recurring player in Star Trek as Lt. Uhura.
LogBook entry by Earl Green