Don, I really appreciated what you had to say about Burl Ives. Too often, people pigeonhole public figures as "scumbags," and then discount them as totally worthless. Burl Ives made a great contribution to folk music. Yes, he did what it took to make a good living as a performer; and no, he wasn't heroic in the face of congressional hearings - but not everyone is born to be a hero and is able to sacrifice life and livelihood in the name of principle.
As you say, he was flawed - but most of us are.
-Joe-