Ron Nessen: Making the News, Taking the News (October 12th, 2011) скачать в хорошем качестве

Ron Nessen: Making the News, Taking the News (October 12th, 2011)

Ron Nessen provided an insightful look at his newest book and career as White House Press Secretary and Washington, D.C. reporter at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan on October 12, 2011. Nessen is the author of "Making the News, Taking the News", a look at Nessen's vivid eye-witness descriptions of events from both sides of the camera at The White House and throughout his career. Nessen's book illustrates his surprising rise from reporter to White House Press Secretary in 1974. It began with a phone call in the middle of the night as news broke on Spiro Agnew's bribery scandal while Governor of Maryland and possibly while as Vice President. Nessen would cover the story for several months leading up to Agnew's legal action filing to force Nessen to reveal the names of their sources. The group of reporters involved were called the "Agnew Nine", and they received court orders to appear at the Baltimore Federal Court to present the names or else face charges. At the court that day, in front of Nessen, Agnew walked in and stated "I am resigning as Vice President". Nessen would go on to cover President Richard Nixon's appointment of Congressman Gerald R. Ford to become Vice President. NBC News selected Nessen to continue covering the Vice Presidential Office. As Watergate began to unravel, Nixon's political status took a major hit. During the 1974 Congressional Elections, Vice President Ford would travel more frequently than President Nixon to campaign for Republican Candidates. Nessen covered Vice President Ford on the campaign trail as Ford traveled 140,000 miles to campaign across the country. 4 journalist and Ford photographer David Hume Kennerly would live on the road together. During this time, Ford and Nessen became close. Shortly after, it was known that President Nixon would resign from office, and thus Vice President Ford would become President Ford. Nessen remembers attending The White House South Lawn ceremony for Nixon's last departure as The President before departing on Marine One. He recalls First Lady Pat Nixon's face, filled with anguish and pain. After Nixon's famous "V-sign" good bye wave, Nessen recalled believing it was filled with anger, defiance and resentment. NBC selected Nessen as The White House Press Correspondent. Within a month, President Ford stated that the 25% time committed to Watergate forced him to pardon Nixon so that 100% focus could be on the country. Jerald torHorst would resign because of the "double standard" set by the pardoning. Nessen was then asked if he would become Press Secretary, and "I accepted job so that I could see what happens on the other side of the camera". The job of Press Secretary at this time was difficult, as the trust in The White House coming from the Watergate and Nixon scandals was extremely low. The Press didn't believe The White House, as stated in Nessen's famous quote "Nobody believes the official spokesman, but everybody trusts an unidentified course." Almost immediately changing sides, Nessen saw that there were 4 competing groups in The White House that were endlessly fighting each other: Nixon's former staff, Ford's Vice President Staff, Ford's Congressional Staff and the staff that never worked for Ford at any point like Nessen. For example, Nessen took part in "leaking" negative information on Henry Kissinger, which he details in his book. Nessen goes on to speak of the dynamics behind President Ford's White House including recession, inflation, unemployment and the energy crisis. The conclusion of the Vietnam War and Evacuation of Saigon was an emotional part of Nessen's time in The White House. Nessen also fought the media's spin that Ford was clumsy. "Saturday Night Live" and Chevy Chase would go on to play President Ford, doing so in an over-the-top fashion. Nessen would guest host "Saturday Night Live", after NBC invited President Ford to be host. Nessen was involved in personal Ford Family moments, including Mrs. Betty Ford's breast cancer surgery. Nessen also was present when President Ford realized he had lost the 1976 Election to Governor of Georgia Jimmy Carter and on last helicopter ride from downtown Washington, D.C. Nessen also discusses the unheard-of challenge by Governor of California Ronald Reagan against the sitting President for the 1976 Republican nomination for President. Ford would go on to win the nomination at the Kansas City Republican National Convention, with Reagan committing to Ford to campaign for his Election. Reagan would participate sparingly for Ford's campaign. Ron Nessen was a reporter for UPI and then for NBC News in the 1960s and 1970s in Washington, D.C. He was seriously wounded by a grenade attack during a patrol while covering the Vietnam War in 1967.