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The Daily Nightly began on May 31, 2005. As Brian wrote in his first post it aims to provide a narrative of the broadcast day and a window into the editorial process at NBC Nightly News. Brian weighs in every weekday and NBC News correspondents and producers post regularly.

Brian Williams became the seventh anchor and managing editor in the history of NBC Nightly News on December 2, 2004. Read his full biography.



Can you tell me how to get...

Posted: Monday, March 31, 2008 5:00 PM by Barbara Raab
Filed Under:

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

These days I'm living a dual life. I came to work today from Sesame Street, where I reported first thing in the morning to shoot an episode for the upcoming fall season. Since raising two children on Sesame Street (and, my wife and I hope, actual parenting) its been something of a dream to appear on the show. I'm so happy to report that the cast and crew and producers and writers are just as smart, creative, happy and welcoming as you'd want them to be. I had a blast today, hanging with Elmo, Ernie, Bob and others -- and can't wait to go back to that familiar Street tomorrow. It is truly a joy.

One note from history: 40 years ago today (while it's hard to describe just how impactful it was for its time and place), President Lyndon Johnson stunned the world by announcing that he would neither seek nor accept his party's nomination for another term as President. It was a closely-guarded secret within the White House until the moment of the announcement. At least one witness said he glanced over at his wife Lady Bird, who was present for the speech in the Oval Office, before he read the actual words that had been added to his speech on the TelePrompTer. It was a huge story. No one had any way of knowing, of course, that just days later, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be assasinated in Memphis.

It's not too early to tell you that we'll be live at the National Civil Rights Museum (just beneath the balcony of the Lorraine Motel) in Memphis for Friday's broadcast. We have some special coverage planned, and I urge you to join us -- as I do for tonight's broadcast as well.

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You lucky guy!  Getting to hang out with Big Bird, Ernie, Elmo, the Cookie Monster, now that IS living a charmed life.  I don't think there is a 40 something or older who wouldn't have traded places with you.  Aside from all of the fun that Sesame Street brings to youngsters, the truly important topics that they have addressed over the years is phenomenal.  Kudos to you for getting to join them for an episode.

Amanda - Ridgewood, NJ (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 5:12 PM)

Hi Brian -

There was a Civil Rights Baseball game in Memphis and some round table discussions over the weekend which I watched. Both Omar and Willie attended - the Mets played the White Sox in the game and participated in a press conference and some interviews.  Others there were MLK III, Hank Aaron, Sharon Robinson, Ozzie Giullen, Ken Williams, Ruby Dee, Frank Robinson, Betty Shabbaz and I'm sure there are others I forget.  The Master of Ceremonies ( can't remember his name) was one of Barack Obama's professor at Harvard Law. The place was packed.

Willie Randolph was so moved by the exhibits - particularly the Lorraine Hotel room, that he said he will bring his family there to show them.

Omar, who generally has a quip in public, was very subdued - we discovered that he was born in the Dominican Republic and that his Mother is black.  He even went to Ghana last summer with baseball supplies.

As you can see, I was quite taken with the whole weekend - and the website - and spent a lot of time reading and watching.

I will be looking forward to your visit to Memphis and the coverage on Friday.

I remember the Spring of 1968 all too clearly.

Joan Chapman, Cheshire CT. (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 5:27 PM)

Good Evening Mr.Williams, First of all it sounds like you had a really fun start to your day being with all the Sesame Street people. It must be such a pleasure to be around such a happy environment and you get the chance to return tomorrow. Certainly an interesting day in history in reference to 40years ago today being when President Lyndon Johnson announced that he would not seek the party's nomination. And the tragic assasination of Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. four days later. Looking forward to the broadcast this evening. Peace to all!

XOXO-Laurel,Jackie and Stephanie! Be well always!!

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 5:27 PM)

Dear Brian,

First of all, I wanted to say how absolutely tragic it is for the family of Sgt. Matt Maupin to have confirmation of his death in Iraq, nearly four years after his capture.  To have held out hope that he may one day be found alive, and then to have it dashed with the discovery of his remains.  It is just so cruel.  I am glad, though, that they at least will have his body to bury.  A true hero.  God bless the Maupin family, and all others who worry and wait.

I wanted to tell you that I enjoyed the lecture Tom Brokaw gave last Friday evening, at a college in my area.  I have the utmost respect for him!  (He is the voice of calm and reason in the cacophony that is the Matthews/Olbermann post-election coverage on MSNBC.)  Mr. Brokaw shared - among his thoughts on more serious subjects - a funny Walter Cronkite story, as well as one involving his being mistaken for Ted Koppel!  He was the sixth journalist to speak in an annual lecture series endowed by Ben Bradlee (who was also present that evening.)  I hope that, in the future, Mr. Bradlee will invite you to speak in the lecture series - when you can break away from Sesame Street!

Even though I did not come into this world until the end of 1970, I always remember what event the date April 4, 1968 marks in our history.  It may seem silly, but it is because of that great U2 song, "Pride (In the Name of Love)," in which Bono sings, "Early morning, April 4, Shot rings out in the Memphis sky, Free at last, They took your life, They could not take your pride."  That is why I never forget that horrible day in our country's history.  Maryland's former Lieutenant Governor, (and Bobby Kennedy's daughter), Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination with a lecture honoring his legacy.  I hope to attend.

I hope there won't be too much political coverage tonight.  I am so bored with it all.  Senator Obama has come out and said that he thinks Senator Clinton should remain in the race as long as she wants, so who are the rest of us to criticize?  Forget dividing the party.  If the Democrats can't win the White House after 7 years of President Bush, then they don't deserve to win anything!  They've been in control of Congress since 2006, and the country's not much better off.  I'm a bleeding heart liberal, but I am thoroughly disgusted.  That's why I'm not buying into the whole "agent of change" line of bull.  Whoever wins the presidency - from either party - is going to have to deal with a lazy legislative branch.

On a positive note, greetings to my friends Lisa, Jackie, and Stephanie!  You always brighten my day!

lnp, leonardtown, maryland, usa (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 6:19 PM)

I'm not sure, but, I think a post on a previous blog might be directed to me and some of the people who post here on a regular basis.  If it is, what's it to you if we say hello to one another?  If you see our names, don't read our posts.  Then, you won't have to be bothered.  

lnp, leonardtown, maryland, usa (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 6:27 PM)

I have no idea who Omar and Willie are who Joan refered to in her comments about the Civil Rights baseball game, but I do also remember 1968 very vividly.  I can not imagine there could ever again be a single year in America with so many monumentous and consequential events.  Certainly no single year since then has been nearly as profound (no, not even 2001, not even close).  My life would not have been the same over these last 40 years absent the effects those 1968 events had on me and our society at that time and ever since.

Paul, Elmira, NY (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 7:16 PM)

Speaking of sesame street this happened many years
ago.I took my kids to see sesame street live in
detroit. At one point in the act they were on roller
skates when elmo did the splits as he skated over
cookie monster his legs knocked elmos eyes off as
the eyes rolled of the stage the poor kids thought
that he was really hurt you should have seen the
look on some of there faces.The only thing I wish
was that I had my camera with me

 

jeff rader grosse pointe farms mi (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 7:22 PM)

Good Evening Mr.Williams, Another fine broadcast this evening. Regarding the Presidential Campaign, it seems to be endless. I never heard of SuperDelegates until this election year and they certainly have been at the forefront alot. I always thought the voters had the ultimate decision in electing the future President of the United States. I only hope that when election day finally arrives that the person elected into office will do their very best to help this nation return to the right path. On the subject of the Middle East, the news of al-Sadr telling his Mahdi Army to stand down may be somewhat positive for the region. Too many innocent lives are caught in the crossfire of these conflicts. Hopefully, peace will come to that region soon. Time will tell as the year progresses. The economy is really incertain at the moment and hearing what Suzie Orman had to say was interesting, but interest rates are low on particular accounts and it is extrememly difficult for people to make money to pay bills. One has to stay hopeful things  will turn for the better, but it is hard right now. Finally, the report concerning the fine at a certain beach for not collapsing sand castles and leaving holes in the sand seems excessive. I agree that maybe the person who thought up this idea may have too much time to create these rules. Much as I appreciated you mentioning the baseball opener with the Washingtion Nationals and the Atlanta Braves, it would have been better to have you say the Atlanta Braves won the game. (That's because I live in Georgia and always have liked the Braves.) They play their opener this evening and the turnout is expected to be great. Also,thank you Leroy Johnson for you hard work at the White House for NBC. Enjoy your retirement! Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Williams! Peace to all!  

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 7:25 PM)

You say all these feel good things but ON your nightly news show tonight a african american woman said she was in congress to fight republicans...shouldnt she be there to fight for her constituents.  But as always your liberal leaning shows and you say nothing about this.  

Randy, Albuquerque, NM (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 7:44 PM)

Good Evening Brian,
Just wondering if you/nbc get any video from when you taped at Sesame Street for a behind the seens look? Maybe it could be on NN, or online?

Great job tonight!

Mike, Amsterdam, NY (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 7:48 PM)

Democraps with their censorship yeah keep spewing your false free speech.  Its ok as long as I agree with your idiotic views.

Randy, Albuquerque, NM (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 7:49 PM)

 I will look forward to seeing your Sesame St. segment as I have always enjoyed it when you put on a different hat and visited Sat. Night Live, Tonight Show, Tim Russert's show, etc.
 However, I want to say how very disappointed I am by the favor shown the Obama campaign by the networks as well as the air time given to reporting calls for Sen. Clinton to drop out of race! I think we all know this drop out routine is backed by Obama's campaign (did they hire Rove? kidding)  But this drop out thing is being fed by an "old boys club" and I feel it is anti-female.  Is it too much for your news dept. to keep track of positive segments & negative segments on all three candidates and keep it even.  I would like to see segments on what each has accomplished particularly Sen. Obama.  In 2 yrs in Senate I only see he has run for President & voted "present" a lot.  "Present" means to me if you don't stand for something, you stand for nothing! I really want to know what he has DONE. Words and speeches do not count - only action. Thanks to anyone who actually reads this!

Lee, Findlay, Ohio (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 9:13 PM)

Congratulations for the SS gig today!   I hope Oscar was nice to you Brian.   Please let us know when you get an air date on the program so we can record it.  

I was glad to see your vblog on Friday.   I had no idea that you wrote copy on commercial breaks and pre-recorded segments.   Wow!  You learn something new every day.   You seem to come off so smooth on air.  

P.S. I am sure you and Mrs. Williams are fun parents!  I am not sure about raising children in NYC.   What a challenge?!  I am sure your children are delightful!    I hope your father is doing better and out of the hospital.

Anna (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 9:39 PM)

Brian and Elmo now that's a picture!
Now Hillary should do what she's doing as I thought that was what US Democracy is. McCain will have no problem with Obama on the subject of Foreign Policy. Brian polls are saying McCain is head of Obama. Now I've voted since I was 18 years old and this is the first time I've seen such low voting in the Republican Party. Now the third and sometimes 4th place Democrat candidate got more votes then the Winner in the Republican Party.  I guess that's how you guys get shocked with results your following the corrupt polls. I look at Hillary winner just like Eli Manning with his hail Mary pass.  Don't laugh it would happen.

U'm really showing my age when I can remember exactly why LBJ didn't run for Office again. Maybe Freshman Senator Obama will learn Civil Rights History with your report. Yes LBJ was dogged because he signed the Civil Rights Bill with Dr. King. Obama has to realize it is a President that signs bills and Dr. King was out there working hard to get Americans and Law Makers to support the afford. Now sometimes no matter how hard you fight for a Bill it doesn't pass. LBJ would have never won an election with just that one act. I was sad to hear Obama and his team dis taught the actions of LBJ and others who really did something other Presidents wouldn't. I remember hearing Mrs. Obama say the proudest day as an African American was when her husband won the States in the primary. Strange to hear that as the best. I remember when African Americans could drink out of the same water fountain, sit at a counter, go to school with whites and so much more. Yet as those of all color fight for Civil Rights for Blacks, Mr. and Mrs. Obama benefited. Now my proudest moment was when President John Kennedy told all the young people (me to) this was our country and our responsible to contribute to it's growth.  He didn't use color he said all. Yes it is my country as I am an American.

I think Henry Paulson is over his head with the Economy problem. I do remember Paul O'Neill saying back in 2000 that the direction the White House was taking the Economy it would surely fail.  Well he was right as we see now.

I was glad that Iran stepped in to settle the fighting in Iraq. I remember Maiki visit Iran while on vacation last summer and Sadr knows he has to listen to Iran. Let's hope this peace and hold until the Iraq Government can get their act together.

To my friends Lisa, Laural and Stephanie have a good evening.

Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:56 AM)

Chillin with sesame street....thats cool

I look  forward to coverage on Friday.
Speaking of Friday, I really enjoy the Making a Difference series. Keep those up!

Josh St. Louis, Arlington, VA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 2:01 AM)

I see that Nightly News is continuing its crusade to help GlaxoSmithKline (a frequent sponsor) by running negative stories about GSK's competition in the pharmaceutical field.  Last week, it was the possible link between suicide and the asthma drug Singulair (manufactured by Merck).  On Monday, it was a story about how the cholesterol-lowering drugs Zetia (manufactured by Schering-Plough) and Vytorin (by Merck) may not work as advertised.  In fact, Robert Bazell tells us that according to one study, these drugs may not prevent (and may actually increase) the build-up of plaque in arteries.  I'm sure the study Bazell quoted was credible, but how can viewers not question NBC's motives for presenting these stories when they accept so much money from GSK?  Even Brian's lead-in reeked of sensationalism: "There is big news rocking the health care industry tonight!"  Pander much?  Bazell also tells us that direct-to-consumer advertising (which is allowed in the U.S.) results in a 4 to 5 fold increase in prescriptions for a drug as compared with countries where direct-to-consumer ads are prohibited.  Since we can all agree that drugs should be prescribed strictly according to need (as determined by a physician), rather than because of consumer demand resulting from marketing, does that mean that NBC will now stop accepting advertising for prescription drugs?  I won't hold my breath.

And by the way, I thought NBC didn't pay for interviews.  So why did Brian hold up a copy of Suze Orman's latest book after interviewing her?  Was this shameless plug for Orman's book meant to compensate her for her time?  Or maybe this is a new Nightly News feature:  Brian's Book Club.

Norman Charles, NYC (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:51 AM)

My shout out and many thanks to Leroy Johnson!  We will all miss your camera angle!  And thanks for the Monday night broadcast, Brian!  Good start of the week!  Hoping it ends well too!  (Crossing my fingers!)

Jun Nishihara, Japan (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 8:04 AM)

To Paul -

re: Omar and Willie

The exhibition baseball game last weekend featured two teams whose Managers and GM are representative of the fact that MLB is multicultural and breaking barriers.  

Those teams were the New York Mets and the Chicago White Sox.  Omar Minaya is the Mets General Manager, and Willie Randolph is the Manager.  For the White Sox, Ken Miller is the General Manager and Ozzie Guillian is the Manager.

Joan Chapman, Cheshire, CT. (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 8:57 AM)

I usually compare NBC evening news with BBC news shown on PBS at 11pm.   No wonder Americans are so ill informed about the world as very little WORLD news is shown on ABC<NBC<CBS!   Very serious situations are happening all over the world and yet we have to listen to sweet little stories about Sesame Street, older women survivng on less. etc.   I consider most of it pap!   Is there a reason for this?   Is it propganda not to tell us anything about world situations or don't Americans care about the rest of the world?   Or maybe the advertisers rule the news.   And last night was a new low!   Advertising a book for whatever ever her name is that is about investments etc.   I think Brian williams has a very pleasing personality and excellent radio voice but please get real!

Ingram, Raleigh, NC (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 9:29 AM)

What could be more wonderful than hanging out with the Sesame Street crowd?  One of the saddest days of my life occurred when Jim Henson died--all that brilliant creativity silenced, but Jim's legacy lives on in all the wonderful characters he created.  I am so jealous that you, Brian, got to actually meet Elmo, Bert and Ernie.  The only thing better would have been to chat with Kermit who was a philosopher in his own right and well able to handle Piggy with all her shenanigans.  Thanks for giving me the opportunity to remember how I never missed the Muppet Show with all those characters who reflected back to us a part of ourselves in each unique personality.

And in the midst of all the angst of politics, recession, poverty and climate change, a bright light of humor, relationship and genuine love!  Thanks for the memory.

Maura Hobart (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 9:37 AM)

Brian - re: Sesame Street

Will singing and/or dancing be involved?

Joan Chapman, Cheshire, CT. (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:25 AM)

Hi Brian,
Viewer from across the pond, just wanted to thank you for the excellent job you do in bringing the news to the world. NBC covers more news in your half hour slot than the 24 hours provided by the cable networks (ok so we get Fox, no comment!)
I only wanted to really comment that this Friday is going to be the start of what I personally feel will be a terrible year for memories. 1968 was a truly tragic year in so many ways.
Knowing NBC I feel assured that you will all cover the events with you usual compassion.
Keep up the brillant work you do.
An avid viewer,

Michael Lyall, near London UK (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:48 AM)

Dear Mr. Willams, last night Suze Orman called you something other than your name as you where promoting her book. I replayed the moment a few times, but could not make out what she said. What did she say and why did she wink at you?

Joel Johnson Attleboro MA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:49 AM)

I liked slick Hilly's April Fools joke.

Jamie, Salt Lake, Utah (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:22 PM)

I was discussed with the way you presented John McCain on yur program today.  The noise in the background was so loud that you could not hear what was said by Mr.McCain.  It was noted that the other candidates were given a pure slate to talk on.  Was this fair to him?

Kay Tolworthy (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 6:56 PM)



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