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



History lesson

Posted: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 4:46 PM by Barbara Raab
Filed Under:

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

Watching Evan Bayh warm up the crowd last night before Hillary Clinton's speech, I could not help but think of the spiderweb of relationship that fuses our modern politics to the generation before it.

Consider this, a story many people have forgotten: Senator Bayh's father, Senator Birch Bayh, was on board a twin-engine plane when it crashed in an orchard in Westfield, Massachusetts. It was June of 1964. Senator Bayh and his fellow passenger, Senator Edward Kennedy, had just cast affirmative votes for the Civil Rights Act, and were en route to make a joint appearance at the Massachusetts Democratic Party convention. The crash killed Ted Kennedy's pilot, Ed Zimny, and a Senate aide, Ed Moss. After Senator Bayh pulled his own wife from the wreckage, he returned to rescue his friend Ted Kennedy. The Massachusetts Senator had a "negligable" pulse when he emerged from the wreckage. He came near death that night, and it must be said he would have died were it not for Birch Bayh's efforts.

Fast forward to present day: Bayh is in the Senate, filling his father's seat from Indiana. Ted Kennedy is still there, and the mere sight of him still stops crowds of visitors cold, when he ambles around the corner in the Capitol, walking with evident discomfort and a distinct forward tilt at the waist -- all a result of the injuries (a broken back among them) he suffered that night.

Kennedy is backing Obama, and Bayh ran the Indiana effort for Hillary Clinton.

Candidates are still rushing off to events (though NetJets have largely replaced twin-engine props as the conveyance of choice) and accidents still happen. But the sight of a Senator named Bayh at the podium in Indianapolis last night started me to thinking about bloodlines and politics and accidents.

Tonight we'll offer the best and freshest analysis of what happened last night.

Please know: reporting from Myanmar is proving exceptionally difficult. Those few journalists openly working there have had to protect their own identities and locations. We are having the same trouble getting in that the U.N. and U.S. are having -- and countless other aid agencies. I will never forget flying into Banda Aceh on a charter jet after the tsunami. Our pilot had to offer to bribe the guy in the control tower with hard currency before we were offered a landing slot. It wasn't because of volume -- there were very few arrivals at that time -- it was because of corruption, which doesn't take a holiday after a disaster.

We sure hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast.

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Comments

ANNA---  THANK YOU for providing the link to an excerpt from Richard's book.

WOW--what a great read so far! And what a tease till we have the entire volume in hand!

Fascinating history Brian. Thanks--for your memories!

Celine, JC-NJ (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:02 PM)

Thank you for ignoring the Pentagon Generals story, Brian. I don't get all the fuss about "issues" anyways. I mean, healthcare, wiretapping, civil rights, and stuff - it just makes my little head spin!

I just can't get enough of the Obama-as-secret-Muslim though, maybe you guys could do a story about that? (fingers crossed!)

Red Snapper, London, On, Canada (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:11 PM)

You can keep tap dancing all you want, Brian, but the generals issue isn't going away...

Sean Olsen, Chaska, Minn. (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:12 PM)

So, there I was last night, cooling my heels in the checkout line at the local Food Lion, my frozen foods rapidly defrosting, as the cashier dealt with the obligatory receipt printer malfunction.  In my search for amusement, I picked up a copy of PEOPLE's 100 Most Beautiful People.  Well, you can imagine my surprise when, after leafing through all 198 glossy pages, I found nary a photograph of NBC Chief Foreign Correspondent, Richard Engel!  At first, I was convinced that this was just a simple, though appalling, oversight on their part, and that PEOPLE must surely be working feverishly on a supplement to the Most Beautiful issue.  But, then, it hit me - they're saving up for the Sexiest Man Alive issue!  Nothing gets past me!  And, ladies, that issue normally hits the newsstands around Christmastime!  Ho, ho, ho.

lnp, 37, leonardtown, maryland, usa (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:19 PM)

How about reporting on what has happened the past 7 years, specifically the abdication of the media (esp. pretty heads like you) of all it's responsibilities of keeping executive powers in check? How about covering the pentagon propoganda controversy? Or do you want to leave that to proper 'journalists' because it's too hard for anchors like you to comprehend?

zs (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:28 PM)

P.S. - Lots of love to my friends Lisa, Jackie, and Stephanie.  And to all the rest of the "club."

XOXO

lnp, 37, leonardtown, maryland, usa (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:31 PM)

Good Evening Mr.Williams, Well another two primaries are finished and more to come. Very close race! I enjoyed your comments last evening on MSNBC and I thought Senator Hillary Clinton's speech was good. I don't usually get into politics too much, but I did enjoy her speech. Very interesting posting this evening Mr.Williams you always remind us of how people are connected through events. On another note it is a terrible situation in Myanmar and the fact the government is not allowing any help to come. I really hope those people receive the supplies they desperately need. Looking forward to the broadcast. Peace to you and to all!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie and Stephanie!
Hi to all the great ladies of this blog!
Thank you Anna for the title of "Grand Poobah"! I don't think I am deserving, but I am very happy you think so! Thank You!
I wish there was a private book signing of Richard's book! HA!HA! That would be awesome!  

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:34 PM)

"....it was because of corruption, which doesn't take a holiday after a disaster."

Finally, something Williams writes with which I agree.

The corruption and sense of entitlement of Williams and NBC, that is.

Continued refusal to address the use of retired generals as Pentagon propaganda-ists and corporate shills, continued refusal to fully disclose actual and potential conflicts of interest of your producers, writers and readers of "news" and continued failure to uphold the public's trust and to serve the public interest, given that NBC uses airwaves for free.

But at least you know what the word, corruption, means, Brian.  That's at least a start.

Nequals1 (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:46 PM)

Brian, very good stuff about Bayh and Kennedy.  

So sad that help is not able to get to Myanmar.  Nations are willing to help, but can't get there or are not wanted.

Sara, Omaha, NE (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:48 PM)

Hey, Bri--

Just a quick update on the Pentagon Problem. I know you are relying on us on your blog to report on this because you are not allowed to due to possible legal problems.

Listen all you Brian Bashers--he would do it if the lawyers let him, so lay off. If Brian could, he would tell you that:

Eight thousand pages of documents related to the Pentagon's illegal propaganda campaign, known as the Pentagon military analyst program, are now online for the world to see, although in a format that makes it impossible to easily search them and therefore difficult to read and dissect. This trove includes the documents pried out of the Pentagon by David Barstow and used as the basis for his stunning investigation that appeared in the New York Times on April 20, 2008.

You can access the documents at:
http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/milanalysts

Now go away and play some more with Glenn Greenwald or something. I hear he has an excellent post up about how excellent he is.

Norwood Hoppe, Cleveland, OH (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 6:36 PM)

I have a question about tonight's broadcast and Richard's report.  Please if anyone has insight please advise.  

Here is goes...."How did Richard do a report with Mother Teresa of Bagdad without a male in the report?  I thought it was prohibited for any female to meet with a male let alone a western journalist."

Just seeking first to understand.  TIA

Anna (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 6:58 PM)

Brian--  There are no graphics better than Tim's white boards! Love 'em! But--did someone saw a super-delegate in half? And where is the other half?!!

Be sure to get Tim's boards all cleaned up and ready to go for election day!!! HAVE to have them then!!!

Celine, JC-NJ (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 7:16 PM)

Good Evening Mr.Williams, Always wonderful to see Richard on the broadcast! (Wearing a great blue shirt too!) Looking great as always! Richard's report was truly nice this evening concerning the woman bringing all sorts of supplies to displaced families in Baghdad. She is a great humanitarian in a region filled with such conflict. The number of 2.7 milllion is staggering to hear and shows how five years of conflict has effected so many innocent people. Seeing her pack up the back of the minivan with boxes of supplies and going door to door to deliver anything from blankets,pots and pans, food etc to help this families is inspirational and how one person can really make a difference. It was very sad to see that woman who had lost her husband and with her son who lost a leg in a crossfire of firing weapons. He needs a wheelchair and a doctor and this woman is going to try and help find these things it brings tears to ones eyes. All the innocent lives effected by this conflict and this woman is their ray of hope. I hope someday all of them can live in a peaceful nation because there has been far too much suffering for everyone. Great report Richard! PLEASE STAY SAFE ALWAYS! On the subject of Myanmar the devastation is awful. I hope the generals allow for help to come for the people. So many are ready and able all they need is the go ahead. Also, I must say on a political note I enjoyed seeing Mr.Russert use a dry erase board to break down the numbers of the delegates. It brought back fond memories of a past election. Always keep those dry erase boards handy Mr.Russert! Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Williams! STAY SAFE RICHARD ALWAYS! Peace to you and to all!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie and Stephanie!
Hi to all the great ladies of this blog!
Be Well Always!

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 7:43 PM)

Please respond, thoroughly, to the military analysts story. I was shocked to read the details and sure you would cover it. I have always liked your broadcast the most but find I can no longer watch. We desperately need to know the press will follow a story unflinchingly, even it it means owning up to its own failures in the process. Do the right thing.

jane gilman nyc (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 9:49 PM)

John McCain gets away with dishonesty on NBC News. Tonight, Cindy McCain was allowed to say that the McCains plan to run a campaign without negative attacks, but McCain already has launched negative attacks and even lies about Obama.

McCain falsely accused Obama of favoring Jimmy Carter's meeting with Hamas.  McCain even said Obama is the candidate of Hamas. How disgusting is that smear?

McCain drools along with the Reverend Wright guilt by association smear, while refusing to answer for his own associations.

McCain routinely gets away with claiming to have nothing to do with negative attacks against Obama carried out by others. Those claims deserve doubt and scrutiny that McCain isn't getting.

Kelly O'Donnell tonight delivered McCain's message for him. She said McCain tries to appeal to conservatives and independents at the same time, but she didn't mention a single issue that McCain is keeping from either group, even though he must be hiding positions if he's trying to please both.  Kelly also raised the idea of McCain as a change candidate without supplying any doubt about this, as McCain wants to continue all the worst from Bush.

Please give John McCain the same level of scrutiny you've given to Obama and Hillary.

M.C. (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 9:50 PM)

I appreciated the day's history lesson, Brian, as it was 10 years before my time.  

Myanmar will always be Burma in my mind.  It is so sad to see a country in such suffering simply because its government can't get out of its own self-centeredness.  Whoa wait a minute - sounds like my own government!  Forgive my presumptions....

Hi everyone!

Stephanie-Umbro, 33 Maine (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:11 PM)

Hi Brian
I was so glad to see the US act to help Burma in less then 24 hours. To bad the White House couldn't act as fast to help the Katrina victims right here in the USA. Yes it took Bush 5 days as even Foreign countries arrived within 24 hours but were turned away by the White House.  Now I really don't blame the Burma Government for not trusting the US, to help. Once the Corrupt Bush Administration gets in a country noting but chaos happens.

Tim would be a poor math teacher. Yes I know he wants to be an insider to Obama as he praises him on everything these days, while forgetting the previous attacks. I noticed the Obama camp of the before and after Tim Russert position. I don't blame him in a way for so long he's supported the White House's criminal acts but there will be a sheriff in the White House.  Now to the math, as Tim seems to forget Florida and Michigan delegates and Super delegates.  

George McGoven dogged Shirley Chisholm when she ran for President in 1972 but he's all over Obama. What a difference 37 years make now the question is what does McGoven want from Obama as he drops his long time friend Hillary Clinton.  Politics has no real friendships as we see these people smile in your face and stab you in your back while still smiling.

Richard's report was good but with 2.5 million people displaced and needing everything why would the US/Pentagon build a Resort and Disneyland in Bagdad. It would make more since to help the people first, their living worse now then under Saddam. With the US in a recession it's hard for Americans to help anyone now.

Ann's interview with Cindy McCain was funny as Cindy's husband uses bad words at her when he's angry.

Kelly is one classy lady and puts up with stuff I wouldn't. I must say she keeps it professional not matter how rude the interviewer is. She's got her work cut out for her with John McCain who knows what will sit him off and that mouth, there will be alot of bleeps to not hear the bad words.

Best always my friends Lisa, Laural, Stephanie, Claudia, Anne and Mitt

Jackie Rawlings 62 Riverside California (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:46 PM)

Hi, Brian...Still waiting for you to cover the pentagon's insertion of talking points to military analysts who appeared on your show.  How long will we wait???

Chuck, Irvine, CA (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 12:59 AM)

Great Broadcast Brian. I especially enjoyed Tim Russert with his dry erase boards. Don't know why with all the tech every one uses that this actually got my attention and his explainations of the delagate situation really made sense.

I do havea question if some one there can answer it. If Clinton loanns her campaign millions of dollars, Who actually pays that back and what kind of intrest? I can understand her Giving her campaign money, but every report I here says she is LOANING the money. I am confused on how this works.

Thanks Again and See You Tommorrow Night.

Mark Jones, Reno, Nevada (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 1:32 AM)

Brian, it breaks my heart to tell you such sad stories while wearing such expensive suits.  

Cyrus, Fairport, NY (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 8:49 AM)

Barbara - fascinating stuff about Kennedy and Bayh.  I love the history lessons - keep 'em coming!

Dana Brown (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:08 AM)

Ooo, thanks for pointing out those connections, Brian!  Very interesting.

I personally don't have a problem with Tim Russert's hand drawn statistics on white boards, but you know that is SCREAMING to be shown and made fun of on the Daily Show.  Maybe that's what you're going for? :)

Ashley, New York, NY (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:43 AM)

Brian:
I've followed your career from the beginning and have been a loyal reader of the blog and viewer of the Nightly News, but I am deeply troubled by the Pentagon spin situation and your glib response. I frankly feel that I have lost trust in you -- the newsman I trusted the most.

Joyce Wiswell, Royal Oak, MI (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:02 AM)

Thank you Brian for featuring segments on alternative medicine.  We Americans can learn much from Asians regarding self healing. I have learned alot about relaxing from my Asian doctor and friends.   I would like to see our government implement programs of self healing for our returning soliders.  I have a pond in my yard and it gives me peace from the outside world.  Rather than treating our veterans with post tramatic stress with endless pills, why not have facilities complete with ponds and meditation areas.   The soliders could:
-plan the ponds,
-build the ponds
-choose the fish and plants
-feed the fish

Even during the glooming winter they could plan what they want change the next season. Better yet, enclosed the area year round. It would be a small cost to provide a peaceful place. I personally know Bob Dole and he would be a good person to contact about this idea.  Keep up the good work.

Carol Talbott, Columbus OH (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:08 AM)

Brian, any follow up on the generals as military analysts story?  I appreciate that you at least did one blog post on this -- which is more than most of your competitors -- but you have yet to say anything on the air.  And, frankly, even in your blog you didn't address many parts of the story, e.g. the undisclosed financial conflicts of the generals you featured as military analysts.

Crust (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:46 AM)

Mark Jones, on loaning vs. giving:  When a candidate (in this cycle, the two big ones were Clinton and Romney) loans their campaign money that loan often ends up not being paid back, i.e. essentially becomes a gift.   But not necessarily.  If enough people give the Romney and Clinton campaigns enough money, they may be able to get paid back on all or part of their loans.

Crust (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:50 AM)

Hey, Brian:

Now's your chance to redeem yourself and report on the military analyst story. You've been acting like a state-run media outlet on this, trying to pretend the story doesn't exist.

Well, here is a link for you on the document dump from the Pentagon:
http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/milanalysts/

You lied to your viewers in your cheerleading for the Iraq invasion and occupation by taking part in this propaganda exercise.  If you want to rebuild trust with your viewers, now would  be a good time to air a series of stories on what happened.

Reporting on the story would be to NBC's credit. Continuing to stonewall and pretend it doesn't exist will only make you more and more corrupt.

Andy Olsen, Madison, WI (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:07 AM)

Important Update for Bri--

Hey, bud, got some bad news for you. Evidently some liberal-progressive whack job got hold of some insider stuff from the military analysts and it doesn't look good for your subpoena. Check it out:

Evidently there was a meeting in April 2006 between then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and then-Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Peter Pace, in which one unidentified “analyst” praised his “leader”:

   "During the meeting, one of the attendees tells Rumsfeld, “[W]e get beat up on television sometimes when we go on and we are debating” and says that he would “personally love” for Rumsfeld “to take the offensive, to just go out there and just crush these people so that when we go on, we’re — forgive me — we’re parroting, but it’s what has to be said. It’s what we believe in, or we would not be saying it.” The individual adds: “And we’d love to be following our leader, as indeed you are. You are the leader. You are our guy.”

Bri--this ain't good, bro. The defense offered so far--the Pentago simply shared info with these "independent" analysts who were free to ignore or disagree with the brass--just got a major doughnut hole.

Evidently there were Pentagon plants and part of a clearly illegal propaganda program.

Brian, my best advice is NOT to respond to any posts in this blog about this situation. Let the Brian Bashers whine about "credibility" and "journalistic integrity" and "responsibility" and all that other 20th century bull dookey. Dude, this is dropdead legal serious crapola now.

Mum's the word, good buddy. OK?

Norwood Hoppe, Cleveland, OH (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:18 AM)

NORWOOD HOPPE, from Cleveland--  Thank you for saying what I've been thinking all along.

ANNA-- I think it is because the Iraqi government is moderate secular, not theocratic fundamentalist.

Hello to all the "regulars".

Celine, JC-NJ (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 12:24 PM)

You people obviously don't read others comments. Brian cannot comment on the pending issue due to legal ramifications.

Think back to his past patterns of behavior. Does he normally ignore posts when people are crying out for answers- No. Does he try to address serious concerns of people who post on the blog- either on air or with another blog post- Yes.

You claim to be such loyal readers of the blog and "watchers" of Nightly News but lose all faith in Brian the moment he cannot do exactly what you want. You claim that he is a puppet but when he doesn't "jump" when you say "jump" you cry foul. Don't be a hypocrite.

Brian has always been faithful to his audience so give him the same respect and think for a moment that if he could say something- he would.

Madeline, Dallas, Texas (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 3:07 PM)

Under the headline "'Deafening' silence on analyst story", Politico notes that only PBS has said something on air about the generals whom the Pentagon internally referred to as their "message multipliers".  Aside from PBS, Brian, you have gone the farthest by at least saying something on your blog.   But that you have company is hardly an excuse.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10204.html

Crust (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 3:19 PM)

"I think in a way you can almost respect the criminals more than the enablers in some sick way -- I mean, I think what the Bush administration has done is criminal, should be treated as a crime, but the idea that people who call themselves journalists let these lies go on unchecked and endorsed them time and time again is [unpardonable]," Cusack said. "Don't get me wrong, I think great journalism is heroic, I am in awe of great journalists."

The journalists Cusack goes on to praise are a small contingent -- including the legendary Bill Moyers, Naomi Klein, Sy Hersh and Keith Olbermann. Cusack also credits alternative press outlets like Raw Story and blogs like Crooks and Liars with keeping the public informed.

Unlike NBC and Brian Williams.  For shame.

John Adams, Washington (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 3:31 PM)

Reporting from Myanmar is tough; the government won't let the media in.  Reporting about the collusion between NBC and the Pentagon seems even tougher, not a peep, not a whisper.

Politico has this: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10204.html

about how silent the USA TV media has been about their use of propagandists to sell the war.

Brain, can you hear me now?

Jay Tucson AZ (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 3:35 PM)

Brian,

Please explain why NBC News presented Barry McCaffrey and Wayne Downing as independent military analysts without also disclosing that they were high-profile members of the "Committee for the Liberation of Iraq," dedicated to "educational and advocacy efforts to mobilize domestic and international support for policies aimed at ending the aggression of Saddam Hussein and freeing the Iraqi people from tyranny."

Please note that declaring your own "close friendship with both men" does not qualify as a defense of NBC News's decision to depict avowedly pro-war lobbyists as independent, unaffiliated analysts.

We all eagerly await an explanation as to how exactly this occurred, and what exactly NBC News will do to ensure that it is not repeated.

Mr. Williams, if you can find the time to spin the yarn of Birch Bayh's plane crash in 1964, surely you can find the time to adequately address this issue.

Best regards,

Patrick Meighan
Culver City, CA

Patrick Meighan, Culver City, CA (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:13 PM)

THANKS CRUST. I have ofte wondered and now I know.

Mark Jones Reno, NV (Sent Friday, May 09, 2008 4:13 PM)



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