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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.



This is it

Posted: Monday, November 03, 2008 4:58 PM by Sam Singal

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

Depending on where you live and what NBC Station you watch, most of you should be seeing a special one-hour version of Nightly News tonight -- from our massive Election Headquarters at 30 Rock here in New York. I've officially entered the cone of silence -- I'm keeping my comments to myself in terms of polls and predictions -- I'm going home tonight to immerse myself in homework (but not too much). Tomorrow I'll vote in the morning and then come in to the office for a long day's journey into night -- and then day again. I've had no fewer than 15 meetings with cult-favorite Chuck Todd today (reachable only by cell phone, he's like Charlie on Charlie's Angels -- it's so rare to have a "personal audience" with him, so I love when he's in New York) and am about to talk with him again. He's one of many great wing men I'll have on election night -- wing persons, actually -- including Tom Brokaw to my immediate left and Andrea Mitchell to my immediate right on Tuesday night..

For now, we have a big preview broadcast to get on the air tonight -- I hope you can join us tonight and all the way through.

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Good Evening Mr.Williams, Well, it has now come down to the night before the election and it will be a huge day tomorrow. I will be looking forward to the one hour broadcast this evening with the great insight of the NBC political team. I know you will be working very,very hard tomorrow after you go to vote in the morning. Don't work too hard or late on the homework tonight Mr.Williams, you will be up late Tuesday. Get some rest!
Looking forward to the broadcast this evening Mr.Williams. Peace to You and to All!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna and Matt!
Be Well Always!
Stay Extra Safe and Well Richard! See you soon on Nightly News!
XOXO
 
Brian -

I live in an 80 unit, over 62, condo community.  The AARP magazine arrived in mailboxes here today, and you, yes you are the Rock Star of Hillside Village.  Nothing but nice things are being said about you.  Enjoy.

Joan
If elected, Obama will go back to Rev. Wright, who will probably say the innaugural prayer. Ayers and Oprah will probably be in his cabinet with Powell and we'll find out the truth about the "chosen one."

Conservatives and some Dems don't like his past and his ACORN affiliation but liberals are so hard up for a candidate that might make it that they will forget the spreading of the wealth from achievers only to be given to the lazy, not the poor and unfortunate, but the lazy. They will forget that he has lowered the $250,000 tax hike cut-off to $120,000 already and who knows where it will stop.
They will see nothing wrong with Barack shutting down the coal companies and can't wait for "energy costs to soar," as he said. They won't mind "not buying every little thing they want" in order to sacrifice for their country.

Obama is going to be a dictator. I think people will be crying Bush, Bush before it's over. This guy will run loose with fellow loons Pelosi, Reid and Frank.
He has the ideology of a madman.

Like the old Creedence song "Bad Moon Rising" ....."there's a bad moon on the rise."


Brian, I do hope you will remain in your cone of silence until the polls close in the Pacific time zone.  

Here in Nevada, which some consider a battleground state so much so that Sarah Palin will be at a rally in town at 8pm tonight before moving to another rally at 10pm in another part of the state, the polls are still open when yours are already closed.  Any hint of unofficial results or exit polls results from where you are can have profound effects where I am.  If you announce one candidate has a large lead over the other some people here may say the election is over and not go out and vote after work.

24 hours from now you, and your fellow anchors from the other networks and media outlets, can have an unintended influence over the election with a misspoken word or graphic.

You have the story, you have the results coming in and yet you can't say anything for a few more hours.   It's one thing to be first on the air with a prediction and the winner of the election should be the story not about the network who messed up the election.

By the way, with all the stories you reported on about early voting why didn't you?
Hope to join you tonight and all the way through, but reach for the remote when you start to call an election before all Americans have voted. It's another way to display bias and try to influence an election. That's not the role of the press.  
Mr. Williams,
You mentioned California's amendment to ban gay marriage, but Florida also has the same amendment on our ballot tomorrow, Nov. 4th.
http://www.sayno2.com/index.php
Florida's amendment is stated in a way that no other union besides that of a man and woman, will be legal in the state of Florida.
It is to ban gay marriage here, but gay marriage is already against the law in Florida, we don't need an amendment to say it twice.

I just thought you'd like to know that Florida has the same kind of amendment on our ballots too.
This is the exact wording of amendment 2 in Florida:

"Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."
Audio problem in the first 10 minutes or so of broadcast?  I have noted here that the final "s" or even syllable seems to be cut off funny.  Things seem fine with the extra 30 minute portion of the broadcast.  Brian's "reliably" mispronunciation and correction was fine.  Have been checking on 2 different televisions, both are on cable and the "regular" local 11Alive station here in GA.  Anyone else notice this in my pre-check?
I was glad to the NBC affiliate I was watching have your second half hour broadcast on tonight. Also it was good to see you had Tennessean Harold Ford, Jr. with his comments. Although I would have rather have him give his comments as a Senator from Tennessee.
Why do you have Ford on your broadcast. Everybody knows his whole family are crooks and most are in Prison. No one wants to hear anything he has to say. Certainly not anyone in TN.
He had money to burn I guess. Obama’s attack ad on … Obama. :-) Nice job Mary Katharine Ham!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3LZNc_TP_o

I can't believe it - Election Day is tomorrow!  Not often you get to wake up in the morning and know you're going to make history by the end of the day.  

I am not a morning person, but Tuesday is my early day.  I plan on being in line at 6am SHARP when my polls open so I can vote before my day starts... we'll see how long I'll have to wait!
Looking forward to your coverage tomorrow, but it won't be the same without Tim. It still feels as if this era in politics has lost an important voice, and that void will most certainly be felt tomorrow.

I'm sure Mr. Russert gets NBC & MSNBC now, wherever he may be.
Good Evening Mr.Williams, A great hour long broadcast this evening and I must say you covered so many aspects of the election is was really amazing. All the correspondents are doing a wonderful job out in all the battleground States and Rockefeller Plaza looks all geared up for an exciting election night on Tuesday. I can't believe we finally made it! WOO! HOO! Now on to the broadcast. The reports by Kelly O'Donnell and Lee Cowan on Obama and McCain criss-crossing the United States in the key battleground States showed how much extra effort both of them are making to get their message to voters. I don't know how they do it and keep their energy going, but adrenalin from hearing the cheers from supporters must help them tremendously.
The anaysis by Mr.Holt of the Congressional Races was most interesting. Many leaders who have been in their seats for years are now facing the possibility of losing to their opponent. One party over another makes a big difference in the decisions that are made after the President is elected. So many tight races and time will tell on Tuesday who prevails as the winners.
The report by Rehema Ellis from Rockefeller Plaza on possible voting problems showed how with such a huge number of voters there of course might be problems. The map of the United States on the rink will be exciting to see and something new to the election coverage.
It was very nice to see Luke Russert reporting this evening covering the youth vote as part if his coverage. I think his father would be so very proud and is looking down and smiling at what a great job his son is doing. It won't be the same without Tim Russert getting excited about the returns and the white dry erase board he used to write down the States and their electoral votes. But I'm sure he is watching from heaven and getting excited about the ourtcome. Probably has his white dry erase board all ready to go. We really miss him right now!
Finally, your interview with Seth Myers was fun and I think SNL has done a great job with this campaign. Seth Myers has written some fantastic political sketches and the Weekend Update segements too. I enjoyed viewing the extended interview on-line.
Great hour-long broadcast Mr.Williams. Try to get some sleep tonight. You will need it for covering returns Tuesday! I will go out and vote tomorrow and get the coveted "I'm a Georgia Voter" peach sticker one receives after finishing voting! It will be a historic day! Thank you for the broadcast! Peace to You and to All!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna and Matt!
Be Well Always!
Stay Safe and Well Richard! See You Soon on Nightly News!
XOXO
when you talk too tom brokaw, ask him if he found out more about obama. on the charlie rose show he said he had no idea about much of anything obama believes  in or who his friends and mentors are. did you mention anything tonight about obama bankrupting the coal business?? missed your show.
Brian, if McCain wins the election, our country will be safe.  We will not need to worry about a depression.  Sarah Palin is a great back up.  AMERICA PLEASE VOTE FOR MCCAIN/PAIN.  THANK YOU
Brian,
My sister and I have counted on you and your wing man, Chuck Todd throughout this entire election. We will also be voting at 6:00 a.m. or standing in line waiting with neighbors and friends. We miss Tim Russert being in the center of this election coverage "hurricane." Please know that you and the staff have done an excellent job and we will be watching you guys on election day.
Mr. Williams I am sure you are tired of all this election talk as much as I am. I would just like to express my thanks to you for making your appearances on Sesame Street. It is so wonderful to see a well known adult on my TV screen instead of just puppets. My daughter also likes to see the faces in the morning and at night also( even though she is only 13months). Thanks Again
I think that an image of Tim Russert should be on the ice rink tomorrow night in his honor. I miss him very much and I think it would be a nice gesture on NBC's part.
http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/k-sadovski/view/131205/
my beloved cat vasilii from samara he wants to vote too
In your broadcast tonight you mentioned NBC's "Massive Election Headquarters".  In 1944, while a senior at De Witt Clinton High School I obtained a lowly position at NBC  as a messenger in the Communications Division of the Traffic Department.  We were located behind the glass windows that opened the NBS engineers and the Communications operation to the touring public.  I worked at nights and weekends.  There was very little traffic comming over the teletype machines during these hours.  At times I would wander into the News Room which was not even in the sound-proof portion of 30 Rock.  In the room was a microphone which was used to announce that Japan had bombed Peral Harbor.  The area was not open to the public.  If my brief stint at NBC is of any interest I would be happy to write a few more words.
Ralph W. Hansen    
NBC News has been my favorite for many, many years but during this election I found Brian Williams reports bias. I am very surprise to see his favoritism towards McCain. For me  it is easy; I just have to change the channel and I hope many will do the same.
Hi Brian,
I'd like to extend a bit of extra special praise for a few members of the election coverage team. Chuck Todd has been a fabulous choice to fill the never replaceable Tim Russert. Tim was ever so excited about the upcoming election and I hope that many of us will send a warm thought to him in the coming days. Thank goodness Chuck is so low-key - now that was a brilliant counterpart choice in that Tim was delightful in his passion.
Andrea Mitchell has been an absolute rock, even during the current economic catastrophe. She's fabulous.
Lisa Myers is always my choice for the finest reliable reporter who receives the least recognition for her work.
Thanks Brian and team for reminding us of some of the significant state initiatives that will be decided tomorrow. PLEASE include coverage and results of Proposition 2 in Ca - we're counting on you Brian.
McCain has just allowed the GOP Trust, people who listen to the teachings of a minister who said about Jewish men and women that the Holocaust was their punishment for killing Jesus. Please, ignore ads driven by hate. Baraka Obama will win. He is intelligent, sophisticated, and will be well respected esp. abroad. I want everyone to recieve healthcare, I want the youth to be able to secure an affordable loan for post-seconday education, Baraka is not going to take away freedom of speech. And how can anyone say that he is a Muslim if he went to church? How can anyone say that he does not like Caucasians when he was raised by he Caucasian grandparents who he adores. His advisors are the best, so much so, that current politicians are implementing his plan already as they aim to fix the problems with the economy. Vote for change! Vote for OBAMA!
Mr. Williams:
Your coverage of the political scene has been mostly fair and your guests have tried to match your standards.
However, I am quite shocked that you have NOT discussed the implied slur against our Arab fellow citizens. The so-called "McCain Moment" when he said: "No, Ma'am, he is not an Arab, he is a decent family man", was to me a damaging Freudian slip:  Arabs cannot be decent family men? So what if he were of Arab origin?...Does Sen. McCain dislike Arabs? The lady could not make a difference: Arab or terrorist! Exactly. But McCain was not thinking either. The media gave credit to McCain's reply as an Honest Defense of Obama's mysterious background whenever the scene was repeated over and over. End of discussion.
Nobody ever brought up the fact that rumors of "Obama being a Moslem" were baseless, rude and ... racist as well. One day, we will have a Moslem president, just like we are now electing a half-white/half black person. I love America just for that possibility. Please keep it that way.
Political Analysts have to be better listeners before they jump to conclusions of what was said and what suits them to hear.
PS I am sure that our citizens of Arab origin do not appreciate what happened at that rally or how the media interpreted McCain's response. Nice try, but very much overlooking a racist slur. We, in Hawaii, are very sensitive to such statements.
wow today is tusday already, I voted early on friday but I cant still wait to know the result on the end of tonight, unfortunatly i am not luky because i wont get to see your report about the ellection because i  have class from 5pm to 10p so sad
Does this Lee Cowan actually research or does he reads the talking points of the Obama campaign?

The grannie was 86, not 87 and she died Sunday and not early Monday.
Why did NBC even bother to add an extra half-hour to Monday's Nightly News?  It added nothing.  Mostly, they used the extra time to hype their election coverage (and the NBC correspondents) and tell us who would be covering what on election day.  Someone needs to tell NBC that the election, not the people covering it, is the real story.  And they can't be serious about using Luke Russert as a correspondent.  Is this NBC News or the Sopranos?  When Jackie Aprile died, Tony Soprano made sure to take Jackie Jr. under his wing and help guide him into the family business (unfortunately, that didn't work out so well).  So I guess Brian fancies himself as the Capo of the NBC famiglia who will guide young Luke into the family business.  As I recall, Tony could never quite live up to the legacy of his father, Johnny Boy Soprano.  And Brian can't seem to live up to the legacy of Tom Brokaw.  Lots of parallels there.  Maybe Brian needs a few sessions with Dr. Melfi.  I mean Dr. Snyderman.

Anyway, it's obvious why NBC added an extra half-hour to their Monday broadcast.  First of all, the network (instead of the local affiliates) got to keep the ad revenue from the second half-hour, and that's what really matters to NBC.  Money, money, money.  And the last 10 minutes of the broadcast was used solely to promote other NBC properties.  First, there was that gripping weather report from the Weather Channel (the newest NBC Universal property).  Then there was a whopping three-minute-and-forty-second story devoted to Saturday Night Live.  On any other night, Nightly News wouldn't use 3:40 if Australia sank into the ocean, but when it comes to plugging SNL, apparently there's no time limit.  Brian's fawning interview with Seth Meyers was ridiculous--a new low in journalism.  I couldn't help laughing at the on-screen graphic that read "Brian Williams Reporting".  It should have read "Brian Williams Sucking Up".  I guess Brian is lobbying for another shot at hosting SNL.  During the entire hour of Monday's newscast, there was not a single story about Europe, Asia, the Middle East or Africa (has NBC News even heard about what's going on in the Congo?), but now we know all about what's going on at SNL.  Great job, NBC.  You should all be very proud of yourselves.
http://fotki.yandex.ru/top/users/tiga-igor/view/1138
beautiful forest pet as the life it self
Good morning Mr. Williams.  You are an example of integrity, class and a REAL journalist in the tradition of many distinguished colleagues who paved the way for your turn in the chair.  I watched your reaction at the Al Smith dinner when Tim Russert was acknowledged.  His loss will be felt for a long time.  I believe he is "in the house" today, watching over you and your team as you prepare for this important night.  Good luck, Mr. Williams, this special day in our country's history.    
   
I have thought so often of Tim this year and imagine him to be the only person in heaven begging to come back...just until 11/5.  You'll have him as your true wing-ed man tonight.
The weather-man here in Albany, says its going to be a beautiful day today.  Sunshine on my shoulders, makes me happy.  Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry.  Sunshine on the water looks so lovely, sunshine almost always makes me high! saying hi.  All the time it makes me High.
Saw you letter last night. nice...!!letter from this side- catt to robert to you for Wednesday.In my letter God made "a presidentual" determination,and its 'equivical'- on the historical day. Don't know if WALB puts TV on National election coverage-not sure. I feel the magnitude of importance on the outcome of todays race. relax in your spare minutes. Will talk to soon. tes
Obama takes 20 minutes to vote today and conveniently, just when he's through, Biden's car pulls up for him to vote. Another photo op planned by the Obama campaign. I wonder how many times Biden's car had to drive around the block until Obama was through.

A great line by Fox & Friends concerning the extremely long 20 minute vote by Obama: "Maybe he's reconsidering John McCain's closing arguments and is deciding if he should vote the McCain/Palin ticket. After all, Biden hasn't been doing him much good."
Hi Brian, I am a life-long viewer of NBC Nightly news and a big fan of yours. I just wanted to let you know our household will be right with you guys tonight and thanks in advance for all the great coverage. I wouldn't watch the election results anywhere else! Like all of you at NBC, this evenings coverage will be bittersweet for our family as we miss "Mr. Election" himself, Tim Russert. I'm sure his absence is felt there, but he is cheering you on.....he is cheering our democratic process on, and he cheers us all on from Heaven. God Bless and I hope they make good cofee there at NBC!
I found it very odd that in the segment for Obama you followed a clip of him attacking McCain for a past remark he made, with a clip of McCain making the remark, clearly the intent being to back up Obama's attack and give it emphasis making it more likely to influence the voter.  
    Yet, the McCain segment spent contained two very short clips of McCain, neither one a strong part of his stump speech. Wouldn't it have been more honest and balanced to show the criticism of Obama's remark about coal fired plants and then run the video of Obam's making those remarks?  
 The Obama campaign could not have put together a more positive helpful election eve segment if they tried. The McCain segment was a stark  minimalist go through the motions report.    
 
Mr. Williams,

I saw you on Conan last night.I enjoyed what you had to say but, I have to respectfully disagree with you on something you said.You made the comment that those that don't vote have no right to speak?Sir, it is our civic duty to vote and an individual right to vote,speak,right letters to the editor,protest etc.Maybe, I don't like the candidates in  an election and I choose to exercise MY right not to vote.Then, I can choose to organize and provide opposition candidates etc.The true beauty of our system is the fact that we are not FORCED to do anything.Even, the man who you were mad at still has that fundamental right of citizenship in this country.I know you probably were mad at him for just not bothering to vote.But, he has the freedom to do just that in this country and you have to respect the FREEDOMS in this country over your sense of personal duty to this country.Don't worry we will elect the next president!
Brian, Our hearts go to all of you at NBC as this memorable day is here.  Can you imagine what our friend Tim is doing?  This day is not the same without him, but what memories we are making. This is such a great country and one of our rights is to vote.  Remember, Florida, Florida, Florida....or maybe not.  It's probably a different state this time.  God bless all of you and when the day is over, sleep well.
Did anyone else find it a bit weird to see both Lester Holt and Brian Williams at the same desk last night?
From the great State of California RNC filed a compaint against Senator Obama for using campaign money to visit his grandmother who isn't that sick. Just how low will people go in this election. The complaint was filed before the news came out about Mrs. Dunham's death. Will God bless America with this conduct. No complaints were filed for misuse of RNC money on the Palin Family 150,000 shopping spree. Senator Obama while visiting his sick grandmother talked to supporters along the way and even contacted his campaign headquarters in Hawaii. At lease he got good advice from his grandmother " get back to work".  What has become of Americans to act in such a hateful way.  

I'll be glad when this election is over so Americans can see if we won or lost our country.
Member of Generation Y here.

I voted and I'm proud.

And I'm in the Central Community College radio station right now, playing Bob Dylan's "The Times, They Are Changing" and telling fellow students to get out and vote.

Facebook currently has people who voted almost to the 2 million mark.

We are the Youth of America and it's time to get some new blood into the Whitehouse.

~Andi Out
Thank you for all that you do to keep us informed. I will be watching tonight, as every night. Tonight I will miss Tim Russert a little more than usual. I am certain he is in heaven and very proud of Chuck Todd and the team. It appears he has helped make everyone better investigators and reporters of this election. Hearing Luke last night was a little like hearing his father, his manner of speach, his pauses, I hope he has influenced the youth of America!

My best,
Julie
PLEASE do NOT call a winner until the polls are closed in the WEST! I don't want anyone not to vote because you predicted a winner!  PLEASE!

Thank you for your time.
are you kidding Mary in San Diego - Brian supports McCain?????

Obviously you've not been watching the same NBC a lot of other posters have, because there have been plenty of them railing against Brian for being so heavily biased for Obama!

so I'll say it again: don't waste your time carrying on about a journalist's bias; spend your energy educating yourself and VOTING.  You can find news coverage for every flavor of political views, so go find it!
Congrats on getting your man elected! We've endured your Obama RAH RAH, but tonights gloating was just too much. We got ill and had to change channels!
'...there will be young children in the White House for the first time in...' hey pal, you've lost any respect I had for you...THE POLLS HAVE NOT CLOSED YET!!! I gave you the benefit, and you've abused it merely because you like the sound of of your own voice, which I will no longer listen too!  


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