Two days after giving his State of the Union address, President Obama took to the Internet to directly answer questions from Americans and people around the world on a wide range of subjects. Over 1.3 million people voted on almost 200,000 video and text questions submitted through Google Moderator and Twitter, picking the ones they most wanted the President to answer.
President Obama sat down for “Your Interview with the President,” hosted by YouTube’s Steve Grove, and responded to questions on subjects ranging from education reforms, healthcare, the recent unrest in Egypt, to his “pick” for the Superbowl.
Fred Ryan, President of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library; close friend and adviser to Nancy Reagan and the Executive Director of The Prince of Wales Foundation, Robert Higdon, a close friend of Nancy Reagan; former Reagan staffers and Washington notables gathered at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the new memoir from Ron Reagan, MY FATHER AT 100. Connie Milstein, Tammy Haddad and Jon Meacham hosted the party. Here’s an excerpt from Jon Meacham’s interview with Ron Reagan.
Ron Reagan wrote the words about his father’s final moments on this earth but could not bring himself to read them out loud again without getting emotional. And so, in a poignant end to an interview with Jon Meacham, Reagan asked the Pulitzer Prize-winner to please read them instead as he, the son of the 40th President of the United States, listened with his head partially bowed in front of a captivated audience at the Jefferson Hotel.
“His eyes found the face of the woman who for more than half a century had formed the core of his private world. ‘I love you honey, I love you’ was all she could say. Was all she needed to say,” began Meacham.
Personal family memories and moments such as these fill the pages of MY FATHER AT 100: A MEMOIR, Ron Reagan’s new book reflecting on the life of his father Ronald Reagan who would have turned 100 years old this February. Researching and writing the book was a son’s tribute to the father he knew and loved behind the presidential pomp and circumstance.
Ron Reagan shared a few of these memories at a book party Monday evening at the Jefferson Hotel co-hosted by Connie Milstein, JC de La Haye Saint Hilaire, Tammy Haddad, Ted Greenberg, and Jon Meacham.
One particular anecdote harkened back to the image of the Hollywood Reagan when he was best known for playing University of Notre Dame varsity football player George “The Gipper” Gipp on the silver screen. As a youngster, Ron knew that when he and his buddies were a man short to play football out on the front lawn that his father, even though busy working as Governor of California, would be up for a game.
“I’d pass by the window with the football,” said Reagan as he mimed tossing a football in the air to the delight of the crowd, “and I knew within half an hour or so he’d be out there. He insisted though that he had to quarterback for both teams, that was his position.”
Reagan was warmly greeted by friends and Washington, D.C. notables including Fred Ryan, President of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and close Nancy Reagan confidante Robert Higdon, now chief of the Prince of Wales Foundation.
Also attending: Senator Maria Cantwell, Tammy Duckworth, Greta Van Susteren and John Coale, Geoff Morrell, Judy Woodruff, Amy Nathan, Steve Scully, Chris Isham, and Roger Simon.
You can watch Jon Meacham and Ron Reagan’s interview below. And for more information on the memoir check out www.ronreagan100.com.
Don’t listen to the critics. If Larry King had given a thought to the naysayers back in 1985, he would have returned to radio after the first week. When we launched the show 25 years ago, no one liked the idea of an hour-long interview program.
Ted Turner figured out the advantage of television for long-form interviews. I remember the night Ted was our guest on the Larry King Radio Show, broadcast from the bowels of Mutual Radio headquarters in Crystal City, Virginia.
It was such a thrill to finally score the bigger-than-life media mogul and winner of America’s Cup. At the time, Larry King was an established radio host, but Turner saw the primetime potential.
The producers’ biggest fear switching to TV? How to go from three-hour interviews (one hour interview, two hours questions from listeners) to just one. Imagine that concept now? Good interviews don’t happen by accident, but are a complicated dance between interviewer and subject. The best interviews are ones where the audience doesn’t see the individual dance steps, but a sweeping verbal theater. You are the lead, the director and choreographer. You get people talking from their head and their heart.
People don’t just want to hear what their favorite stars have to say; they want to watch them squirm, fidget, freeze… and yes, sometimes cry. In your first week, you have shown your star guests to be real and relatable, abrupt and self satisfied, and sometimes fragile. I learned something about each one.
Ignore the critics who are stuck on the fact that you’re taping the interviews. The additional research, the ability to pluck out the most interesting bits, to weave together the complete package, is invaluable. You’re right to put your viewer’s interests first.
And for those that think the interviews should be shorter: Ross Perot didn’t announce he was running for president on Larry King Live until about 35 minutes into the show — and he changed an election.
Piers, thanks for crossing “the pond” to get some really big stars and headline newsmakers back on TV with all their foibles and follies. We are watching, tweeting and laughing along with you and the critics.
Tammy Haddad is President of Haddad Media and was one of the creators and executive producer of Larry King Live, and MSNBC’s former Washington VP.
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, would have celebrated his 100th birthday on February 6, 2011. To mark this milestone, his son Ron Reagan has written MY FATHER AT 100: A Memoir. Reagan shares his personal memories and traces his father’s journey from his family’s roots in Ireland to the Midwestern streets of his birth; from Hollywood to the California Governor’s mansion, and ultimately the White House.
Ron Reagan will talk about his new book with Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and presidential historian at a celebration at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, DC. Hosted by Connie Milstein, JC de La Haye Saint Hilaire, Tammy Haddad and Ted Greenberg. And for more information about MY FATHER AT 100, check outRonReagan100.com.
Susan Sher at a luncheon in her honor at The Jefferson Hotel in Washington,DC
New Washington friends and old Chicago pals gathered at The Jefferson Hotel to honor Susan Sher. Sher came to Washington with the Obamas serving first in the White House Counsel’s office and for the last 18 months as the First Lady’s Chief of Staff. Connie Milstein, Hilary Rosen and Tammy Haddad hosted the luncheon, which included David Axelrod, Kevin Sheekey, Julianna Smoot and Patrick Gaspard.
Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren (with his wife, Sally) saluted Sher’s West Orange, New Jersey roots as the other jersey girls, Anita Dunn and Hilary Rosen, proudly cheered him on.
While not a jersey girl, Manhattan-born Connie Milstein, is the proprietor of The Jefferson and invited the guests to raise their glasses to “thank Susan for her service to the nation.”
David Axelrod, who leaves Washington at the end of the month, praised Sher for her always-cool leadership and integrity. Axelrod said he was already making Chicago plans with Sher and Julianna Smoot, the White House Social Secretary, who announced this week she would go back to Chicago as Deputy Campaign Manager.
Other guests included Milstein’s husband, JC de La Haye Saint Hilarie, Linda Douglass, Rabbi David Saperstein, Anne Fleming, Alan Solow, Susan Davies, Danielle Grey, Maude Baggetto, Ted Greenberg, Danielle Borrin, and Holly Page.
The luncheon crowd dined on Tomato soup, Cod, Coq au Vin and Chocolate Brulee and everyone walked out with an anatomically correct White House chocolate bar. Click for photo gallery
Voting 4 to 1, the Federal Communications Commission has granted approval of the merger between cable and Internet giant Comcast and NBC Universal, a subsidiary of the General Electric Company (GE).
The approval comes with a number of conditions and enforceable commitments, including the fostering of competition in the online video marketplace; increasing local news coverage; expanding children’s programming; enhancing availability of Spanish-language programming; offering affordable broadband services to low-income Americans and increasing broadband access to schools, libraries, and underserved communities. Read more on the merger decision at POLITICO.
The Department of Justice announced its final approval of the settlement this afternoon. Comcast and NBCU can now proceed with their venture “conditioned on the parties’ agreement to license programming to online competitors to Comcast’s cable TV services, subject themselves to anti-retaliation provisions and adhere to Open Internet requirements.”
A statement released by DOJ outlines “that the proposed settlement will preserve new content distribution models that offer more products and greater innovation, and the potential to provide consumers access to their favorite programming on a variety of devices in a wide selection of packages.”
Teresa Scanlan made history Saturday night in what was an evening full of firsts in the Miss America Pageant’s 90 years. At the age of 17, Scanlan is the youngest (since they enacted age limits in 1938) and the first from the Cornhusker state of Nebraska to win the crown. As Miss America 2011, Scanlan will travel approximately 20,000 miles each month as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and to promote her platform of Eating Disorders: A Generation at Risk. She was inspired to take up the cause by a friend who is struggling with bulimia.
Scanlan, who turns 18 next month, is deferring her enrollment at Patrick Henry College in Virginia. But her aspirations to study law and become a politician are stronger than ever. As she told the Associated Press, Scanlan is going into politics so she can “stand up for what’s right, stand up for integrity and honesty.
“At this point, attorneys and politicians are looked down on and have terrible reputations for being greedy and power hungry and I really think it’s important for people who have their heart and mind in the right place get into those powerful positions,” she said.
The recent high school grad beat out 52 other young women for the ultimate prize at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, taking home a $50,000 scholarship sponsored by Artistry exclusively by Amway to continue her education.
First runner-up honors went to Miss Arkansas Alyse Eady whose talent performance was Vocal-Ventriloquism to “I want to be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.” Eady earned a $25,000 scholarship while Miss Hawaii Jalee Fuselier was awarded $20,000 as second runner-up.
America had their say in another pageant first by voting online and via text message for their favorite contestants in the days leading up to the pageant. Miss New York Claire Buffie and Miss Delaware Kayla Martell won ABC’s America’s choice, both making headlines for the causes they represent. Buffie was the first contestant to ever run on a gay rights platform, and Martell hopes to raise awareness about alopecia areata, a disease that caused her to start losing her hair at the age of 13.
The Miss America Organization is the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women, making more than $45 million available last year alone. Want to see who won over the judges? Here’s Teresa Scanlan in her first press conference as Miss America 2011:
Caressa Cameron is crowned Miss America 2010. Photo courtesy MAO.
They’ve got smarts, talent, compassion, and a whole lot of gumption to be able to walk across the national stage in front of millions of viewers while balancing a tiara on their heads. But we expect nothing less from a future Miss America!
Over 12,000 young women made their way through local and state pageants this past year, and 53 three of them are about to face the final hurrah! This Saturday, the Miss America pageant returns to network television after five years on cable. This will be an historic night on ABC as 2011 marks the pageant’s 90th Anniversary.
For the first time in pageant history, Americans had a say in who they’d like to see in the finals by voting online and via text message. This week the contestants have been competing in preliminary contests and by Saturday evening, the field will have been narrowed to 15 finalists.
Broadcast from Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, the pageant has become a showcase for what can be achieved by promoting education and encouraging hard work. The Miss American Organization made more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance available to young women last year alone.
The Miss America Board of Directors is committed to preserving this tradition of scholastic achievement and added Regina Hopper, President and CEO of America’s Natural Gas Alliance and Miss Arkansas 1983, as its newest member in August to work for this cause.
But any Miss America is smart enough to know that it can’t be all about the books and that a sense of humor is an absolute necessity – especially being able to laugh at yourself. Here are a few takes from late night comedians, including ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, and CBS’ David Letterman with the “Top 10 Signs You’re Not Going to Win The Miss America Pageant.”
So, tune in to ABC this Saturday at 9pm EST to see who is crowned Miss America 2011 – until then there is plenty of action going on at www.facebook.com/MissAmericaOrganization where you can watch the preliminary competitions which wrapped last night, as well as get other behind-the scenes scoops.
Democracy has come to the Miss America pageant. You can join the thousands who have already voted by casting your vote for your favorite contestant as one of the finalists. Each of the 53 contestants taped a short video telling you why they should be the next Miss America. You can watch the videos and vote by going online to MissAmerica.org, on the Miss America Facebook page, YouTube Page, or by texting MAST (letters “ST” should be replaced by the state abbreviation you want to vote for) to 24470.
Voting ends at Midnight on January 13th.
Sam Haskell with the 2010 Miss America Judges after the Pageant in Las, Vegas
Sam Haskell, Miss America’s Chairman of the Board wrote a piece in the Huffington Post about his experience with Miss America and why you should watch the pageant that turns 90 this Saturday, January 15 on ABC.
A few highlights from Sam’s post below:
Before there was a television show to idolize singers or a program to see who thinks they can dance, there was Miss America: a showcase for talented young women. And before social networking meant interacting through a website, there was Miss America: a pageant that brought together women from every state to share their hopes for our great country. Over the last 90 years, Americans have been mesmerized by the magic of Miss America. I personally have been enchanted for more years than I dare put in writing, and it started way before I married a Miss Mississippi or became Chairman of the Board of the Miss America Organization.
The Miss America Organization is the largest women’s scholarship program, with up to $45 million in scholarships awarded each year. Even during these difficult economic times, we are not cutting back. I’ve watched lives change because of the scholarships from the pageant program.
Communities have been changed, too. This year, more than 13,000 young women made their way through the state and local pageants. Every contestant is required to actively promote a platform that serves her community. When crowned, Miss America supports our national service partner, the Children’s Miracle Network, which helps over 170 children’s hospitals around the United States.
The next Miss America is among the 53 young women currently in Las Vegas rehearsing for Saturday night’s pageant. She is smart and talented — she is America at its best. And now we can all be a part of history and vote for who we think should be in the top 15 finalists. Over 100,000 people have voted already on Facebook, YouTube and MissAmerica.org. I urge you to get to know these amazing young women and cast your own vote. Then tune in on January 15, 2011, on ABC to see if your favorite wins. I’ll be watching — after all, I’ve always loved a good show!
Also check out Sam introducing this year’s judges at the press conference held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas:
William Daley, JPMorgan Chase senior executive and Secretary of Commerce during the Clinton administration, has been named the new White House Chief of Staff.
Daley officially takes over for Rahm Emanuel who left to return to Chicago to campaign for mayor (coincidentally, Mr. Daley’s brother Richard serves as Chicago’s current Mayor). Pete Rouse, who served as interim chief of staff, will continue as a Counselor to the President.
Bill Daley, Bill Daley Jr., Tom Hynes, and Terry Dee at the CURE Epilepsy Benefit in Chicago 2010
In today’s special announcement in the East Room, President Obama said he was “proud to announce the appointment of an experienced public servant, devoted patriot, and my friend, fellow Chicagoan Bill Daley, to serve as my Chief of Staff. Few Americans can boast the breadth of experience that Bill brings to this job.”
Burson-Marstellar executive Rick Powell, teams up with Bloomberg Government Chairman Kevin Sheekey for a powerhouse global media punch for Bloomberg L.P.
Tina Tchen with her daughter and Matthew Morrison at the 2010 WH Correspondents Brunch
Obama White House Senior Adviser, Tina Tchen, is named Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama, replacing Susan Sher who previously announced she is returning to Chicago. Ms. Tchen has most recently worked for Valerie Jarrett as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement, and as Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls. She will continue to lead the White House efforts for women and girls.
Below is the White House Press Release:
January 5, 2011
Statement from Mrs. Obama
“I am thrilled to welcome Tina to my team. I have admired her work with the White House Council on Women and Girls and her leadership with the Office of Public Engagement. Tina’s tenure at the White House has focused on ensuring that communities across the country have a voice and a presence at the White House, and her office has worked closely with mine to develop many of our outreach efforts, so she was the natural choice for this role. We particularly share a commitment to nurturing young women and utilizing the White House as a platform for education and inclusion, and I look forward to continuing that work together.
“As sad as I am to see Susan go, I always knew she would return to her family and her community in Chicago. She arrived here in January of 2009 intending only to stay for a year and her extended tenure as my Chief of Staff has been a gift. She has led my team with an even hand and a clear vision and I am so grateful to her and her family for her time here in Washington.
“When selecting a replacement, I looked for someone who had the right experience to lead my team and am grateful to bring on Tina, whom I’ve known and respected for 20 years. Tina’s success leading the Office of Public Engagement, reaching out to people across the country and encouraging Americans from all walks of life to feel connected to this White House, makes her uniquely qualified to step up to this position. I look forward to working with her in the years ahead to develop effective strategies for the Let’s Move! campaign, to broaden our work on behalf of military families, to continue the arts and cultural events in the White House, and to advance our international agenda.”
Valerie Jarrett, Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, and Senior Adviser and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement said, “Tina has been an incredible asset as the Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and the Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls. As the President said at the Council’s formation in the spring of 2009, the issues facing women today are not just women’s issues. When women are treated unfairly, that affects our families, our work environments and the next generation of young women. Throughout her career, Tina has been a tireless advocate for women and families, and she brought that wealth of experience and dedication to the White House Council’s efforts. She will bring her leadership, wisdom and passion to her new position and continue to have a substantial impact on the issues affecting America’s women and girls.”
Ms. Tchen began her work for the President and First Lady during the 2008 campaign. Prior to this service, Ms. Tchen was a partner at the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where she worked for 23 years in corporate litigation, representing public agencies including the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), the Illinois Department of Public Aid and the Chicago Housing Authority.
UPDATE (4:54 PM): In today’s White House press briefing Robert Gibbs confirmed he was leaving the White House and when asked about leaving and what his next steps were, Gibbs responded, “that is it is an honor and a privilege to stand here, to work inside this building, to serve your country, to work for a President that I admire as much as President Barack Obama. I’ve been a member of his staff for almost seven years, and it’s — again, it’s a remarkable privilege. It is in many ways the opportunity of a lifetime, one that I will be forever thankful and grateful for. What I’m going to do next is step back a little bit, recharge some. We’ve been going at this pace for at least four years. I will have an opportunity I hope to give some speeches. I will continue to provide advice and counsel to this building and to this President. And I look forward to continuing to do that.”
To view the full press briefing and Gibbs statement click here.
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs will be leaving the White House briefing room podium in early February according to a New York Times article from this morning.
Gibbs will continue to be an adviser to President Obama and will work on his re-election campaign as well as hit the speaking circuit.
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks with Robert Gibbs at the White House
President Obama commented on Gibbs’ departure to the New York Times in a brief phone interview, saying: “We’ve been on this ride together since I won my Senate primary in 2004… He’s had a six-year stretch now where basically he’s been going 24/7 with relatively modest pay. I think it’s natural for someone like Robert to want to step back for a second to reflect, retool and that, as a consequence, brings about both challenges and opportunities for the White House.” The President declined to comment on who would be replacing him but said “You’ll be seeing announcements in due course.”
Rayburn, O’Neil, McCormack and Hastert in Top Four
With today’s historic shift to a Republican controlled House of Representatives, here is the latest Wikipedia list of tenure of the “Speaker of the House” over history. Imagine what Washington was like with the reign of Sam Rayburn who held the Speakers chair for over 17 years. He was followed by Tip O’Neill with 9 years and 350 days, John McCormack with 8 years and 344 days and Dennis Hassert with 7 years and 359 day. Nancy Pelosi beat out Newt Gingrich by only 2 days with Pelsosi serving 3 years and 363 days.
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RT @eighteencats: Late to the party- Obama Releases Birth Video at the 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner: http://t.co/qOBlaSjG HAHAHA @elevenphrases […]
