Bob and Carl were in town to chat last night for the yearly Augustana Boe Forum. Tickets were scrounged up so we, Scott and me, could attend the event. It was an interesting night.
Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin moderated a comfortable chat with Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein from big chairs setup on the stage. The March 19th, 2019 event was well worth attending. These are reporters who have poked da bigwigs of every political stripe for soon 50 years and appear to be ready to keep doing it.
It was fun to watch the attendees troop in from our floor level seat in front of a group from Stormland-TV. Some of the comments from behind us were hilarious, as some of them were trying to understand the subtleties of the speaker’s comments.
(DL: When Woodward asked the crowd how many people watch TV for their news, only about 10-20% raised their hands, when he asked print/internet the entire rest of the crowd raised their hands. After that I heard someone faintly behind us say ‘keloland.com’. I really only believe people watch local TV news for the local weather, but not local news.)
Also from our spot we watched many of our local authoritarians march in. We also could see these politicos appear to listen to and understand the message the two Washington reporters were trying to convey. From our perch, observing the locals added to the enjoyment of the evening. Few of them seem to be there to learn government openness. Maybe these local politico were there to improve the ongoing efforts of hiding information from those of us who look too close.
Many times during the questioning, my thoughts went to comparing our local buffoons of power with the 1970’s Washington power buffoons. It brought back the fall of 1974, when I was able to have a front row seat at the Watergate trial with Judge John Sirica presiding over the trial of several top Nixon aides, including H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman and former attorney general John Mitchell. I would have never had a front row seat to history had these two men not been allowed by the Post to do their jobs to the fullest extent possible.
Washington of 1974 was an electric place following the collapse of one government and all the changes happening as the new administration was trying to start up. Without these two lowly police beat reporters, looking into a simple burglary, who knows what damage would have happened to all of us. We also have those who say these two might have damaged our system, history will tell. One thing we do know, the 1st Amendment worked. Bi-partisan politics works. We also have learned our system of education has not worked, but that is another story for another time.
A couple of side stories of interest, included hearing their insider’s view of how Republican U.S. Senators Hugh Scott and Barry Goldwater honestly told Nixon he did not have the votes to stay in power. Bob’s personal change in his view of Gerald Ford’s unconditional pardon of Nixon, one month after the resignation of Nixon was refreshing. The country in 1974 was pissed at Ford, most of America wanted revenge. Only Gerald Ford had the guts to end the collective “long national nightmare†of Richard Nixon and sacrificed his political career for it.
It was interesting to listen to these two heroes of my early adult political life, discuss their ability to “follow the money†to break the corruption and intrigue of the Nixon administration.  When the reporters brought up their comparisons between the 1970’s and now, many in the audience were definitely upset. This crowd reaction to their comparison was so divisive, Bob and Carl commented on the split crowd. As the discussion of the current administration’s documented and published 8,000 lies progressed, the crowd’s reaction even seem to catch the speakers by surprise. It also came out how little appreciation there was of their work by some in the audience.
Bob and Carl let us know many Republicans in power positions today do not like Trump and his actions but still don’t raise their collective voices to challenge it. Â Our local authoritarians in the room did not like what they heard.
(DL: Former Mayor Bowlcut & Bucktooth made an appearance, as he walked along the bleachers he shook everyone’s hands like he was running for something. I guess it is not to early to announce you are challenging TenHaken).
The local authoritarians, sitting within our immediate view, did not like hearing some of their stories of how the reporters have researched corrupt politicians. Toward the end Boe Forum organizers asked two of Augie’s best and brightest to ask some questions. A lighthearted moment of the event was when one of the students accidently named the pair “Mr. Woodstein†in his question. Nice touch. These journalism students centered their comments on the fate of local media and especially newspapers. In the reporter’s answer was a dig on Gannet’s takeover of local media and their profit motivation over community news. It also reminded me of personal conversations with Al Neuharth where he was so proud of USA Today and how it would control the dialogue of the nation.
Just few lessons relearned on Tuesday night: 1) no matter who is in power, money is the root of all corruption. 2) The ability of corrupt individuals who believe in and have the goal of absolute power to control our lives must be kept in check. 3) Our local government efforts are in the mode of their 1972 efforts to follow the money, power and money run hand in hand. 4) Authoritarians have no business being part of American politics, power or life.
The real life versions of Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman of the movie have aged well. Long may they continue to poke at the pompous buffoons of power. We need it more now than ever.
Nice read. Wish I could have been there. I’ll hold onto hope for a video replay. Thanks for sharing, Bruce.
“When the reporters brought up their comparisons between the 1970’s and now, many in the audience were definitely upset. This crowd reaction to their comparison was so divisive, Bob and Carl commented on the split crowd.”