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.
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Playing his Card right
When the history of the Bush presidency is written, Andy Card may be referred to as the most powerful White House Chief of Staff of the modern era. He has had an extraordinary influence over the execution of policy, the management of personnel and the direct control of the flow of information to the President. In a White House famous for its control of the message, it was notable recently when reporters' profiles of Mr. Card started mentioning his long work hours and weekly schedule -- seemingly always in the first paragraph. Looking back, it was the first sign that these past five years in a tough job and at an unforgiving pace, had taken their toll. In a political family that venerates loyalty, he is an icon. He was the man who first told the President the nation had been attacked on 9/11, and it was then incumbent on him to re-design the Bush Presidency for an era of global terrorism.
Today an emotional President Bush announced his friend Andy Card will be moving on. He'll be replaced by Josh Bolten, a well-known Washington hand in this administration, who brings a fresh budget background to the job. Those who Googled Bolten today no doubt saw mention of Bo Derek and a Harley-Davidson. That keeps life interesting. The White House staff shuffle (is there more to come?) will be at or near the top of our broadcast tonight.
Also this evening: the loss of two major figures from the Reagan years, today's case before the Supreme Court, and the troubles in Paris (more on that later). We will also check in on the Gulf Coast tonight for an update on the Mississippi coast, as part of our “Long Road Back” series of reports.
And we'll look at a developing trend in this country that is horrifying to those of us with an aversion to mornings: the increasingly-early wake-up time across the United States. Who better than Dawn Fratangelo to bring us that report tonight?
The perils of a live feed
With the cable networks airing the very same live pool pictures from Paris, I just saw a young man using his bare buttocks to express his sentiments to French Police spraying the protestors with water cannons. His aforementioned derrière aired simultaneously on two different cable networks, followed by various one-finger salutes (it could be a regional thing, but I fear it means the same thing as it does where I grew up in Jersey) aired live on CNN. It all makes for interesting, albeit R-rated, afternoon cable viewing.
From the author
I got a huge kick out of the e-mail posted on the blog last night asking if I was truly the author of this blog. It was sympathetic in tone, noting the demands on my time. But allow me to say, once and for all: Yes, it's me. And while, as the nice man notes, it's time-consuming (considering I can't post until after our editorial meeting, which is then followed by a studio session taping promos for the next day, which is then followed by sitting down to write and edit copy for air) I've come to enjoy it enormously and I do feel it has made for a personal connection with our most-involved viewers that I don't think existed before.
Following the broadcast tonight, I will be with the one group of living Americans that I respect more than any other. Each year I try to volunteer my time to help out the Medal of Honor Society, and this evening I will be hosting their dinner in lower Manhattan. We will be honoring a huge contingent of living recipients and hearing from General Richard Myers, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, now retired. It is an awe-inspiring group of men, and it is always a wonderful evening that serves to remind all of us in attendance about the very best of this country. To a man, I contend they are all demonstrably better men than I am, by dint of their extraordinary service, selflessness and bravery while under fire. As their citations say: theirs is service performed in total disregard for their own personal safety. Can we ask any more of a fellow citizen? In a society sometimes devoid of good role models for our children, I will be in a room full of them tonight. In a society that too often attaches the "hero" label to those who don't truly deserve it, these men do. While they walk through our airports and malls unrecognized, and while their faces have never been on the front of a trading card or a magazine, these are the Americans we should publicly celebrate. I will try to do my small part tonight.
We have a good broadcast planned for this evening, and we hope you can join us.
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Opting for c-sections
So, the White House required a shakeup to invigorate it with its myasma and who was chosen to be replaced but a token player in Andrew Card? I don't think that changeing the White House Chief of Staff is quite what the congressional republicans had in mind, unless, of course, Andy Card was formulating policy. This goes to show that Bush is no more interested in replacing his players than a losing team is interested in becoming an eventual winning team, but . . . The cabal within the White House cannot be changed just like the mafia cannot have new blood come from without to replace that which is within. Bush is on the ropes!
Dave (Sent Mar 30, 2006 4:22:12 PM)
WHY DO WE CALL THE PRESIDENT OF OUR COUNTRY MR. BUSH?
HEY, HE IS THE PRESIDENT, NO MATTER WHAT! SO LET JUST SHOW A LITTLE R-E-S-P-E-C-T. EVEN WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS ABOUT TO BE IMPEACHED, WE STILL CALLED HIM PRESIDENT.
MAXINE ROSE, RACINE OHIO (Sent Mar 30, 2006 12:46:01 PM)
I agree with the comments made by R Butler of Pasadena, CA - and, to be honest, that isn't the first time that I've heard our Commander in Chief be referred to simply as "Mr. Bush". Being an active duty US Marine, those types of verbal oversights have always jumped out at me, but I dismissed them because of that fact. It was refreshing to find that I was not alone in my observation!
SSgt Bo Miller
Parris Island, SC
SSgt Bo Miller, Parris Island, SC (Sent Mar 29, 2006 6:58:23 PM)
I found the "Long Road Back" report out of Mississippi extremely interesting--especially the fact that so little of the aid that has been allocated to that state has found its way to the people who need it. I wonder why President Bush can't find a way to eliminate or at least trim dowm the bureaucracy that's holding it up.
Olivia Elizabeth Burdon, Peoria, Ill. (Sent Mar 29, 2006 11:56:39 AM)
It looks like this change with Andy Card resigning and John Bolten taking his place is only window-dressing. In fact, I think Andy Card probably did a very good job as chief of staff, and obviously he worked long hours. I hope Mr. Card gets some well needed rest.
I don't think we are going to see much of change in this adminsitration. I don't believe Andy Card as chief of staff has had that much power to influence Bush in policies and imnportant decisions that face our country. Bush would have been better off firing Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld, and Chertoff for their incomptent, misguided policies and actions.
Sadly, that action might not happen until 2008. We can only pray to God that our country does not face another disaster before we throw this incompetent adminsitration out!
(Sent Mar 29, 2006 11:44:49 AM)
I am watching the nightly news right now and was a little troubled by something I heard during the story on the resignation of White House chief of staff Andy Card. David Gregory was reporting and numerous times throughout the story, President Bush was referred to as Mr. Bush. As our country's highest elected official, I feel that he should be afforded the respect to be called President. I did notice that in the printed story on the web, Mr. Bush does not exist, but President Bush is used throughout...
R Butler, Pasadena, CA (Sent Mar 28, 2006 9:53:37 PM)
I think that Andy Card is symbollic of the type people that the Bush administration has on their team. They are sincere,hard working,loyal,and smart. We have been at war for five years with the Islamic jihadists as well as the liberal press and the fanatical left. Andy Card deserves our respect and gratitutde for his service to our country. I just wish that those who are so blinded by their hatred for this administration could recognize it.
Don (Sent Mar 28, 2006 7:51:49 PM)
Brian, I sure hope you do a story on the Medal of Honor Society. I'd love to recognize and celebrate them if I pass them at the mall or the airport!
J. Bryan St, Louis, MO (Sent Mar 28, 2006 5:49:30 PM)
as much as i disagree with bush, i respect the work ethic of andy card to work as long as he did as intensely as he did starting at 5am to 7 or 8 is awesome. by the way enjoyed campbell on today make her permanent. suddenly i was feeling wonderful.
rick (Sent Mar 28, 2006 5:18:12 PM)
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