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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.
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After a strange and troubling day here in New York, now the aftereffects from a plane crash. In no particular order: the investigation by the NTSB, the sadness among Yankee fans, the charred scar on the brick high-rise on the East Side, and the contention of one of our writers that New York has a five-year old PTSD that came to the surface yesterday.
This is the day for follow-ups and sidebars. The "could it happen here?" stories. By last evening they were already taking shape. One storyline: celebrities often die differently... because they live differently and don't travel like normal folks. Another: couldn't yesterday's crash just as easily have been an intentional act? What is the state of security for private aviation? At the same time, I just read a fair number of e-mail complaints from viewers who thought we devoted too much time to the story (a risk I addressed here yesterday), which could well be a fair criticism. Obviously, what separates this from the same sort of incident in virtually any other American city... is New York's sad history in this area. Armed with only a basic understanding of aviation, when I heard the aircraft was a Cirrus yesterday, I said aloud in the newsroom that the pilot was someone of means. I recall reading a report recently that Angelina Jolie had purchased one after completing her studies toward a pilot's license. While it's not normally considered an "entry-level" aircraft (a friend of mine said it was like owning a Porsche as your first car), its price and performance (it's expensive and fast) usually limit it to a certain niche of consumer. Much has been reported about the built-in parachute, but those only help in the right circumstances... when the pilot has the time and altitude to deploy it. We learned late today that the parachute was, in fact, deployed... but we don't know if it was intentional or a result of impact. While Cory Lidle didn't have that many hours under his belt, most fellow pilots have been circumspect and respectful when asked to comment.
Also on the broadcast tonight: an update on the congressional page mess in Washington, and we've asked a friend of ours named Tom Brokaw to take on two subjects close to his heart: politics and Montana. The two happen to be hot topics, as the Big Sky State is in the midst of one of the hottest Senate races in the country right now.
And a report we promised for last night, on multi-tasking (are we all as good at it as we think?) will air tonight. It was bumped last night due to the breaking news.
We'll also take on the urgent problem of drugs available over the Internet, and the problem when kids avail themselves of them.
OUT OF THE RACE... BUT WAS HE REALLY IN IT?
Mark Warner, the former governor of Virginia, has announced he is NOT running for president. Mind you... we are two years away from electing our next president. Warner was having a tough time gathering traction and money in a party that seems to be assuming Hillary Clinton will be the nominee. He'll be forever known in East Coast media circles as the guy whose staff allowed him to be photographed in such a scary, almost comic way for the cover of the New York Times Sunday Magazine.
BAD CALL
The folks at Slate... which has produced so much good journalism since its inception... should have shown more class than to display this headline on the death of Cory Lidle: Tragedy, E-1. It's a tacky use of baseball scoring symbols, especially considering the NTSB isn't even close to naming a cause.
GREAT THANKS
My thanks to the Friars Club of New York for the honor they bestowed upon me this week. Almost as great as the Lifetime Achievement Award itself was the fact that Walter Cronkite was the presenter. The Friars are a great group, and have been a part of the fabric of New York for decades. Walter was always the man I wanted to be. Knowing him is one of the great blessings of my life.
We hope you can join us tonight.
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A deserving peace prize
Thanks Mark,
Yeah, MSNBC, why don't you report the good things that are happening in this administration? I thought that a reporter was supposed to be neutral and always report facts, whether they agreed with what they found or not. The fact is that you cannot be trusted to tell it objectively. What ever happened to doing what was right no matter the cost? Did you ever believe in that?
Philip Covone, McDonough, GA (Sent Oct 16, 2006 2:25:10 PM)
I think both Democrats and Republicans should get off their arrogant and prideful highhorses and recognize that they are both morally and ethically bankrrupt. Neither one has the right to point the finger at the other. It is time that, before we start playing the blame game, we look to within our own selves and I trully believe we will find the real problem. There is only One solution, and noone seems to be looking for Him.
Phil Covone, McDonough, GA (Sent Oct 14, 2006 12:47:19 AM)
There's probably not enough wreckage to make a determination, but the accident sure would seem mechanical, assuming no one aboard had a death wish. In an emergency anyone would figure they had a better chance in the East River than blindly flying through Manhattan, or trying to land on the 35th floor. It's impossible for me to believe that both pilots panicked to that extent, even with a cockpit full of smoke. Even if they had zero outside visibility, why make a 180 degree turn when you know you're over a river? They had a mechanical failure - either a control surface or the parachute.
Lee Steele (Sent Oct 13, 2006 8:20:05 PM)
Forgot to ask:
Perhaps it was mentioned during one of Brian's broadcasts and I missed it; but, I have been wondering if there was anyone in the apartment(s) that were affected by the fire, smoke, water, etc. as a result of the plane crash ... were there any injuries (or worse) to anyone who was not on the plane?
I don't feel as if you over-presented the story about the plane crash. Maybe, because you are really the only national news I watch/listen to, I never feel overly "saturated", since your broadcast is the first time I'm hearing about the news of the day.
Congrats by the way, Brian, on the Lifetime Achievement Award you received from the Friar's Club of NY. I'm excited for you that Mr. Cronkite was the presenter, especially since you admire him so much.
Cyrena, Vicksburg, Mississippi (Sent Oct 13, 2006 4:09:21 PM)
It was wonderful to see Robert doing a report, and I was delighted, as always, to see Tom. He looks marvelous!!! Being in Montana most certainly agrees with him!
Thank you for the update on President Ford. I pray that his tests go well ... I will be thinking about him and Miss Betty.
Cyrena, Vicksburg, Mississippi (Sent Oct 13, 2006 12:44:55 PM)
There is no Harry Reid scandal, hence the lack of reportage on the 'issue'. See if you can follow this, folks:
* Harry Reid had a personal ownership stake in the property in question until 2003
* Sen. Reid and his investment partner formed an LLC with ownership exactly corresponding to their percentage stake in the land, and transferred the land to the LLC
* Sen. Reid continued to report the property as being personally owned until it was sold, because that's how the IRS treats this situation
Quote from a tax attorney:
"A multiple member LLC is treated as a partnership for tax purposes. Again, if an existing partnership transfers property to an LLC owned by the same partners in the same percentages, the LLC will usually be treated as the same entity as the orignal partnership, and again an individual might reasonably believe that no transfer has taken place."
There is no scandal. There is no wrong-doing. Sen. Reid is as straight-laced as they come -- this is the same guy who had to be restrained from beating the crap out of a lobbyist who tried to bribe him.
Best mind your own sinking ship, GOP loyalists.
AlphaGeek, Silicon Valley, CA (Sent Oct 13, 2006 1:32:39 AM)
Sounds like there's a couple of Republicans eager to get away from the fact that they can't claim the supposed "moral" highground anymore. The same people who try and convince others that the stock market doing well means "everyone" is doing well. Get it through your sheep-like minds....the trickle down theory DOESN'T WORK!! Why? The same companies who are now making a bundle on the stock market aren't reinvesting in AMERICANS! Their outsourcing and importing cheaper labor from and to elsewhere. AND whether you can stand it or not, there are actually gays in your party too. I think that bothers you more than the idea of a pedophile being in your party. As an independent I can't understand it either. Republicans believe anything that their leaders spit out. I know Dems. are just as guilty, and too damn skeptical, but Reps. seem like they would let the whole ship sink before they'd let a Democrat or Independent offer to stop the leak. It's frustrating. These same "good" Christian folk who preach so much hate and then pretend otherwise on Wednesdays and Sundays, or whenever it is you go to church. It makes me wonder if all Christ was to you was just "collateral damage". Which seems to be a phrase the Christian conservatives find acceptable to justify continued killing of innocents. I think there will be a change in November and I really do hope each party gets a House. Maybe then they will be forced to work together. Here's to hoping.
Steven, Beltsville, Md. (Sent Oct 12, 2006 11:19:33 PM)
Brian you do a great job at getting as much information in such a short time. Yes I've read the comments and as was said on Oprah some Americans just don't want to deal with the truth. If it's not about a celebrity it's hard to hear that our government has lied for 5 years. So you are a reporter who tells the truth so don't change that. These bad times will pass with God's help come Nov. We can and will deal with the truth and the lies that have been told by our elected officials. We do care about our children who are being abused by a Congressman. Your team only need to keep giving us the truth as other media people do the spin/blame/lie game. Americans will get America back on Nov 7th. Those who were hurt by the lies of the government will heal and we'll all move forward to clean up the mess that's been made for 5 years.
Thank you Brian for being one honest non bias reporter.
Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Oct 12, 2006 10:29:25 PM)
Quit being bias and report on the deficit and the Reid land deal with the same vigor as you do Republican scandals.
(Sent Oct 12, 2006 10:07:47 PM)
Please Mr.Williams, will you please put an end to your mantra to your rather well paid hirelings ( all of whom seem to be CHiefs of something)," Thanks for that." Thanks for what, isn't that what they get paid for and what is the "what" it is pretty dam silly, as well as annoying?
S.M. Harris
S.M. Harris, Oak Harbor, A. (Sent Oct 12, 2006 9:55:46 PM)
I was thinking that LOCAL coverage of the plane crash (seeing that I live 500 miles from Manhattan) was a little over the top. By evening news time it was already determined it wasn't terrorism-related. I can, however, understand why Manhattan would be so jumpy with PTSD. I've not stepped foot in Manhattan before, and my first thoughts upon hearing the news was "how big?" and "please, Lord, not again". I don't think coverage was too over the top, considering everyone's nerves.
Stephanie Umbro, Maine (Sent Oct 12, 2006 7:42:00 PM)
http://newsbusters.org/node/8285
Wow, I am stunned that MSNBC is ignoring positive economic news...again.
O wait, no I'm not.
When will you people in the press who were calling for tax increases admit you were wrong?
Mark (Sent Oct 12, 2006 7:23:04 PM)
Scandals like Reid's real estate deal (and previously the Clinton's Whitewater real estate deal)are chump change compared to the billions of dollars GOP crooks like Halliburton et al are stealing from the taxpayers.
Jack, Scottsdale, AZ (Sent Oct 12, 2006 6:49:30 PM)
Why does NBC Nightly continue to drag this around???Two quality people screwed up...Seems anything dealing with aircraft is subject to unwanten scrutiny!
greg hanna west palm beach fla. (Sent Oct 12, 2006 6:39:59 PM)
THE MORE WE KNOW...THE LESS WE REPORT.
Still no reporting on the Harry Reid scandal?
Shame, Brian. You are making NBC look like truth censors for the Democratic Party.
The more you stall, the worse the Democrats will look.
And with elections coming so soon, this doesn’t bode well.
I can hear the Democrats circling the drain now...
Does This Spell Disaster for the Democrats? (Sent Oct 12, 2006 5:14:04 PM)
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