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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Another jumble of important news stories -- many more than we have time for, and it makes the order a tricky equation. The markets had another good day today as well.
It's been a rough go in the Pacific Northwest. Mission Ridge in Washington State recorded an overnight wind gust of 135 mph -- and SeaTac airport in Seattle recorded its fourth highest wind gust ever. The Weather Channel is running dramatic video from yesterday of what appears to be a 757 doing a go-around in an unstable landing attempt in what looks like freakish crosswinds. All of this weather is happening during a huge military search for three climbers. We'll have reports on each tonight.
This was departure day for Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon -- full honors for the departing civilian chief of the military. Watching the President-elect name him to the job just now on videotape...President Bush looks 20 years younger. Producer Andy Franklin is suggesting we show tape of Rumsfeld's first farewell ceremony (after his first stint in the job) tonight for comparison. If there is time, we will. We also have a wonderful story about this nation's combat veterans tonight. Speaking of which, wasn't Bob Faw's story about the Christmas wreaths at Arlington just breathtaking on last night's broadcast?
Tonight we will check in on the not-based-in-reality world of Wall Street bonuses, and we will follow up on yesterday's good breast cancer news. We have a great look at who we are as Americans, thanks to the census figures out today. And its friday, so that means a Making A Difference report...which tonight is about a person doing some very important work.
ABOUT THAT SONG...
I will have a word with my friend Gena Fitzgerald in Washington who has posted something I have written about as a potential longer feature in this space: the Daily Nightly...the song...by the Monkees. The truth is, I wrote it long ago, and it was to be a featured post the day Hurricane Katrina hit. Mother nature had other plans, a crisis intervened, and my writing is sitting in some computer file unread. Gena beat me to it, fair and square. Short of admitting to being a Monkees fan in the '60s, let me say this: back when we named this blog as a take-off on Nightly News (more of a "Daily News"-type newspaper theme...the Daily Nightly...OK, I'll stop) I knew full well about the song. As Monkees fans may remind us with a posting or two, there is an elaborate back story behind the song...and the irony is that it has to do with the news media. I was once on a plane with someone who said they knew Michael Nesmith...they quoted him as saying he was aware of our blog and was fine with the title. Nesmith, by the way, was the Monkee who was always in the knit hat -- who turned out to be arguably the best pure musician in the bunch. His previous claim to fame in life had involved his mother, who, as a secretary invented what we now call Wite-out to correct typing errors. Gena's posting now means a piece of journalism will have to die. But it's OK...those interested in the derivation of "Daily Nightly" the song title can have at it on Google. He who hesitates is lost...I'll blame it on Katrina, not Gena.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT
Now it can be told: the staff of NBC Nightly News gathered at Chelsea Piers in New York for a night of bowling. The photos tell just part of the story. Today I feel like I've used about half of the products advertised on Nightly News for aches and pains -- usually not associated with a 47-year-old man in otherwise good health. As I find each year in our family Thanksgiving football game (the annual "Passive Aggression Classic") there are sets of muscles we don't use in day-to-day life. Some of them I haven't used since I last suited up for a high school football game. I used them all last night, and they aren't letting me forget it. It was a blast. From Sean the Intern from Ohio who bowls with an open hand (he says the finger holes don't work with his unique ball 
delivery) to Sima from Graphics who had never bowled before -- to Billy Catalano whose matching monogrammed bag and ball I find so intimidating...it was a great night, shared with and by a great group of people. I felt pretty good about bowling a 129 until Jean Harper, on my own team, clocked a 134. I had concerns early on in the evening that I would bowl my age. It was also a useful reminder of an axiom in our society that we don't repeat nearly often enough: no one looks good in bowling shoes. It's one area in life where George Clooney has no advantage.
ABOUT THAT SECRET SANTA
If you read Barbara Raab's posting yesterday, then you know about our gift exchange. What she didn't tell you is: a brand new U.S. Supreme Court gold ruler now graces the desk in my office. It carries the official seal of the Court and, like the work of the Court, is a precise device. Barbara is a non-practicing attorney and knows my love of all things Court-related, and since I had no idea there were such things as "Court-themed gifts," imagine my surprise. It was kismet and it was very kind.
BACK TO THE BROADCAST
As you can tell, the distractions of the holidays are creeping into our days about now...I'm happy to say that we currently have exactly one dog and two children visiting our third floor offices. Interns are departing to resume their studies, offices are starting to empty as vacations and even shopping days off start to kick in. We will soldier on, and will gather in the newsroom in a short while to make sense of all of this and put it in narrative form. We hope you can join us for our Friday broadcast, and we hope you have a happy and safe weekend. We'll see you on Monday.
Photos by M.L. Flynn
Image 1: From left, Lauren Fairbanks, Carol Eggers, Bryan Haynesworth, Bita Nikravesh, Sam Singal and Matthew Ryan.
Image 2: From left, Anne Thompson, Neal Meltzer, Elizabeth Wilner, Tom Dawson, Ginny Harris, Adaora Udoji, John Reiss and Ron Allen.
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Saturday's Search
That's funny about the song "Daily Nightly." I read Gena's post before reading yours, read the lyrics, and noticed how some sounded like they could refer to keeping up with current events. So I was amused to read where you say the irony of the song's backstory is about the news media:) Naturally since I'm not knowledgeable about the Monkees aside from having heard several of their songs ("Daily Nightly" not among them) on oldies stations, I'm curious as to what it is. And that's also quite a coincidence how Katrina put the plans for a previous post on "Daily Nightly" on hold.
That brings me to "Making A Difference," which was a fine piece. I found it interested to read how Egeland was responsible for getting aid to flow rapidly to disaster areas around the world and, following the tsunami, called rich countries "stingy", which shamed the US into sending several billions in aid to victims. I wonder why Egeland (from what I gather, since aid was so slow to start reaching the storm zone) didn't apply similar pressure on President Bush after Katrina hit. Maybe Bush would have knuckled down to getting aid into Louisiana and Mississippi instead of flying out to California and strumming some show-biz buddy's guitar. And where is Egeland now? Perhaps he should get Bush to cut the red tape and see that the rebuilding aid promised New Orleans and the rest of the storm zone reaches the people who've been waiting for it--some of whom have been living in limbo not knowing whether or not they'd be able to rebuild.
Anyway, have a good weekend, and hope you get plenty of rest so by Monday you'll be feeling good again.
Olivia, Peoria, Ill. (Sent Dec 16, 2006 3:00:56 PM)
Rumsfield reminds me so much of in many ways like my Dad Hell he a dead ringer. And like my dad. He just could not sell it to the American consensus. I am not sure what we do next. It will be nice to get some new brain stormers in the think tank. Although almost always my Dad was right. OK always.
Timothy Doyle, Palmdale,Ca (Sent Dec 16, 2006 1:22:25 PM)
Thanks Brian for the Friday smile, yours and mine. It was a good idea to have something up lifting to end the week it really feels good to smile. At lease we have until January 4 2007 to try and enjoy life. When the Congress meets the real war begins. All the investigations and the Libby trial and who knows what else. Thanks again Brian
Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Dec 15, 2006 11:41:06 PM)
Yes, Brian -- Bob Faw's story yesterday evening was a lovely, lovely story about a loving act of kindness to those who sacrificed so much for the rest of us. I always enjoy Bob's reports. I was hoping that he would post to this blog some more info about the man in Maine who started it all. Does he have a website where one could order a wreath or perhaps a garland? Thanks so much for another outstanding story, Bob (I'm still laughing over your "ringy-dingy this" you did last year at about this time. Thanks for the year's -- and beyond, I'm certain -- worth of giggles).
I suppose, since there was an official goodbye ceremony, this means that Mr. Rumsfeld has taken his cookies and gone home for certain this time. Only time will tell whether or not things change because of his leaving.
I am praying that those stuck on Mount Hood will be found soon, alive and as well as could be expected.
I hope you will have time to recover from your aches and pains over the weekend, Brian. I learned the other day that I can no longer sit crossed-legged on the floor for three hours without wishing I had chosen the chair, instead ... and, I won't be accepting any more invitations to play Twister from a certain lively group of very limber 18-to-20-year-old youngsters. Getting older really does sneak up on you, doesn't it?
Cyrena, Vicksburg, Mississippi (Sent Dec 15, 2006 8:36:43 PM)
Interesting about how the 757 that had so much trouble during the high cross wind. Of note is that a Fly-by-wire airliner (like the A320) is much more able to cope with such things. All the pilot has to do is hold the stick steady and the computer figures out how to make it all happen. I haven't heard the stats on an airliner, but I know that a fly-by-wire F-18 hornet landed without problem in 70mph cross winds during testing. The flaps were going crazy but the pilot just head the stick straight!!
As far as what to show for the Rummy farewell... How about another shot of that "mission accomplished" sign... although by now it ought to be shot full of ribbons as some cartoonists have showed.
Chris Eldridge, Harrisburg PA (Sent Dec 15, 2006 7:02:10 PM)
Hi Trey. I think Brian was referring to the actual television channel and not the Web site. I don't see a link for the particular clip he's referencing either. You might want to try sending the Weather Channel a message asking if they plan to put it online.
Wish we could be more helpful.
Constance Parten, Nightly News Web Producer (Sent Dec 15, 2006 7:00:25 PM)
I can't find the link to the video you mentioned on the Weather Channel. Can I please get it?
Thanks.
Trey, Ft. Worth, TX (Sent Dec 15, 2006 6:39:43 PM)
Brian, when will NBC be declaring Palestine in a "Civil War". Seems if they are trying to assassinate each other it has reached that point...again. Or is Civil War only for Iraq...??
Bill, Wichita,KS (Sent Dec 15, 2006 6:34:34 PM)
Brian, thanks for sharing the personal side of life at NBC with us! (BTW, my bowling score last time I was out as 80 :>) I hope everyone recovers from the effects of the party! It sounds like you have a great crew !!
Loved the Monkees (still have the records.. yes records!) and still love the music. I'd forgotten about Daily Nightly though, so I will have to go listen to that again.
Looking forward to tonight's broadcast...
Lynn G. Minneapolis, MN (Sent Dec 15, 2006 6:24:59 PM)
Be sure to mention that Democrats top Republicans in fund raising on Wall Street :-)
Have a great weekend
Dave, Tn (Sent Dec 15, 2006 5:48:21 PM)
Every ache you feel today is a reminder of a good time from last night. It's what I tell myself when my 30-something body aches where it shouldn't!
Glad to hear about your Christmas party. It's something to look forward to with all the doom and gloom that fills the vast majority of broadcasts these days. Merry Christmas to the entire NBC family.
Stephanie Umbro, Maine (Sent Dec 15, 2006 5:37:06 PM)
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