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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It was such an important lesson on display here in Washington today: We live in a great country, where an ordinary man can rise to the highest office in the land, and when he dies he is remembered by the very best in our nation. We were on the air for close to four hours this morning, and I was happy to have my old friend Michael Beschloss at my side throughout. The death of Gerald R. Ford has had such an interesting effect on our country, and on our leaders. I believe Vice President Cheney's speech on Ford in the Rotunda Saturday evening might have been the very best of his life. Tom Brokaw delivered a beautiful eulogy today, as did both Presidents Bush and Henry Kissinger. (Editor's note: You can watch the complete eulogies here: Bush Sr., Kissinger, Brokaw, President Bush.)
The American people have been forced, in a way, into looking back -- at a man who was President for only 896 days, at another time in our history. And just now, as I write this, what a tender moment on the windswept tarmac at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids as Jimmy Carter kissed Betty Ford. I firmly believe that just as we ultimately respect and venerate our presidents, we enjoy the moments that bring our leaders together... those moments when we can cast aside the politics that are so often corrosive and destructive. Our U.S. military Honor Guards and cannon squads have never looked more impressive. It puts a lump in your throat when you look at the chest decorations worn by a young Marine carrying the casket of the former President -- and see a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star -- and realize he is just back from Iraq or Afghanistan. And what a sad version of the Wolverine's fight song they played this afternoon as the casket arrived in Grand Rapids. President Ford's friendships with many in the media (this reporter included to a small extent in his later years) has meant for a blending of roles these past few days: Tom said today he was delivering his eulogy "on behalf" of the White House press corps, and later admitted just how incredibly likable President Ford was. Andrea Mitchell, who got to know President Ford largely by dint of her marriage to Alan Greenspan, told a wonderful story on MSNBC this afternoon about arriving at the Ford's home as house guests -- and having to wrestle the former President for her suitcase, as he insisted on carrying it from the car indoors. So many major media figures have similar stories, feelings and memories.
Tonight David Gregory will take us through this long day of remembrance, while Bob Faw will look at the people who came to say goodbye.
We will also check in on the other news around the world tonight, including Iraq, and the aftermath of the release of crude (in both quality and content) video of the Saddam execution in the Arab world. We'll update the story we brought you last night from New Orleans, and the weather in Colorado.
The media world seems consumed with the "new" Wall Street Journal, which made its debut today -- a friend of mine called it a "pamphlet" -- and I must say the front page, above the fold, isn't much larger than the size of my outstretched hand. I've yet to dive into it, but will examine the content of it on the flight back to New York tonight. The New York/Washington corridor of the media world was also consumed today with the portrayal of the role of General Casey in today's New York Times. It generated a lot of chatter here in Washington today. Let the first draft of the history of the Iraq war begin... or at least various views of it.
We hope you will join us for tonight's broadcast, originating from Washington.
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This week's ceremonies honoring President Gerald Ford were a beautiful tribute to: 1.) a good man and leader; and 2.) the reverence we Americans reserve for our institutions. Our leaders, many times over the past several days, have extolled President Ford's virtues of goodness, bipartisan cooperation, humility and committment to the interests of the people. Why must we only celebrate these things when one of our fine leaders dies? Can we not give credit where and when credit is due, during our leaders' lifetimes when it can still be used as political capital to achieve good? We should set aside partisanship not only at state funerals, but every day as our leaders do the peoples' work. Hopefully the positive messages of humble and selfless leadership that have prevailed this week will resonate with our leaders and our people long after President Ford is laid to rest.
Doug Brown, Indianapolis, Indiana (Sent Jan 2, 2007 5:46:19 PM)
Brian, I really want to thank you for the coverage that you had of President Ford's funeral. Being of the Watergate Era, while in University, it meant the world to me to have this period in our history brought up again. As I have said in my previous postings, the pardoning of President Nixon was the right and just thing to do, legally as well as morally. For the record, accordig to Leon Jaworski, the pardon was not done out of friendship, but out of Legal considerations. That is finding a venue (place) where the former President could get both an impartial jury and a fair trial. Mr. Jaworski, concluded that there would have been no place within the 10 years after the resignation where the former Presidient could get a fair trial. That is the right of every United States Citizen, former President or not.
Deb Maness, McKinney, Texas (Sent Jan 2, 2007 4:58:10 PM)
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