White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

Archives for January 2011

YouTube's Interview with the President

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Two days after giving his State of the Union address, President Obama took to the Internet to directly answer questions from Americans and people around the world on a wide range of subjects. Over 1.3 million people voted on almost 200,000 video and text questions submitted through Google Moderator and Twitter, picking the ones they most wanted the President to answer.

President Obama sat down for “Your Interview with the President,” hosted by YouTube’s Steve Grove, and responded to questions on subjects ranging from education reforms, healthcare, the recent unrest in Egypt, to his “pick” for the Superbowl.

Watch the entire video here:

Inside Ron Reagan Book Party

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Fred Ryan, President of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library; close friend and adviser to Nancy Reagan and the Executive Director of The Prince of Wales Foundation, Robert Higdon, a close friend of Nancy Reagan; former Reagan staffers and Washington notables gathered at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the new memoir from Ron Reagan, MY FATHER AT 100. Connie Milstein, Tammy Haddad and Jon Meacham hosted the party. Here’s an excerpt from Jon Meacham’s interview with Ron Reagan.

Check out ronreagan1oo.com for more information about the book.

Ron Reagan Returns to Washington

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Ron Reagan wrote the words about his father’s final moments on this earth but could not bring himself to read them out loud again without getting emotional. And so, in a poignant end to an interview with Jon Meacham, Reagan asked the Pulitzer Prize-winner to please read them instead as he, the son of the 40th President of the United States, listened with his head partially bowed in front of a captivated audience at the Jefferson Hotel.

“His eyes found the face of the woman who for more than half a century had formed the core of his private world. ‘I love you honey, I love you’ was all she could say.  Was all she needed to say,” began Meacham.

Personal family memories and moments such as these fill the pages of MY FATHER AT 100: A MEMOIR, Ron Reagan’s new book reflecting on the life of his father Ronald Reagan who would have turned 100 years old this February. Researching and writing the book was a son’s tribute to the father he knew and loved behind the presidential pomp and circumstance.

Ron Reagan shared a few of these memories at a book party Monday evening at the Jefferson Hotel co-hosted by Connie Milstein, JC de La Haye Saint Hilaire, Tammy Haddad, and Jon Meacham.

One particular anecdote harkened back to the image of the Hollywood Reagan when he was best known for playing University of Notre Dame varsity football player George “The Gipper” Gipp on the silver screen.  As a youngster, Ron knew that when he and his buddies were a man short to play football out on the front lawn that his father, even though busy working as Governor of California, would be up for a game.

“I’d pass by the window with the football,” said Reagan as he mimed tossing a football in the air to the delight of the crowd,  “and I knew within half an hour or so he’d be out there. He insisted though that he had to quarterback for both teams, that was his position.”

Reagan was warmly greeted by friends and Washington, D.C. notables including Fred Ryan, President of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and close Nancy Reagan confidante Robert Higdon, now chief of the Prince of Wales Foundation.

Also attending: Senator Maria Cantwell, Tammy Duckworth, Greta Van Susteren and John Coale, Geoff Morrell, Judy Woodruff, Amy Nathan, Steve Scully, Chris Isham, and Roger Simon.

You can watch Jon Meacham and Ron Reagan’s interview below. And for more information on the memoir check out www.ronreagan100.com.

Long Live the New King

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Piers Morgan with Sarah Brown (wife of former UK PM Gordon Brown) and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of the World Bank

WHC Insider’s Tammy Haddad for the Huffington Post:

Dear Piers,

Don’t listen to the critics. If Larry King had given a thought to the naysayers back in 1985, he would have returned to radio after the first week. When we launched the show 25 years ago, no one liked the idea of an hour-long interview program.

Ted Turner figured out the advantage of television for long-form interviews. I remember the night Ted was our guest on the Larry King Radio Show, broadcast from the bowels of Mutual Radio headquarters in Crystal City, Virginia.

It was such a thrill to finally score the bigger-than-life media mogul and winner of America’s Cup. At the time, Larry King was an established radio host, but Turner saw the primetime potential.

The producers’ biggest fear switching to TV? How to go from three-hour interviews (one hour interview, two hours questions from listeners) to just one. Imagine that concept now? Good interviews don’t happen by accident, but are a complicated dance between interviewer and subject. The best interviews are ones where the audience doesn’t see the individual dance steps, but a sweeping verbal theater. You are the lead, the director and choreographer. You get people talking from their head and their heart.

People don’t just want to hear what their favorite stars have to say; they want to watch them squirm, fidget, freeze… and yes, sometimes cry. In your first week, you have shown your star guests to be real and relatable, abrupt and self satisfied, and sometimes fragile. I learned something about each one.

Ignore the critics who are stuck on the fact that you’re taping the interviews. The additional research, the ability to pluck out the most interesting bits, to weave together the complete package, is invaluable. You’re right to put your viewer’s interests first.

And for those that think the interviews should be shorter: Ross Perot didn’t announce he was running for president on Larry King Live until about 35 minutes into the show — and he changed an election.

Piers, thanks for crossing “the pond” to get some really big stars and headline newsmakers back on TV with all their foibles and follies. We are watching, tweeting and laughing along with you and the critics.

Tammy Haddad is President of Haddad Media and was one of the creators and executive producer of Larry King Live, and MSNBC’s former Washington VP.

Watch Ron Reagan Interview Here!

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Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, would have celebrated his 100th birthday on February 6, 2011. To mark this milestone, his son Ron Reagan has written MY FATHER AT 100: A Memoir. Reagan shares his personal memories and traces his father’s journey from his family’s roots in Ireland to the Midwestern streets of his birth; from Hollywood to the California Governor’s mansion, and ultimately the White House.

Ron Reagan will talk about his new book with Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and presidential historian at a celebration at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, DC.  Hosted by Connie Milstein, JC de La Haye Saint Hilaire, and Tammy Haddad. And for more information about MY FATHER AT 100, check out RonReagan100.com.

WATCH the Party Program below:

Saluting Susan Sher

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New Washington friends and old Chicago pals gathered at The Jefferson Hotel to honor Susan Sher. Sher came to Washington with the Obamas serving first in the White House Counsel’s office and for the last 18 months as the First Lady’s Chief of Staff. Connie Milstein, Hilary Rosen and Tammy Haddad hosted the luncheon, which included David Axelrod, Kevin Sheekey, Julianna Smoot and Patrick Gaspard.

Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren (with his wife, Sally) saluted Sher’s West Orange, New Jersey roots as the other jersey girls, Anita Dunn and Hilary Rosen, proudly cheered him on.

While not a jersey girl, Manhattan-born Connie Milstein, is the proprietor of The Jefferson and invited the guests to raise their glasses to “thank Susan for her service to the nation.”

David Axelrod, who leaves Washington at the end of the month, praised Sher for her always-cool leadership and integrity. Axelrod said he was already making Chicago plans with Sher and Julianna Smoot, the White House Social Secretary, who announced this week she would go back to Chicago as Deputy Campaign Manager.

Other guests included Milstein’s husband, JC de La Haye Saint Hilarie, Linda Douglass, Rabbi David Saperstein, Anne Fleming, Alan Solow, Susan Davies, Danielle Grey, Maude Baggetto, Danielle Borrin, and Holly Page.

The luncheon crowd dined on Tomato soup, Cod, Coq au Vin and Chocolate Brulee and everyone walked out with an anatomically correct White House chocolate bar. Click for photo gallery

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Comcast-NBC Universal Merger Approved

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Voting 4 to 1, the Federal Communications Commission has granted approval of the merger between cable and Internet giant Comcast and NBC Universal, a subsidiary of the General Electric Company (GE).

The approval comes with a number of conditions and enforceable commitments, including the fostering of competition in the online video marketplace; increasing local news coverage; expanding children’s programming; enhancing availability of Spanish-language programming; offering affordable broadband services to low-income Americans and increasing broadband access to schools, libraries, and underserved communities. Read more on the merger decision at POLITICO.

The Department of Justice announced its final approval of the settlement this afternoon. Comcast and NBCU can now proceed with their venture “conditioned on the parties’ agreement to license programming to online competitors to Comcast’s cable TV services, subject themselves to anti-retaliation provisions and adhere to Open Internet requirements.”

A statement released by DOJ outlines “that the proposed settlement will preserve new content distribution models that offer more products and greater innovation, and the potential to provide consumers access to their favorite programming on a variety of devices in a wide selection of packages.”

New Miss America: Aspiring Politician

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Good-bye Miss Nebraska, Hello Miss America!

Teresa Scanlan made history Saturday night in what was an evening full of firsts in the Miss America Pageant’s 90 years. At the age of 17, Scanlan is the youngest (since they enacted age limits in 1938) and the first from the Cornhusker state of Nebraska to win the crown. As Miss America 2011, Scanlan will travel approximately 20,000 miles each month as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and to promote her platform of Eating Disorders: A Generation at Risk. She was inspired to take up the cause by a friend who is struggling with bulimia.

Scanlan, who turns 18 next month, is deferring her enrollment at Patrick Henry College in Virginia. But her aspirations to study law and become a politician are stronger than ever. As she told the Associated Press, Scanlan is going into politics so she can “stand up for what’s right, stand up for integrity and honesty.

“At this point, attorneys and politicians are looked down on and have terrible reputations for being greedy and power hungry and I really think it’s important for people who have their heart and mind in the right place get into those powerful positions,” she said.

The recent high school grad beat out 52 other young women for the ultimate prize at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, taking home a $50,000 scholarship sponsored by Artistry exclusively by Amway to continue her education.

First runner-up honors went to Miss Arkansas Alyse Eady whose talent performance was Vocal-Ventriloquism to “I want to be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.” Eady earned a $25,000 scholarship while Miss Hawaii Jalee Fuselier was awarded $20,000 as second runner-up.

America had their say in another pageant first by voting online and via text message for their favorite contestants in the days leading up to the pageant. Miss New York Claire Buffie and Miss Delaware Kayla Martell won ABC’s America’s choice, both making headlines for the causes they represent. Buffie was the first contestant to ever run on a gay rights platform, and Martell hopes to raise awareness about alopecia areata, a disease that caused her to start losing her hair at the age of 13.

The Miss America Organization is the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women, making more than $45 million available last year alone. Want to see who won over the judges? Here’s Teresa Scanlan in her first press conference as Miss America 2011:

Check out the story in The Washington Post and watch her talk about her plans to run for President in 2028.

Miss America 2011 To Be Crowned On Saturday

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Caressa Cameron is crowned Miss America 2010. Photo courtesy MAO.

They’ve got smarts, talent, compassion, and a whole lot of gumption to be able to walk across the national stage in front of millions of viewers while balancing a tiara on their heads. But we expect nothing less from a future Miss America!

Over 12,000 young women made their way through local and state pageants this past year, and 53 three of them are about to face the final hurrah! This Saturday, the Miss America pageant returns to network television after five years on cable. This will be an historic night on ABC as 2011 marks the pageant’s 90th Anniversary.

For the first time in pageant history, Americans had a say in who they’d like to see in the finals by voting online and via text message. This week the contestants have been competing in preliminary contests and by Saturday evening, the field will have been narrowed to 15 finalists.

Broadcast from Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, the pageant has become a showcase for what can be achieved by promoting education and encouraging hard work. The Miss American Organization made more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance available to young women last year alone.

The Miss America Board of Directors is committed to preserving this tradition of scholastic achievement and added Regina Hopper, President and CEO of America’s Natural Gas Alliance and Miss Arkansas 1983, as its newest member in August to work for this cause.

But any Miss America is smart enough to know that it can’t be all about the books and that a sense of humor is an absolute necessity – especially being able to laugh at yourself. Here are a few takes from late night comedians, including ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, and CBS’ David Letterman with the “Top 10 Signs You’re Not Going to Win The Miss America Pageant.”

So, tune in to ABC this Saturday at 9pm EST to see who is crowned Miss America 2011 – until then there is plenty of action going on at www.facebook.com/MissAmericaOrganization where you can watch the preliminary competitions which wrapped last night, as well as get other behind-the scenes scoops.

Cast Your Vote for the 90th Miss America

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Dear Miss America fans,

Democracy has come to the Miss America pageant.  You can join the thousands who have already voted by casting your vote for your favorite contestant as one of the finalists.  Each of the 53 contestants taped a short video telling you why they should be the next Miss America.  You can watch the videos and vote by going online to MissAmerica.org, on the Miss America Facebook page, YouTube Page, or by texting MAST (letters “ST” should be replaced by the state abbreviation you want to vote for) to 24470.

Voting ends at Midnight on January 13th.

Sam Haskell with the 2010 Miss America Judges after the Pageant in Las, Vegas

Sam Haskell, Miss America’s Chairman of the Board wrote a piece in the Huffington Post about his experience with Miss America and why you should watch the pageant that turns 90 this Saturday, January 15 on ABC.

A few highlights from Sam’s post below:

Before there was a television show to idolize singers or a program to see who thinks they can dance, there was Miss America: a showcase for talented young women. And before social networking meant interacting through a website, there was Miss America: a pageant that brought together women from every state to share their hopes for our great country. Over the last 90 years, Americans have been mesmerized by the magic of Miss America. I personally have been enchanted for more years than I dare put in writing, and it started way before I married a Miss Mississippi or became Chairman of the Board of the Miss America Organization.

The Miss America Organization is the largest women’s scholarship program, with up to $45 million in scholarships awarded each year. Even during these difficult economic times, we are not cutting back. I’ve watched lives change because of the scholarships from the pageant program.

Communities have been changed, too. This year, more than 13,000 young women made their way through the state and local pageants. Every contestant is required to actively promote a platform that serves her community. When crowned, Miss America supports our national service partner, the Children’s Miracle Network, which helps over 170 children’s hospitals around the United States.

The next Miss America is among the 53 young women currently in Las Vegas rehearsing for Saturday night’s pageant. She is smart and talented — she is America at its best. And now we can all be a part of history and vote for who we think should be in the top 15 finalists. Over 100,000 people have voted already on Facebook, YouTube and MissAmerica.org. I urge you to get to know these amazing young women and cast your own vote. Then tune in on January 15, 2011, on ABC to see if your favorite wins. I’ll be watching — after all, I’ve always loved a good show!

Also check out Sam introducing this year’s judges at the press conference held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas: