How The “Gotcha”Culture is Destroying American Politics

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American politics has become a minefield of “gotcha ”.

The media do it to politicians, politicians do it to each other, even the media do it to each other.

And it’s eroding our entire system, says one man who was once a participant.

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Washington DC attorney Lanny Davis was formerly special counsel to President Bill Clinton, but has also represented other politicians, billionaires, and a wide range of other clients.

In 2006 Davis wrote a book that he called Scandal: How Gotcha Politics Is Destroying America.

He and I sat down for a conversation about the book in his k Street office in August of 2006.

So here now, from 2006, Lanny Davis.

Lanny Davis is 79 now.

Maureen Dowd’s satirical Take on The Gender Politics of Our Time

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Are men necessary?

No, I’m not asking the question, I’m merely repeating the title of the 2005 book by the renowned New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd.

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Get your copy of Maureen Dowd’s book

In a witty, often tongue-in-cheek examination of the sexual politics of the day, Dowd explains many of the perplexities of male-female relationships , which seems especially relevant in today’s world where politicians define us as men or women, period.

I met Maureen Dowd just before Christmas 2005 to talk about her book.

So here now, from 2005, Maureen Dowd.

Maureen Dowd turned 73 a couple of weeks ago. She’s been with the New York Times since 1983.

His Secret To Success? Happiness. Sports Mogul Ted Leonsis

Courtesy Ted Leonsis

If you’re in business, entrepreneur or as the head of a major corporation, which comes first, business success, or happiness?

Actually, happiness has to come first if you want the success to follow, says a very successful and happy businessman and billionaire sports mogul.

Ted Leonsis was one of the early top executives at America online helping build that to the huge platform that it was.

Later he became owner of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, along with a huge regional sports network.

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But would any of that have been possible if he didn’t have an underlying foundation of personal happiness?

Not likely, Leonsis says. In his 2010 book The Business of Happiness he explains how happiness begets business success.

I met with him one February afternoon in his office in Washington, DC, where, by the way, he still maintains an AOL email address.

So here now, from 2010, Ted Leonsis.

Ted Leonsis turned 68 earlier this month.

Going Beyond The Stereotype: A Sons Memoir of His Father, The Accused Spy

In the late 1940s and early ‘50s America was caught up in a “red scare.” The nation was gripped by fears of Communism, communist spies, communist infiltration.

One of those accused was a State Department official, who had actually helped form the United Nations. His name was Alger Hiss.

The accusation was that Hiss had spied for the Soviet Union in the 1930s. By the time the accusations came to light, the statute of limitations on espionage had expired. But Hiss was then charged with perjury, for lying about his alleged communist ties.

One of the chief Congressional investigators in the case was a young Congressman named Richard M. Nixon. The Hiss case propelled Nixon to national notoriety.

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And 75 years ago this week, January 1950, Alger Hiss was convicted of perjury and sentenced to prison, still maintaining his innocence.

Hiss’s son Tony was not even yet a teenager when his father went to prison, but by the time Alger Hiss was freed, their relationship had taken a dramatic, and positive turn.

In 1999 Tony Hiss wrote a memoir of his relationship with his father, called The View From Alger’s Window.

So here now, from 1999 Tony Hiss.

Alger Hiss died in 1996 at the age of 92.

A Longtime Broadcasters Secret to Happiness: Be Thankful

Photo by Stuart Ramson

Have you counted your blessings today?

If you haven’t, maybe you should. It might be good for your health.

So says longtime TV journalist Deborah Norville.

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Get your copy of Deborah Norville’s book

In 2007, the “Inside Edition” anchor wrote a book about gratitude, thankfulness, and how they can actually change not just your attitude, but your very health.

So here now, from 2007, Deborah Norville.

Deborah Norville is now 66.

In March she will mark 30 yeasras anchor of “Inside Edition.”

With One True Voice: A Popular Comedian’s Life With Puppets

Have you ever tried to throw your voice like a professional ventriloquist? It’s not as easy as it looks.

Have you ever tried stand-up comedy? That is a lot harder than it looks.

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And can you entertain an audience with your music? Don’t have to tell you how hard that is.

Get your copy of Taylor Mason’s book

But now meet Taylor Mason, who for the last 40 + years has been a triple threat, a successful comedian, ventriloquist, and musician. He has entertained audiences everywhere.

Taylor Mason was the winner of Star Search in 1991. To put that in perspective, Drew Carey, Norm Macdonald, and Sinbad also competed in various years on Star Search but they never won.

I’ve known Taylor Mason since we were in high school together, so I of course jumped at the chance to interview him for Now I’ve Heard Everything.

The Heavyweight Bout That Transformed America

It was 1938, on the eve of the start of World War II. And a 24-year-old American boxer, the son of Alabama sharecroppers, was about to alter the course of our history.

That young man was Joe Louis – full name Joe Louis Barrow, more widely known by the nickname “The Brown Bomber.”

On June 22 at Yankee Stadium in New York, Joe Louis took on German boxer Max Schmeling in a much-anticipated rematch. Schmeling won their first bout, in 1936. But this one would be all Louis.

He knocked out Schmeling in the first round.

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Get your copy of Joe Louis Barrow’s book

But along the way, according to his son, Joe Louis Barrow Jr, the Brown Bomber transformed the way America saw African Americans.

And that is why Barrow Jr. called his 1988 book about his father Joe Louis: 50 Years an American Hero. I got a few minutes with him that fall when he was on a book tour.

So here now, from 1988, Joe Louis Barrow Jr.

Joe Louis died in 1981 at age 66. Max Schmeling helped pay for his funeral, and Louis was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The Presidential Assassination Plot You Never Heard Of

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A plot to assassinate the president is, normally, major news, especially when it almost succeeds. 

So why do most Americans know next to nothing about a plot to assassinate John f. Kennedy? And no, we’re not talking about gunfire in Dallas. 

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The chilling true story told in a new book by bestselling author Brad Meltzer and co-author Josh Mensch is the story of how JFK was targeted in December 1960, before he even took the oath of office. 

Get your copy of Brad Meltzer’s book

And you won’t believe the reason why this story has been lost to history up till now.   And you may not believe who thwarted the plot.

Their book is called The JFK Conspiracy, published this week by Flatiron Books.

This is actually an interview that brought me out of retirement from interviewing.  l had interviewed prominent and influential people for nearly 30 years, but this was my first interview since 2014. 

So here now, best-selling author Brad Meltzer.

How Does A Woman Define Success? Answers From Dr. Joyce Brothers

She was America’s first “pop psychologist.”. Dr. Joyce Brothers became instantly famous in 1955, as a 28-year-old, when she won the TV quiz show ‘’The $64,000 Question” by showing off her expertise in, of all things, boxing.

Over the next five decades, Dr. Brothers offered her advice via television appearances and a magazine column.

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Get your copy of Joyce Brothers’s book

She was the author of many books, including her1988 book called The Successful Woman, based on interviews she had done with dozens of some of the country’s most successful women.

And, among other things, her book sought to go beyond the Superwoman archetype, the modern woman who has it all. Or at least, seems to.

So here now, from 1988, Dr. Joyce Brothers.

Dr. Joyce Brothers died in 2013 at age 85.

Brian Wilson: The Troubled Genius of The Beach Boys

Brian Wilson is widely regarded as one of the most influential music figures of our time.

As a founding member of The Beach Boys, Wilson led a music revolution that went far beyond the ‘60s “California sound” or even pop music generally.

But fame and success carry a price. And for Wilson, the price he paid was his mental health and later physical well-being, as well Substance abuse further complicated his life.

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Yet Wilson continued to create and innovate – and perform. And in 1991, he wrote a memoir, a book he called Wouldn’t It Be Nice. That’s when I met him.

Get your copy of Brian Wilson’s book

So here now, from 1991, Brian Wilson.

Brian Wilson Is 82 now. He stopped touring in 2022, and his family has said he suffers from dementia.