The journalist who founded C-SPAN in the 1970s retired last month after leading the network for 47 years.
To many viewers, Brian Lamb was C-SPAN. His quiet and intelligent demeanor helped set the tone for the cable outlet dedicated to bringing the workings of the federal government into American homes.
And for 15 years, from 1989 to 2004, Brian Lamb was also host of the popular weekly C-SPAN show “Booknotes.”
Each show featured a prominent writer of nonfiction, and each was allowed on the show only once, meaning Lamb tapered 800 shows with 800 authors.
About halfway through the show’s run, Lamb and his staff collected highlights from many of those interviews in a book called – appropriately enough – Booknotes.
That’s when I had the chance to spend a few minutes with him.
So here now, from 1997. Brian Lamb.
Brian Lamb will be 83 next month. He lives in Virginia. .
