Coming to The Q&A Cafe on Tuesday, November 12: USA Today's chief Washington correspondent, Susan Page. Susan is also biographer of former First Lady Barbara Bush. Her next book will be a biography of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. She's a regular on the Sunday shows and cable TV, and overall a well respected and well liked chronicler of all things Washington. Please join us:
What: A Q&A Cafe TV show taping with lunch served
When: Tuesday November 12, noon to 1 pm.
Where: The George Town Club, 1530 Wisconsin Avenue NW, at Volta
How: Call Joe Pikovsky at The George Town Club to book at seat. 202-333-9330
How Much: $35, all inclusive of lunch, soft drinks and dessert from Georgetown Cupcake.
The Q&A Cafe is now in its 18th year, with more than 500 notable individuals having appeared for long-form interviews. It airs at 8pm each Friday on DC Cable, channel 16. Up next, Tuesday, December 10, RdV Vineyard founder and winemaker Rutger de Vink.
As you can probably tell it's embarassing to him ("hey, pose for a photo with your Mom"), but here I am out tonight with my darling son, Spencer, about to arrive at a party hosted by our friend Lyndon Boozerat the Library of Congress. Spencer indulges me by coming to some of these things -- and only some -- but I sometimes press because his GF, Katherine Davis, is in town from Houston and I think she likes to see the sights and sample the random perks. (In truth, they'd rather be in Shaw, at The Yards, or on 14th Street...and I can't blame them.).
The thrill for me was to show them the balcony view of the Reading Room, one of the capital's great and awe-inspiring spaces.
Here are Spencer and Kate, on the balcony overlooking the Reading Room. And, below, a look up at the gorgeous ceiling, at twilight.
We also stopped by Rose's Luxury for a drink at the upstairs bar. Owner Aaron Silverman said that most nights now the wait for a table is down to one hour from the high water mark of 2-3 hours. If you haven't been, give it a try because the experience is big. One way to do it is stop by at, say 6 or 6:30, put your name down, and then take a walk in the Marine Barracks neighborhood while the time flies by before your table becomes available. I prefer reservations, personally, but that's not the way Aaron does it and its his place!
Washingtonian this morning posted to its website my story about the Tug of War over the Eisenhower Memorial. It took two months to research and report, involving most of the people you see in the photo above ... with the exception of Ike, who can't speak for himself. But everyone else is speaking, or arguing, with people who aren't even family claiming to know his wishes better than anyone else. Some of the principles involved talked to me, some of them flat out refused, except through mouthpieces. A real life Washington story and cast of characters, with a starring appearance by global starchitect Frank Gehry.
FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT CLINT HILL AT CAFE MILANO
As the JFK 50th anniversary comes to a close it is former Secret Service agent Clint Hill who may have had the last public word at a Washington event commemorating the assassination. Hill, who jumped on to the back of the presidential limousine moments after the shots were fired in Dallas, appeared Sunday at Cafe Milano for a private party for his latest book, "Five Days In November." He told his story once again as guests watched corresponding photos and video on large screens.
Looking back over the last couple of weeks of remembrance, if I had to pick one media opportunity that stands out from all the others, it would be to commend CBS News, which is live-streaming the actual "live" coverage of that November weekend 50 years ago ... and in real time. It's riveting. In fact, if you go there right now, and do go there right now - CBS News JFK Assassination - you will watch as the public file by JFK's casket in the Rotunda (just as I did and wrote about on New York Social Diary) as Samuel Barber'sAdagio mourns with them. That went on all day and night 50 years ago. Tomorrow, you will be able to watch the funeral in full. Trust me, it's a must watch.
Here's what else stands out from watching the CBS coverage: how intelligent, mature and composed the CBS News correspondents were as they told about unfolding events. Never once was it about them, as so often happens with reporters today. They don't fawn, they don't sensationalize, they don't inject themselves into the story. My God, a reveltation. There are so many ways the profession of journalism has eroded and declined since then. Watching the coverage reminds me of why I chose a journalism careeer all those years ago and why today I rarely if ever identify myself as being in that line of work. "Media outlier," is what I prefer.
It's sentimental to watch Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, Charles Collingwood, Eric Sevareid and othersdo their jobs. I'm so proud that early in my career I got to work with all of them and for a long time. They do a splendid job of providing straight, clear and responsible journalism.
THIS, THE DARK GRAY HOUSE, IS WHERE JACK AND JACKIE KENNEDY LIVED AT THE TIME OF THE TV INTERVIEW BELOW
Any Jackie Kennedy fan will enjoy watching this rare video, but it will have special meaning to residents of Georgetown. What it includes is B-roll of her walking around the neighborhood, including taking her dog to Rose Park (you'll recognize the steps and sandbox). Jack Kennedy appears in it, too, toward the end of the 9 minute clip. They both appear so young. Jackie has a stunning resemblance to the actress Rachel Weisz.
It shows Jackie coming and going from their home, visting the butcher and dry cleaner, but I don't think it is the N Street house they lived in when JFK was elected President. Since it was taped in 1957, it could be their home on Dent. But then, it would be odd for her to walk the dog all the way over to Rose Park. Who knows? Maybe someone does and will let me know. Subsequent to the first posting of this item I've been told the house was at 2808 P Street (photographed today 5/25/13 above) and that it was where Jack lived and Jackie moved in after their marriage. They did later live on N Street, which was their home at the time of the presidential election.
According to a friend of David Abrams (who sent the video to me initially):
"During their period (on P Street), the Democratic Party looked at Kennedy as a possible presidential candidate, after the success of Jack’s book, Profiles in Courage. On a sad note, during their time here, Jackie gave birth to their first child, who was stillborn. .."
Georgetown looks much as it does today, with the exception of the cars. The program was called "Home" and was hosted by Arlene Francis. How about the crazy microphones? They are the size of juice boxes!
As she walks along the path in Rose Park, overlooking Rock Creek Parkway, Jackie says, "I love living in Georgetown.
I'm very grateful to David Abrams for sending this to me. It's a gem.
This is a clip of TV history I've never before seen, though I was there, and I thank my friend Shane Harris for unearthing and sending my way. It is Walter Cronkite reporting the death of President Lyndon B. Johnson "live" on the air. A writer, I sat off camera to his left. Across from me was the editor, John Merriman. On Cronkite's right were the two other writers, Raybun Matthews and Charles L. West.
We were not many minutes into the show - maybe into the first commercial break - when the executive producer, Paul Greenberg, rushed out of his office, known as the "fishbowl," to tell Walter that Tom Johnson was on the phone and it was urgent, that LBJ had died. We came out of commercial and Walter took the call on the air. This clip underscores his professionalism and calm and journalistic grounding. Off camera, we scrambled, writing little bits of information that we slid to Walter below the shot. Very subtly, you can see him cooly referring to the little notes as we pass them to him -- from both directions.
At the end of the clip, as we go to commercial, you see me, ready to pull copy from the wire machines that lined one wall of the studio. They were the Reuters, Associated Press and United Press International wires. They were our lifeblood back in those days before computers, tweets, email, text messages and so forth. We kept them in these big boxes so that while we were on the air the tick-tick-tick of the machines would be muffled, but you can hear them. You can hear our electric typewriters, too.
This is just one of the most remarkable days in history but also in my professional life. I'd only joined the writing staff of The CBS Evening News in December of the year before. Cronkite hired me away from Time magazine, where I was a fledgling reporter. I was all of 22-years-old but a real hard-news Hannah about the business. This particular event, and the way Walter and the staff handled it, made me proud. We sprinted along until the end of the first 30-minute live 6:30 show, but while Walter talked we totally wrote a whole new show to do live at 7pm. We had all of five minutes to pull it together. The producers prepared clips and obit material. That night we did a network special.
It was an exciting night. This was 1973, and Watergate was in full flower, so our days were routinely exciting. Still, this moment stood out. Not to get all gushy, but I watch and listen to the clip and it reminds me what a great front row seat I've had to so much history. I'm reminded, too, of what journalism was like before it got adorned with silly frills or sidetracked into meaninglessness. I miss the urgency of breaking news and being the broadcast to beat and, especially, the high standards. The standards were remarkable, compared to what passes for standards now - not only in television, but in all so-called news media.
Because Shane mentioned it, here's a piece I wrote after Walter died: Remebering Old Iron Pants. The picture at the top is what we called the "bumper shot," which flashed on screen as went to commercial. I'm at my desk (Coca Cola and ash tray struck from the set).
PS-The clip is in black and white, but we broadcast in color.
LATER: Afer posting, I received this wonderful message from a former colleague, Carolyn Terry Dorsett, who was Walter's executive assistant:
"Carol...thank you so much for sharing that clip! I remember that vividly as I took the call from Tom Johnson, put him on hold and contacted "the fishbowl". I, too, miss all the high standards of those days and count myself as most fortunate to have been at Walter's side from '63 to June, 1973. I still have the lovely note you wrote me the day I left."
Back in February 2010, I found Ken Gormley's book riveting. The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs Starr was an exhaustive review and analysis of everything "Clinton scandals," from Whitewater to Monica Lewinsky, and then some. Gormley interviewed all the principals, including President Clinton, Kenneth Starr and Lewinsky, and they were candid. The Susan McDougal parts are especially interesting. So, I was excited to have the chance to interview Gormley about the book.
This was not a "household name," interview, but then some of my favorite interviews are with people who are not necessarily household names. Gormley had a good story to tell. That's what matters.
MODEL OF TITANIC WRECKAGE USED IN THE FILM "TITANIC"
At the National Geographic Museum this evening Robert Ballard marked the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic by saying he intends to return to the ship to do some fix-up. We talked about his plans at a reception before a lecture he gave to an audience of invited guests. There was also an unveiling of a new Titanic exhibition, which features items from the film "Titanic." The whole story is here at washingtonian.com.
Tonight and tomorrow PBS will air an American Experience film examining the political era of Bill Clinton. The film, "Clinton," begins with his early life and his early attempts at political office and continues through to his leaving the White House after two terms as president. My review of the broadcast is here: The Good, The Bad and The Complicated Bill Clinton.
Note: this weekend I screened the HBO film of the book "Game Change," and will have that review in the next week or so. Fans of the book will be surprised.
Spent my day at Mount Vernon, enjoying the beginning of George Washington's birthday. We previewed a new exhibition and had lunch with Mrs. Washington. Isn't that a typical day in this town? It was a beautiful and delicious occasion and there is a full report on washngtonian.com.
Carol Joynt has "a perfect eye, an infallible ear and the unequaled gift of rearranging the alphabet into words which both entertain and mean f**cking something."
-- "Hollywood Bob"
THE Q&A CAFE
The Q&A Cafe is now in its 21st year. We launched in October 2001 at Nathans in Georgetown as a response to the September 11 terror attacks, and from that initial purpose grew into a weekly community interview lunch, the first "talk show in a bar." When Nathans closed in 2009 we moved to the Ritz Carlton Hotel and since 2015 our home has been The George Town Club. Some 500 notable individuals, from all fields, have appeared for interviews, which are taped and air Fridays on DC Cable. All are welcomed to attend. For reservations: 202-333-9330.
Emmy-winning CBS News producer, talk show guest wrangler, published author, host of The Q&A Cafe, print & digital journalist, filmmaker, photog, and former saloon owner. Read more...
"Innocent Spouse"
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MEDIA: For book-related inquiries, please contact my agent, Laney Becker, at 212-243-8480
Emmy-winning CBS News producer, talk show guest wrangler, published author, host of The Q&A Cafe, print & digital journalist, filmmaker, photog, and former saloon owner. 
Here is information for my popular memoir 
