Wednesday's AC360 was almost entirely devoted to Senator Edward Kennedy. It's got to be tough to go last after a day of non-stop Kennedy coverage and yet keep it fresh. But 360 managed to do that with reports by Tom Foreman, Erica Hill, Joe Johns and Randi Kaye. And there were discussions with David Gergen, John King, Candy Crowley, Gloria Borger, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Douglas Brinkley, a Presidential Historian.
Thanks to Julie for finding the picture of Anderson, Barry Diller and Dominick Dunne taken at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in LA, circa 2004.
Anderson did a beautiful tribute at the end of the program for his friend Dominick Dunne. Dunne died Wednesday, of bladder cancer, at the age of 83. If you missed it here's the clip.
I found some irony in my night on Wednesday. While I watched 360, I participated in a phone-in Town Hall with my Congressman. The subject was health insurance reform (he made it very clear that we are reforming health insurance, not health care). I found it ironic because as I watched Teddy Kennedy's life examined in detail on CNN I was participating in a discussion of his greatest passion and dream.
I was given an invitation, by phone, yesterday and told that I would receive a call at 6:30 tonight. I was free to just listen to other people who had joined in the Town Hall, all by phone, or I could press 0 to get in the queue to ask a question. Periodically Congressman Mitchell would ask a poll question and, if you chose to answer, you would push a button on your phone registering your opinion/situation. While some of the people were very annoying (and probably Republican) most asked intelligent questions and were very well informed.
I'm not sure if this phone-in Town Hall has be utilized by other Congressmen/women, but for me it was a success. No yelling and arguing, no sitting on uncomfortable folding chairs for hours and no braving the sweltering Phoenix heat to hear the debate and register your opinion. If you ever have the chance to participate give it a try.
It is almost a given that if AC360 plans a road trip there will be a big breaking news story. Anderson Cooper is slated to broadcast live from New Orleans on Thursday and Friday nights this week. Senator Kennedy's body will lie in repose at the Kennedy Library in Boston on Thursday and Friday night is the wake, with the funeral on Saturday (wasn't that the original date for MJ's funeral?).
I think if NOLA hadn't been scheduled AC might have been in Boston on Thursday and Friday evening, but of course I'm just guessing. I did come across one conflicting bit of information today, about the NOLA broadcasts. The Times-Picayune (the NOLA newspaper) reported that AC360 will broadcast from New Orleans on Thursday, with no mention of Friday. We'll find out soon enough.
That's it for me this week. We've got a busy weekend in Casa Phebe, it's my daughter's birthday. I need to bake a cake, cook a big family dinner and get the presents bought and wrapped. Whew, I'm tired already. Have a great weekend everyone. ~Phebe
All Things Anderson is a blog dedicated to CNN's AC360 and its host Anderson Cooper.
13 comments:
The Kennedy's have been such a huge force and major part of the fabric of this country that it's hard to come to terms that the last of the brothers is now gone. Ted Kennedy may have had some controversial moments in his life, but what he accomplished as a political figure can't be minimized and I've long appreciated his tireless work on behalf of the needy and underrepresented. RIP. 360 did an excellent job bringing us the overview of his life. I also loved Anderson's warm remembrance of his friend Dominic Dunne - I didn't know that much about Dunne, but he sounded like a close and loyal friend to AC and his family.
Too bad all town halls can't be confined to a phone-in, sounds like a much more civilized way to go about it.
Hopefully we'll still get some substantial NOLA coverage in addition to more on Ted Kennedy.
Good luck with your daughter's birthday celebration Phebe.
I don't want anyone talking this the wrong way. I understand that Ted Kennedy was a very prominent and important political figure and my heart goes out to his family. They just lost his sister recently. I feel for them. I don't necessarily think 360 should have devoted the whole hour. Its been on the news all day long. 360 has a problem with balance. Its another one of their problems. They either don't focus on something enough or they focus on something too much. There's never really a happy medium on 360.
Poor Anderson seemed rather upset when talking about the passing of Dominick Dunne. He looked like he could have used a hug last nite. It was a very touching and moving tribute though.
@Aries Moon, I agree about substantial NOLA coverage. We don't always get that, but hopefully we will tonite.
Call me cynical, I never cared for Dominick Dunne. I always found him, well, creepy. Maybe his contributions as a writer were unappreciated by someone like myself, but he just never appealed to me. Yes, AC's eulogy was touching, more so than say the one to ....Ted Kennedy. But, he probably didn't know him personally which is understandable.
I think NOLA will be cut short. It is more important for Anderson to pay tribute to Ted Kennedy, with his journalistic colleagues, than to stay the extra day in New Orleans. As someone noted in the previous post, the city will be there tomorrow.
Yes, a phone poll town meeting on health care sounds interesting and Obama is trying to change health insurance as we know it, not health care. But the insurance lobby is very resistant and refuses to comply, not the medical establishment.
I don't mind that they devoted the whole hour, at least Ted Kennedy contributed something to society unlike Michael Jackson, who they can't stop talking about.
No matter how people feel about the Kennedy's I do believe they try hard to take up for those that can't stand up for themselves. Robert and Ted were big proponents of Civil Rights when most prominent white men didn't have the guts to stand up and tell it like it was.
Sure, Ted and Jack and Robert were not perfect but I do believe they changed American and for the better. I hope their children and grandchildren will continue on with the work the older generation started.
Phebe, hope all goes well at Casa Phebe (that cracked me up!)
Anderson twittered. He's in NOLA!:
andersoncooperFrom ac: just landed back in new orleans. Its great to be back here. Four years since katrina. I'm meeting up with James Carville shortly.
about 1 hour ago from TwitterBerry
I'm hoping most of the program tonite will focus on NOLA and that we'll get some interesting pieces.
Anderson sounded utterly heartbroken about his friend Domminick Dunne. My heart goes out to Anderson and all of Dunne's loved ones. That was really disturbing to learn about his daughter--as someone who wants to be an attorney, it really disturbs me when justice is not served. How strangling someone can be considered anything less than second-degree murder is beyond my comprehension.
Excited for the NOLA recap (no tv :S)! That happened my freshman year of college, and one of my closest friends had just enrolled at Xavier. Suffice is to say I was petrified. And when I saw a very handsome newsman venting on Bill Maher...well, the rest is history. I'm happy that Anderson keeps visiting New Orleans. (Btw--my friend is fine).
Any hoot, enough of my ranting--Phebe, I hope your daughter has a wonderful birthday and good luck getting all of the preparations together. And thank you for the post--Happy Thursday Bloggers :)
And by the way, that picture is BREATHTAKING! Great find. It looks like one of those classic 1950's photographs.
While I understand some people not wanting 24/7 coverage of anything (I'm usually one of those people), I was totally into the coverage last night.
I thought the tributes for both Senator Kennedy and Dominick Dunne were excellent. It has been too long since I've listened to Anderson deliver the news with such restrained emotion.
Although I understand Andersons need for privacy, I would love to know more about his connection to Dominick Dunne. Mr Em doesn't usually watch 360 but was passing through the room when Anderson was talking to LK about Dominick, he stopped and asked what was wrong. He thought it looked like Anderson was about to cry. If you watched closely, you caught a glimpse of that emotion every time Anderson talked about him last night. Mr. Dunne was an interesting person, different, incredibly talented, and a relentless advocate for the victims of domestic violence. May he rest in peace.
For me, the loss of Ted Kennedy seems almost personal. My Grandmother was from New Bedford, Massachuetts. She loved, in this order; her family, her church, her Portuguese heritage, being a democrat and the Kennedys. Me, I loved my Grandma. When I last saw her, she was living in a convalescent home. The two pictures hanging on her wall were of the Pope and JFK. Her health was failing and as we lived in different states, she was afraid she would not see me again. As I left, she blessed me by giving me a very old crucifix, two small nun statues and small pictures of the Pope and JFK. The crucifix and statues are displayed prominently in my living room. The pictures, old and worn are tucked safely away. Is it any wonder I have been fascinated with the Kennedy's my entire life? Even so, I am well aware of their all too human frailties. I thought AC360 and every reporter and commentator did a very good job of pointing out that Teddy had terrible flaws but also an amazing heart. To me, his life and the decisions he made will always be an enigma. He was a man who personified the best and the worst in us all. God Bless, forgive, and accept him gracefully into the waiting arms of his family.
Wednesday's show was typical for the day - almost all about Senator Kennedy. That's what I expected.
But I didn't expect Anderson's heartfelt report on Dominick Dunne. Very touching and well done.
I re-read Dunne's article about the trial of the man who murdered his daughter, even though I read it several times before, it's still very powerful and very sad.
The timing of Dunne's death is unfortunate not because of anything to do with Edward Kennedy but because I think Dunne still had a couple of good books in him.
It's good to hear that Anderson is in New Orleans, it should be a terrific show tonight.
@Em: The passage of Ted Kennedy is possibly so personal to "our generation," because his brother was the first Catholic President. At the time, though I was small, this in itself was radical. No one thought that could ever happen and the most unlikely Kennedy, Teddy, was probably the one who had the greatest impact on Civil Rights legislation, carrying out his brother Jack's legacy.
I would have liked to have known more about Joan. She was kind of "hidden away," from public view.
Today, we'd know everything. It was just a different time and Ted learned and became a very devoted statesman.
@ Em--he said that he knew Dominick since he was a small child. Probably one of the MANY famous aquaintances of his mother's.
Thought last night's 360 was well done. I loved Anderson's voice over tribute of Senator Kennedy. He does such a great job on voice overs --
I was a big fan of Teddy and the Kennedy family, so I was happy to see the show devoted to him last night. I watched CNN most of the day yesterday (while working on paperwork) and still felt 360 managed to provide a fresh show --
I wish they would have included the story Paul Bagalia told earlier in the day, about how when Paul's dad was diagnosed with cancer, he got an unexpected call from Senator Kennedy giving him the name and number of a specialist to call. When Paul called the number, Teddy had already spoken with the doctor -- and Paul's dad is alive today because of the treatment he received from this doctor.
I'm the same age JFK, Jr would be -and my mom used to comment that she and Jackie were pregnant at the same time! I feel many in the younger generation don't understand what the Kennedy Family meant to our country. Like them or not, you have to admire that while born into wealth and priviledge, Jack, Bobby & Teddy all chose public service -- championing for civil rights and many causes affecting the poor, the week and those often not represented. I truly admire Teddy, who despite all his personal problems, continued to fight passionately for what he believed in. I feel that he is one of the last in the Senate who knew how to make a deal, to get things done. (We can only hope that others will take up the charge of getting the Health Care Bill passed complete with the public option he so desparately wanted.)
The John Kennedy Memorial Library is a beautiful and inspiring place, right on the bay -- a fitting place for Senator Kennedy to lay in repose.
I thought Anderson did a great job with the tribute to his friend Dominick Dunne. You could tell he was shaken up by his friend's passing -- both in his conversation with Larry King (during the 360 preview) and when he did the tribute. I knew little about the man -- but it was obvious Anderson cared for him.
Looking forward to tonight's show from NOLA -- Anderson has been "tweeting" and it looks like we will get the James Carville interview. It was Anderson who made the comment a couple of night's ago that he would be in NOLA Thursday and Friday -- but now with the death of Senator Kennedy, things may have changed.
The phone-in Town Hall sounds interesting, Phebe. I participated in the DNC on-line Town Hall with President Obama -- you could submit questions ahead of time -- but no poll questions. That part sounds really interesting.
Hope everything goes well at Casa Phebe this weekend and that your daughter's birthday is properly celebrated!
My recollection of Senator Edward Kennedy will always be one as being the keeper of the Camelot flame.
Through highs and lows, through trials and tribulations he roared like a lion, but had the heart of a lamb.
I wasn’t even born when President Kennedy was assassinated and was just under 2 years old when Sen. Bobby Kennedy was assassinated.
For me my most recent memory of a Kennedy tragedy was when the world lost John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and her sister Lauren Bessette.
And today, as we morn the death of Senator Edward Kennedy, and celebrate the legacy of this larger then life man, I can not help but reflect on what an extraordinary life these folks have lived, laughed and lamented.
The Kennedy’s name did not define them, but rather, they defined their famous name. As they dedicated their lives to public service, a tradition you can’t help but admire them for, despite their devastating losses through several generations, they never failed to more often then not, put others before themselves. Their tenacity and resilience, humongous hearts and giving spirits will go down in History as one of the worlds’ most famous of American families.
The breath and depth of the lives Senator Kennedy touched is enormous, not just in the US, but across the globe, brokering peace efforts in Ireland, fighting poverty in the US and around the globe, proposing a Bill to raise the minimum wage for the everyday ordinary hardworking men & women across the Country, not to mention the boat load of numerous pieces of legislation which had his finger prints on, on so many levels.
What’s ironic is that 40 years ago, Senator Kennedy started fighting for healthcare, and to his dying day, he worked his heart out to see that dream come to pass. Unfortunately, that dream was not to be. Having lost my own mother to Cancer (leukemia), my heart goes out each and every single man, woman and child who does not have healthcare. As young as I was when my mum lost her battle with Cancer, I know for a fact, my mum would have never endured the duration of her life after being diagnosed had it not been for the healthcare she received "across the pond".
What breaks my heart is that some people (even on this blog) are so quick to judge and criticize the faults and failings of this man, and/or his family. Yet how quickly they forget the great causes he stood up and fought for, for the better part of his life.
Folks, you all should be so lucky and thank your lucky stars to have the likes of Senator Kennedy who dedicated his life to the service of his fellow Americans. Despite his faults and failings, he gave his heart, soul, blood, sweat and tears to causes of everyday Americans, and living abroad like I did for the better part of my life, I only wished we had in some of our Politicians a fraction of the kind of man Senator Kennedy was.
Rest In Peace Senator Kennedy. You shall be truly missed.
Post a Comment