Tuesday, August 10, 2004
C-Span
A couple of nights ago I was watching C-span's re-broadcast of President Nixon's address to the nation announcing his resignation. I cannot believe its been 30 years. Then I stayed up to see Gerald Ford being sworn in and I listened to his first speech as President ("The long national nightmare is over.")
It got me thinking how much I enjoy C-span and how I am amazed that I have never written a post on this subject. You see C-span was responsible for one of the greatest experiences of my life.
Almost 2 years ago I had the opportunity to participate in a distance learning course taught from C-span studios to undergraduate students at the University of Denver. I received this invitation because a co-worker at the time is good friends with Susan Swain, C-span's COO. One day the co-worker introduced Miss Swain to me and we talked about her job and my volunteer activities with the Cesar Chavez Public Charter High School for Public Policy.
Soon after that I invited Miss Swain to an information session at the school. She happily agreed to attend and brought with her John Swain, who is C-span's political consultant. After the event Mr. Swain asked if I would be a guest for the class he was teaching on television and the American presidency.
The class was like nothing I could have imagined. Mr. Swain and I sat in a studio with cameras and lights as if we were about to appear on a television show. The students in Denver also had microphones and cameras in the classroom. Mr. Splain turned out to be a clone of Phil Donohue in his style. For two hours he quickly and smoothly moved between asking me questions about my libertarian political philosophy to the presidential election of 1976 to film clips from the Democratic and Republican candidates to questions for and from the students sitting 3000 miles away. When it was done my heart was racing from excitement as it has on few occasions in the past.
One of the most interesting parts for me was the student questions. Some were about libertarianism. Many, however, were about my career and my ability balance my interest in politics while working in another field. One inquiry was whether I had any regrets about the path I had chosen. I replied that I did not.
After the class I received a tour of the C-span office complete with a chance to sit in the "Washington Journal" program moderator's chair. It was then that I met C-span's founder Brian Lamb! He came up to me and said "So you are the Libertarian." He also knew that Susan Swain had visited the charter school. I felt like the most important person in the world.
As great as this opportunity was probably the best part was months later when I went on the web to watch the students last class. They were asked to pick the best guest for the semester. Being in Washington, Mr. Splain had brought in the President's press secretary, television reporters from various networks, elected representatives, and other high profile people. To my surprise and amazement I received the most votes of anyone! It seems the students reacted strongly to my non-partisan views on the issues of the day.
The day of the class I received a gift copy of one of C-span's books on their "Booknotes" series and it was signed by Miss Swain and Mr. Splain. It sits on my desk at work as a reminder of this fantastic day.
PermaLink | 5:23 AM |
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It got me thinking how much I enjoy C-span and how I am amazed that I have never written a post on this subject. You see C-span was responsible for one of the greatest experiences of my life.
Almost 2 years ago I had the opportunity to participate in a distance learning course taught from C-span studios to undergraduate students at the University of Denver. I received this invitation because a co-worker at the time is good friends with Susan Swain, C-span's COO. One day the co-worker introduced Miss Swain to me and we talked about her job and my volunteer activities with the Cesar Chavez Public Charter High School for Public Policy.
Soon after that I invited Miss Swain to an information session at the school. She happily agreed to attend and brought with her John Swain, who is C-span's political consultant. After the event Mr. Swain asked if I would be a guest for the class he was teaching on television and the American presidency.
The class was like nothing I could have imagined. Mr. Swain and I sat in a studio with cameras and lights as if we were about to appear on a television show. The students in Denver also had microphones and cameras in the classroom. Mr. Splain turned out to be a clone of Phil Donohue in his style. For two hours he quickly and smoothly moved between asking me questions about my libertarian political philosophy to the presidential election of 1976 to film clips from the Democratic and Republican candidates to questions for and from the students sitting 3000 miles away. When it was done my heart was racing from excitement as it has on few occasions in the past.
One of the most interesting parts for me was the student questions. Some were about libertarianism. Many, however, were about my career and my ability balance my interest in politics while working in another field. One inquiry was whether I had any regrets about the path I had chosen. I replied that I did not.
After the class I received a tour of the C-span office complete with a chance to sit in the "Washington Journal" program moderator's chair. It was then that I met C-span's founder Brian Lamb! He came up to me and said "So you are the Libertarian." He also knew that Susan Swain had visited the charter school. I felt like the most important person in the world.
As great as this opportunity was probably the best part was months later when I went on the web to watch the students last class. They were asked to pick the best guest for the semester. Being in Washington, Mr. Splain had brought in the President's press secretary, television reporters from various networks, elected representatives, and other high profile people. To my surprise and amazement I received the most votes of anyone! It seems the students reacted strongly to my non-partisan views on the issues of the day.
The day of the class I received a gift copy of one of C-span's books on their "Booknotes" series and it was signed by Miss Swain and Mr. Splain. It sits on my desk at work as a reminder of this fantastic day.
PermaLink | 5:23 AM |
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