MediaWatch: February 1991
Table of Contents:
Revolving Door: War Talkers
War Talkers. The Persian Gulf War created some new television and radio employment opportunities for a few old political hands. The Cable News Network made Bill Moyers, a Press Secretary for President Johnson, a frequent commentator during its war coverage. Starting on January 19, Moyers hosted a weekly CNN panel discussion series, The Press Goes to War.
The Mutual Broadcasting System has replaced its Sunday night "Best of Larry King" repeats with a live radio show hosted by Bob Beckel, Walter Mondale's 1984 presidential campaign manager. Beckel remains moderator of Off the Record, Fox's answer to the McLaughlin Group.
Anthony "Tony" Cordesman, a defense and foreign affairs Legislative Assistant for conservative Senator John McCain (R-AZ) until the war began, provided political analysis for ABC News. Cordesman, who spent three years on McCain's staff, wrote a book on the Iran-Iraq War and teaches at Georgetown University.
Cissy's Best. Cissy Baker, Managing Editor of the Cable News Network since 1984, left at the end of 1990. She's now the Supervising Producer of Sunday Best, NBC's latest attempt to counter 60 Minutes. The program features a collection of entertainment show highlights, comedians reviewing the week's news and a look at old television shows narrated by Linda Ellerbee. Back in 1982 Baker was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for Congress from Tennessee.
Republican at the Post? Yes, at least on the business side. For two months in the spring of 1987 Patrick Butler held the title of Executive Editor of Communications at the White House under newly installed Chief of Staff Howard Baker. Now he's joined the Washington Post Company as Vice President of Newsweek and Vice President of Legi-Slate, an electronic congressional data tracking service. Butler worked in President Gerald Ford's speechwriting office before becoming a Special Assistant to Republican Senator Howard Baker in 1978. Except for his brief White House stint, since 1985 he has been Vice President of Times-Mirror's Washington office where he's overseen publicity for the newspaper chain's Center for the People and the Press.
