Posted by BEN BEAUMONT – In what was another wonderful opportunity that comes with being a Clinton School student, C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb stopped by for a private session with students Sunday night. Lamb is visiting Little Rock to produce a piece on the Clinton Library as part of a series on America’s presidential library system. Lamb discussed C-Span’s unique approach as a nonprofit, nonbiased cable news organization operating in today’s culture of for-profit, unbalanced, ratings-based television news.
Lamb said he’s come across some interesting and sometimes bizarre material in the series on Presidential Libraries. During its piece on President Nixon, C-SPAN became the first network to air a six-minute clip (follow the link and search Nixon, 1974) of the embattled president just before he went on live television from the Oval Office to resign the presidency at the height of Watergate.
Lamb also offered some interesting facts about C-SPAN. He said that this 1994 interview with future Vice President Dick Cheney is probably the most-viewed clip ever on C-Span thanks to its relevance to current events in Iraq and to the rise of YouTube. Take a minute to watch, and you’ll see why.
Lamb said he defines C-SPAN’s approach as the “O.J. Free Zone,” in jest to the O.J. Simpson saga that engulfed and ultimately forever changed television news. That’s a funny line, but it’s refreshing at the same time.
Many Americans and others from all over the world have learned more about American government through the lenses of C-SPAN’s cameras. With its hours of committee meetings and floor debates from both houses of Congress, as well as its endless campaign coverage, C-SPAN allows us to truly see how our government operates. It’s the definition of democracy, providing a true public service.
We thank Brian Lamb for taking the time to visit the Clinton School.