Brian Williams

In his one-hour-and-fifteen-minute interview, Brian Williams describes his early home life, including writing a letter to President Lyndon Johnson at age eight, and receiving a reply. He chronicles his time as a White House intern during the Carter Administration and developing his burgeoning interest in politics and news. He recalls his many years in local news, culminating in a job reporting for WCBS in New York City, where he was first noticed by Tom Brokaw. Williams then discusses his transition to a national platform when he was hired by NBC News, first as a national correspondent, later as the White House correspondent, and eventually as an anchor for the newly formed MSNBC cable channel. He speaks of the coverage of 9/11, and talks of succeeding Tom Brokaw as the anchor of NBC Nightly News. He outlines his philosophy on anchoring and explains the ways he keeps in touch with his audience through email and social media. Finally, he describes his hosting experience on Saturday Night Live. Karen Herman conducted the interview on June 14, 2011 in New York, NY.