For 53 years, David Brinkley has been commenting sardonically on the news in his patrician North Carolina accent. Although legendary for NBC's "Huntley-Brinkley Report," he has had a more recent yet no less impressive 15-year stint as host of ABC's "This Week with David Brinkley."
That's why so many people were surprised when Brinkley propelled himself into instant controversy on election night when he attacked President Clinton on the air - even though he thought he was off the air.He alleged that the president "has not a creative bone in his body. Therefore, he is a bore, and always will be a bore." Finally, he labeled Clinton's election-night victory speech "one of the worst things I've ever heard."
Suddenly, the often irreverent 76-year-old Brinkley, who has been rather sedate in recent years, had become the topic of the week for David Letterman, and his election-night remarks were replayed across the airwaves for those who missed it the first time.
The timing couldn't have been worse for Brinkley, since he was slated to step into semi-retirement by doing his last interview with none other than President Clinton. Surprisingly, Clinton decided to keep the Brinkley appointment.
I watched with interest as Brinkley began the interview with a heartfelt apology, attributing his anti-Clinton remarks to fatigue. "What I said at the end of our election-night coverage was both impolite and unfair, and I'm sorry. I regret it."
Clinton warmly accepted the apology, admitting to having said things he was sorry for, too, when he was tired. "I always believe you have to judge people on their whole work, and if you get judged based on your whole work, you come out way ahead."
Clinton even lightened the moment by saying Vice President Gore, who has been criticized for his alleged stiffness, "was very happy when you said I was boring."
There are several interesting things about this episode. It was disappointing that Brinkley would let his objectivity fall so far after such a distinguished career, but it was admirable that he would so quickly realize his error and make a public apology.
Even if everyone still knows Brinkley has a low opinion of Clinton (in his memoirs published last year he called Clinton "the most verbose politician in modern times" and recalled his 1988 nominating speech for Michael Dukakis at the Democratic Convention, as "so long and so boring it must have set a new indoor record for wordiness and tedium"), they know he understands that the President of the United States, whoever he is, deserves respect.
So Brinkley got a lot of interesting publicity for stuff he had already said in his book, and yet managed to retain his well-known class in the clutch.
The president came out the best of all. He could have railed against Brinkley on Larry King. He could have easily scuttled the Brinkley interview and given it to another network star, and most people would have understood.
He did not.
He took the high road and refrained from making any statement until Brinkley had apologized. The result was that he appeared statesmanlike next to the legendary newsman.
He looked like a man with a thick skin.
In fact, we should all look so good. From this we can learn how to respond effectively when someone criticizes us. No matter how unfair the comments, keep your cool and hold your fire. While the person who attacks you runs for cover, you will become the epitome of wisdom. You may even look presidential.