10 Plus 1: Smile, You're Georgeous

Each week, we select one CBS News employee we want you to get to know a little more about.

(CBS)

So, what do you do for a living?

I am a news photographer. I capture the video images and sound of news events assigned to me by the daily assignment editor. Most events are recorded to tape and then edited, hopefully, into a coherent story to be presented on any of several CBS News broadcasts. Quite often, the events are transmitted live through the Washington, D.C., bureau to New York for network distribution.

I began my career at CBS providing technical assistance to the CBS Washington engineering staff. On occasion, I still provide that assistance to facilitate the transmission of network news from remote locations.

CBS news does not adequately cover the processes of government that greatly affect the daily lives of the powerless, the poor, as well as the middle-class taxpayer. Consequently, the nation continues to be shocked by public scandal (i.e., savings and loan, questionable elections, WMD's in Iraq, and the victims of Katrina.)

Things that are truly "strange" fall within the technical realm and are probably beyond the scope of this forum. However, some interesting and unique news experiences that now seem strange in retrospect include: (1) Being the network pool cameraman aboard Air Force One with President Bush on September 11, 2001; (2) Being one of two individuals in the Oval Office the night that President Richard Nixon resigned his presidency live via the CBS pool, and then spending the night on the West Wing Veranda to cover the swearing in of President Gerald Ford; (3) Covering the release of Nelson Mandela at his home in Soweto, his subsequent election as President of South Africa and the meeting of Presidents Mandela and Clinton in Cape Town/Johannesburg, and (4) Covering Russian President Gorbachev in Beijing, China when the student protest began in Tiananmen Square.

Erick Washington, an energetic resourceful colleague, and loyal friend (my 9/11 partner.)

Searching for and applying the secrets of life.

The biggest changes at CBS News have been the diminishing diversity of the CBS editorial and management staffs, as well as the softening or dilution of the news beyond the first news segment or so-called "hard news block."

Books: "Biology of Belief," by Bruce Lipton; "The Immortal Cell," by Michael West; and "Sync," by Steven Strogatz.

My first memory of TV news is of the 1952 Conventions. My grandmother was a volunteer working for the Democrats to elect Adlai Stevenson. So, I have vivid memories of my grandmother being most attentive to the reported political drama at the various state delegations, which included heated attempts by African Americans to be represented or seated in some of the Southern delegations. This was obviously long before the politicians learned to completely neutralize today's coverage with shameless political spin.

Thirty four years of gathering news for CBS has been great for Marion and me. However, we are all enjoying the independent success of both my daughter Kim, and son, Koran. Unfortunately, I believe the opportunities are now more limited and the ceiling lower than when I started at CBS. We are grateful that our children are carving out their own lives without having to encounter the many expectations that necessarily come with following their Dad into news.

There is a tie. The most fascinating people are Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali. Why? Mind/Body/Spirit - Ali is arguably the best and most popular boxer that ever lived. He defeated opponents inside and outside of the ring. When he could not be defeated in the ring, it was his extraordinary strength of mind and character that defeated those who tried otherwise to destroy him. I had the privilege of meeting him when he appeared on "Face The Nation," and again in Rome while covering a papal visit by President Jimmy Carter.

Nelson Mandela's accomplishments are arguably of biblical proportions bordering on the divine. He would not be destroyed by the evils of racist apartheid. His spirit did not waver - he put an entire country of enslaved people on his back and in his heart and literally willed them to freedom.

As for the biggest jerk - I have no room in my memory bank for jerks.

George, has anyone ever grabbed your camera, hit you, etc.? What's your worst story?

Over the years there have been many occasions during crowd control situations where my camera has been grabbed by police or secret service. The most remarkable incident occurred several years ago at the Capital Hilton where correspondent Ike Pappas, my partner Dan Tutman and I were sent to cover an unannounced, "secret" meeting between then-Secretary of Labor Ray Donovan and top Teamster leaders. There was an ongoing uproar concerning Mr. Donovan's relationships with the Teamsters and the "mob." We had planned not to reveal ourselves to the Teamsters until the Secretary arrived. We also agreed to follow the Secretary into the hotel Ballroom until we were stopped.

Well the Secretary arrived, very surprised to see the camera and light in his face, more surprised at a camera following the Secretary were the several large muscular Teamsters who came running to greet us. Needless to say we were removed from the room very forcefully. Although my correspondent did not accompany us, as he agreed, I continued to roll on our eviction and the entire incident was aired that night on the news. The Teamsters were most upset. Today, we laugh about what was a potentially dangerous encounter.

To do this job requires a short memory of the bad stories. At this moment I don't really have a worst story. Sorry.