Posted on 05/19/2003 10:05:43 AM PDT by Hugenot
NewsMax.com's John Rossiello interviews one of the all-time greats of talk radio.
This month talk radio legend Bob Grant marks his fifty-fifth year in broadcasting, continuing the style of opinionated talk radio that he pioneered, using a format that has transformed the industry into a political force to be reckoned with.
Today, broadcasts like WOR Radio's "Bob Grant Show" have become an indispensable source of both information and entertainment for listeners across the political spectrum. In fact, the New York-based talker's success has inspired so many imitators that his style has become a virtual blueprint for modern talk radio.
Over his more than five decades on-the-air, Grant has introduced millions of listeners to the kind of hot-button political debate that has become a staple of both talk TV and radio. Many, like myself, grew up in households where Grant's show was always on.
In fact, ever since I can remember, my mother was an avid listener of "The Bob Grant Show." (NewMax.com Executive Editor Chris Ruddy's mother was also a big Bob Grant fan.)
Just as Grant's unique style of broadcast journalism set the pace for the new generation of talk radio hosts, the talk legend's career provides inspiration for all aspiring young journalists.
Last week I had the opportunity to interview the King of Talk Radio about his life and times as a leader in America's most dynamic communications medium.
JOHN ROSSIELLO: This week marks your fifty-fifth year in broadcasting - others have come and gone, but you're still speaking with a vast audience in New York each day - how did it all begin for you?
BOB GRANT: Well, good question. It began as a result of my being in educational radio. Actually it went from being a teacher with the Board of Education to educational radio to commercial radio.
JR: What subject did you teach?
BG: History.
JR: What would you say was your favorite part of teaching history?
BG: Probably politics. I think it's exciting, I think it's what people are concerned with. I had some favorite politicians, but perhaps my most favorite was Ronald Reagan.
JR: Talk radio has really become a huge sensation and it's well known that you are a pioneer in that field. Many other programs have followed your example. Do you take pride in that?
BG: Not really. Quite frankly, to be perfectly blunt about it, I am annoyed that so many people have modeled themselves after me. Outside of one or two, not one of them mentions me.
JR: Do you think that's envy?
BG: On their part no they have no reason to be envious. There is no such thing as gratitude. There are several people, I won't even bother mentioning them, who really, in some measure, owe their start to me. Some people that I helped and that I was instrumental their beginning their careers, outside of G. Gordon Liddy there is no one that takes time to mention yours truly.
JR: Everyone knows that broadcasting has changed over the past 55 years. How have you been part of that change?
BG: I recall back maybe 20 years ago, my agent, who did a lot of traveling and listened to radio stations around the country, said, "You know everybody out there is imitating you. Everyone wants to do a Bob Grant."
I think that that has been part of the change, because when someone is successful, people say "Hey I guess it's safe to do what he's doing." But in the beginning everybody was afraid to be so honest, so blunt, to criticize the audience, to criticize the callers, to argue with people, to hang up on them, to tell them if he thought they were stupid. It just wasn't done. And now a lot of people have done it. They put their own imprint on it. but I know from other people telling me that they admit it they were influenced by me.
JR: And they should be.
JR: It's actually well known that you have influenced the outcome of several elections. Many in the media have tried to do that, but few succeed. How have you been able to succeed at it?
BG: I think the audience has come to respect my judgment, have come to have confidence that I'm telling them the truth. That's number one. Number two, I think I was able to make a logical case for the person that I wanted them to vote for. I think those two elements are what did it. And I know there's maybe three or four candidates that might not have made it, if not for me. I don't know for sure. Nobody can say that if it weren't for Bob Grant they wouldn't have made it, but a lot of people believe that and if that's true, and I think it is, the reason is that they were receptive to what I had to say.
JR: How would you describe your relationship with the callers?
BG: It's a very personal relationship - actually a personal relationship in terms of the dynamics on the air. I don't mean that I meet them afterwards and we have coffee together. Hardly. but what I mean is when I'm having a conversation with a caller, I'm not even thinking about the audience. I'm not even thinking of anything but my reaction to that caller. Therefore, if that caller gets on my nerves, he knows about it and if he knows about it, then the audience knows about it.
JR: What can you say about your relationship with Mario Cuomo?
BG: There is none, because I don't like him and he doesn't like me. He is a duplicitous individual in that I know that he made phone calls, very seriously complaining about me and wanted to put pressure on me, and yet I don't think he has come forward and admitted that. I used to like him. I used to like him a lot. But then after he became governor, I think his success went to his head and our personal relationship vanished. Now maybe some people would say that I was too hard on him, and maybe that's right. But that's the way I am, and I don't ever think about it except that you're asking me this question.
JR: What other politicians have you dealt with in your 55 year career?
BG: My work should really preclude my getting personally friendly with politicians of either party, really, because if I'm going to talk about them, if I'm going to make fair comment about them, then I really shouldn't be involved with them personally, because it might color my comments.
JR: What is your biggest fear as a broadcaster?
BG: I don't think have any!
JR: Really, not one fear?
BG: No. What is there to fear? I mean, no, as a matter of fact the best part of my day are the hours that that I am on the air. So, no. I may have had a fear in the past, but I no longer do, because long ago I realized that not everyone is going to like me and not to worry about what I say.
So when I make a comment, I know there are a lot of people in the audience who never call, but who probably don't like me. That's okay. I don't ask for them to like me. I only ask for them to listen, and this is something they don't understand. They say, "I listen to your program but I don't like you." I say, "Well, were you listening?" "Yes, I am, just about everyday." And I say, "Well okay, keep not liking me."
JR: What is your most memorable experience on the air in 55 years?
BG: Interviewing Ronald Reagan. At the time I interviewed him, it was his first interview as a politician. And when the PR firm representing him called my producer in 1965 and asked if I would like to have him on the program, my producer said we don't do show business interviews.
Then the guy said we don't want him to be on to talk about his last movie; he didn't even make a movie recently. He's going to run for governor of California. It was his very first interview on a telephone talk show as a gubernatorial candidate. He wasn't even officially a candidate yet, he was just running in the primaries.
JR: Are their any trends in broadcasting that you find disturbing or disappointing?
BG: Yes -- this obsession with so called diversity. And there's too many women on the air. Too many women have taken over, especially in television and it's so obvious what goes on. A guy goes in and applies for a job and doesn't get it because he is not a female. I think its over done. We are saturated with females. Now they even want to be doing sports. And I don't care who knows that I object to that. Yes, I am a male chauvinist.
JR: How much self promotion do you think a talk show host should do?
BG: I probably didn't do enough over the years, because I am still from the old school, where you are told not to brag about yourself, although I am trying to doing some of that. Today the style is different. Some hosts are constantly telling the audience how great they are. Good for them and they are very successful. God bless them. They are on the right side politically and we need all the help we can get in the media.
JR: What is your motivation to go every day into the studio and perform?
BG: Well hopefully, to build an audience and to maintain an audience. But outside of that, I don't have any illusions. I'm not going to change what goes on. We are slipping and sliding towards third-worldism. The country is being lost to diversity, foreign invaders and I have no illusions. I don't have the power to save people from themselves.
So, I just go in there and fight the good fight each and every day, and wait until the next day and try again. But I have no illusions about reforming people. It's not going to happen.
JR: What advice do you have for other talk show hosts?
BG: Well, I would say the same thing to them that was said to me when I started. And that is to be yourself, whatever yourself is. If you have a particular set of beliefs, be honest to the beliefs. Don't try to posture, be yourself.
JR: What do think that you would be doing if you weren't a talk radio host?
BG: I would like to be on the faculty of a university.
JR: What advice do you have for young journalists, like me, embarking on a career in journalism or even broadcasting?
BG: First of all, make sure that's what you want and if you're sure that's what you want, then devote yourself to getting it without any compromise. Never be afraid, always keep your eyes open for opportunity. And it is my belief that if you have some talent and you apply that talent, you will be successful.
You must never get discouraged, because this is a tough business. It's the most competitive business that anyone could go into. For every person on the air, there are thousands who are waiting for him to fall flat on his face. That is why you have to be true to yourself and you have to work.
Remember, there are no small radio shows, no show that's on at a nothing time. You make the most of it and you know what? In the long haul, it will pay off. I have seen it happen, it pays off. You just keep slugging.
Awwww...he was rude to stupid callers. How mean! Hannity is a lightweight without an original thought, unworthy of comparison to a legend like Grant. And by the way, you are ill-informed...Grant was not "replaced" because of "complaints"...he was fired by ABC's new owner the Disney Corporation because of "insensitivity". At the time he was enjoying the highest ratings of his career, and had just been extended by WAMC to 4 full hours because of the cash rolling in. My uncle owns private stock in WOR, and he tells me Bob Grant and Tom Marr are making a fortune for that station. Marr is another gem who tells it like it is.
For years he was the only voice of common sence!
Unless you had listen to him everyday you miss and don't understand what made him good at what he does!
I like Sean, but he is no Bob Grant! BG always trys to have something new and brings history to the listener and many points of view.
Poliltical Correctness was BG down fall!
BG could spot a phony and would call them on it!
The Ron Brown remark gave a Sharpton a chance to nail BG with PC!!!
FAIR's report on Grant is full of lies and distortions. FAIR is notorious for such lies and have been busted by John Stossel on one occasion for "selective editing". For you to use FAIR's report as a legitimate source makes me question your motives.
Grant refered to the Crown Heights rioters as "savages". They were. Do you dispute this? Do you disagree that Limrick Nelson and the Central Park Jogger "wilders" are savages? This is not "spouting hate".
I have listened to Grant for over a decade. I have met the man. He is incredibly generous in his private life. He is also a tireless campaigner on the stump for GOP candidates in the Tri-State area. He is a stellar Conservative.
I ran into Bob Grant four years ago at the Rio Diner in Woodbridge and having listened to him since 1970 when he was on WMCA, I have to say he is a true gentleman. He defines the term "Real American" because he really does believe what he says.
I never said it was. It was all Disney.
That was a big leap. You should really stretch a little beforehand.
Have you ever listened to him?
I have. He's an embarrassment.
Maybe. But I would wager that Stern's greatly outnumber Grant's in New York. 10 to 1? 20 to 1?
Carolyn
Well, this is America and you have a right to your opinion, as do I. I think he's a patriot who isn't afraid to say what he believes, no matter how out of line it may seem.
I think more people should say how they feel, rather than BS others with what they THINK they want to hear.
Well, I'm right with ya on that one.
"You fake, phoney fraud, get off my phone! It's sick out there and getting sicker!"
There's only one Bob Grant. God Bless him!
Right between your sequine dress and feety pajamas.
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