February 2006

CAMPUS NEWS

Notable Journalist and Actor Talk Politics on Campus

Bob Woodward photo by Jeff Watts

“Sit down, it’s not that good,” said Bob Woodward as he received a standing ovation from a standing-room-only audience in the Kay Spiritual Life Center on February 2. The famous Watergate investigative journalist was relaxed and personable as he spoke about writing, covering the Nixon scandal, interviewing President George W. Bush, and how to extract the truth during interviews. “Always ask why,” he said.

Many parts of Woodward’s humorous and engaging speech seemed more fit to be a funny political skit--as he turned anecdotes into jokes--than a talk that college students might expect from a well-known author and journalist.

He set a vivid scene of his three-and-a-half hour interview with President Bush, the longest interview with a sitting president since George Washington. During that time, Woodward said he asked Bush 500 questions to gain material for Plan of Attack, his 2004 book discussing events leading up to the war in Iraq, based on interviews with top government officials.

One question regarded George H. W. Bush’s thoughts on and recommendations for going to war with Saddam Hussein, as told to his son. Woodward said Bush successfully skirted the question for almost nine minutes, ultimately never answering it. Woodward quoted Bush as having said, “It would be interesting for history, wouldn’t it?” “Yeah, that’s why I asked,” Woodward responded.

Woodward told the crowd that he plans on ending the book he is currently writing with the following dialogue:

Woodward: “How do you think history will judge the Iraq war?”
Bush: “History? We won’t know. We’ll all be dead.”

Actor Bradley Whitford, known best as Josh Lyman on NBC’s The West Wing, expressed his disapproval for politicians who try to act when in front of a camera instead of being sincere. “How we are seen on television is becoming way too powerful, it’s too easy to fake,” said Whitford. He spoke about acting, politics, and the relationship between the two, after receiving a standing ovation in Bender Arena from a crowd of 1,200 on February 13.

Bradley Whitford photo by Tara Shlimowitz

Whitford said he is bothered by politicians who perform immoral or “unchristian-like” acts, adding no tarnish to the politicians’ record simply because they act charismatic and personable when speaking to the American public.

After his speech, Whitford fielded questions from the audience. Becky Prosky, SPA/MA ’05, asked Whitford if she could run her fingers through his hair. “You can, but we should probably do it in private,” Whitford laughed. He invited her on stage and dropped to his knees to let her fulfill her odd request, while audience members laughed or stared, dumbfounded.

“He has fabulous hair, so I thought, ‘Why not ask if I can touch it?’” said Prosky. “During his speech, I got the feeling that he was a pretty amiable fellow, and he could not have been nicer when he invited me up on stage.”

Most of the questions that followed were of a more typical nature. When the Juilliard-trained actor was asked if he would consider taking over Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s position, he responded, “I always get asked if I want to run for office and my standard answer is: ‘I don’t want to have to act that much.’”

Because The West Wing is in its final season, students were curious what Whitford would star in next. An audience question prompted Whitford to confirm that negotiations are under way for him to join the cast of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, a still-developing show created by West Wing producer Aaron Sorkin.

Woodward and Whitford now join the ranks of past KPU speakers at AU, including Bob Dole, Tipper Gore, Jimmy Carter, astronaut John Glenn, and former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer.

-Tara Shlimowitz '08

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