Historic Political Interview Returns to Public TV for 35th Anniversary of Nixon’s Resignation
Sir David Frost is perhaps the best known television interviewer in the world. In 1977, he conducted the most compelling political interview ever: FROST/NIXON: The Original Watergate Interviews. WLIW21 in association with WNET.ORG brings this historic media event back to public television August 2009 (check local listings) for the 35th anniversary of former U.S. President Richard Nixon’s resignation (August 9, 1974).
Beginning in March 1977 for four weeks, over 28 grueling hours, British journalist Frost questioned Nixon on everything from Vietnam to China, from abuse of power to the final days, to create one of the great media events of the 20th century. The most tense and gripping sessions were on Watergate, with two entire days devoted to the subject. Never before – and never afterward – would Nixon confront the issue of Watergate, particularly in a forum where he had no advanced knowledge of the questions and no right even to see the edited program before it was broadcast.
FROST/NIXON: The Original Watergate Interviews is the entire 1977 Watergate broadcast, from Frost’s opening question – “Do you feel that you ever obstructed justice or were part of a conspiracy to obstruct justice?” – to Nixon’s last public remarks on the scandal. A picture emerges of a White House under siege, of burglars and hush money, of Nixon close to tears, having to sacrifice his closest aides – culminating in the unprecedented sight of a U.S. President apologizing to his people.
Sir David Frost introduces this special 35th anniversary broadcast, discussing the historical impact of the Nixon interview and sharing his reactions of their famous encounter. Extended broadcasts in select markets will also feature a recent interview with Frost conducted by Worldfocus anchor Martin Savidge.
The original broadcast of the Watergate interviews on May 4, 1977, the first of four programs culled from the March interviews, drew the biggest ever worldwide audience for a news interview. Watched by more than 45 million Americans alone, the Frost/Nixon Watergate interview remains the largest TV audience for a political interview to this day.
The interviews were such a phenomenon that they were developed by screenwriter Peter Morgan into a Tony Award-winning Broadway play and into an Oscar-nominated film directed by Ron Howard.
Producers: John Birt and Sir David Frost. Director: Jorn Winther. Editors: James Reston Jr. and Robert Zelnick. A presentation of WLIW21 in association with WNET.ORG.
There’s a reason this is an Academy Award-nominated
film, or was in ‘08. David Frost was a consummate interviewer. Between the free access to the tapes Nixon made (in the National Archives) & this film, the whole tale unfolds; well worth viewing; tune-in
[...] anniversary of Nixon’s resignation. Every day this week we’ll be posting video excerpts from FROST/NIXON: The Original Watergate Interviews leading up to WLIW21’s August 3 [...]
[...] today’s excerpt from FROST/NIXON: The Original Watergate Interviews, Frost reads quotes from the White House tape transcripts about Nixon meeting Hunt and the hush [...]
[...] today’s excerpt from FROST/NIXON: The Original Watergate Interviews, Nixon addresses the hush money. Watch the full interview Monday, August 3 at 8 p.m. on [...]
[...] today’s excerpt from FROST/NIXON: The Original Watergate Interviews, Nixon addresses the cover-up. Watch the full interview Monday, August 3 at 8 p.m. on [...]
[...] today’s excerpt from FROST/NIXON: The Original Watergate Interviews, Nixon discusses the motives. Watch the full interview Monday, August 3 at 8 p.m. on [...]
Cannot wait! This looks awesome! If WLIW21 is a 501(c)(3) why not throw an INLIEUOFAGIFT.COM party to raise money for WLIW21!
[...] today’s excerpt from FROST/NIXON: The Original Watergate Interviews, Nixon discusses what brought him down. Watch the full interview tonight at 8 p.m. on WLIW21. Sir [...]
[...] admin on Aug.04, 2009, under General Tonight, New York’s channel 21 will broadcast the Watergate portion of the David Frost interviews of Richard Nixon. This seems as good a time as any to ask if [...]
[...] New York’s channel 21 will broadcast the Watergate portion of the David Frost interviews of Richard Nixon. This seems as good a time as any to ask if [...]
[...] New York’s channel 21 will broadcast the Watergate portion of the David Frost interviews of Richard Nixon. This seems as good a time as any to ask if [...]
[...] night WLIW21 aired FROST/NIXON: The Original Watergate Interviews. How do you think the real interviews compared to last year’s Oscar-nominated film? Did Michael [...]
Comparatively this is small potatoes compared to what Bush and Cheney did ro this country and the constitution, i wonder who will be the interviewer this time or if either one of those two crooks will ever agree to have such a candid interview.
[...] WLIW21’s special 35th anniversary broadcast features a new introduction by Frost plus a new interview conducted by Worldfocus anchor Martin Savidge, where Frost discusses the historical impact of the Nixon interview and shares his reactions to their famous encounter. Preview videos and more. [...]
I remember it well..It was a train wreck of the totally clueless…sad..a ruined man with a world that had bypassed him…I had no sympathy for the damned..yet i was sorry for what america had become..I lived history….
[...] watched the entire David Frost interviews with Richard Nixon before I watched Ron Howard’s Oscar-nominated “Frost/Nixon” [...]