As we mark January 6th, the day just a year ago that Donald Trump’s crazies tried to overturn the election of Joe Biden, our guest on The Lean to the Left Podcast is photojournalist Chris Carlson, who was with President Bush during another history changing event – the 9-11 attack on the Twin Towers in New York City.
Chris covered the White House for 38 years for ABC News, so had a close up view of the Reagan, Clinton, the two Bush administrations, Obama and Trump. He was on the front row of American history.
Carlson wrote a book, "9/11 With POTUS" in which he chronicled his experiences covering the first five days of 9/11 with President George W. Bush, working in the White House Press Pool.
Our conversation with Chris covers his experiences on that fateful day he chronicled events as the President first learned about the 9/11 attack as he was with school children in a reading class.
He describes Bush's reaction and response and sheds light on how journalists responded as they attempted to cover the President through the restrictions quickly imposed as a result of the attack.
Then, the conversation moves to Carlson's eyewitness experiences covering other presidents -- Bush 1, Reagan, Clinton, Obama and Trump, with some hilarious insider tales.
How Reagan famously waved to a "crowd" as he departed on Air Force One. The crowd was about a dozen people on the tarmac.
How Obama was less than cordial with photographers and videographers.
How Trump or his key staff ordered gardeners to run noisy leaf blowers to drown out early morning TV reporters on the White House lawn.
And, much more.
The interview then turns to today's politics and thoughts about the impact of the Obama presidency on the phenomenon of Donald Trump, as well as subsequent events, including the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol and its aftermath.
Like most Americans, Chris Carlson was appalled at that attack on our democracy. But as he had just recently retired from ABC News, his initial thoughts were of the journalists with whom he had worked, empathizing with what he knew they were experiencing as rioters smashed expensive television gear and threatened reporters and camera people.
It was a tragic day for all involved and for our nation.
Take a listen as Carlson describes his view from the front row of American history: