Ron Nessen
Ron Nessen | |
|---|---|
 Nessen in 2004 | |
| 15thWhite House Press Secretary | |
| In office September 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977 | |
| President | Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Jerald terHorst |
| Succeeded by | Jody Powell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ronald Harold Nessen May 25, 1934 Washington, D.C.,U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Shepherd University American University(BA) |
Ronald Harold Nessen(born May 25, 1934) is an Americangovernment officialwho served as the 15thWhite House Press Secretaryfor PresidentGerald Fordfrom 1974 to 1977. He replacedJerald terHorst,who resigned in the wake of President Ford's pardon of former presidentRichard Nixon.
Prior to joining the Ford administration, Nessen served as aWashington, D.C.correspondent forNBC News.On the day of Ford's succession to the presidency, August 9, 1974, he provided commentary. That evening he was on theNBC Nightly News;in that piece, Nessen reported on the appointment of Jerald terHorst, the man whom he would succeed one month later.
Nessen, who also served NBC News as awar correspondentduring theVietnam War,was seriously wounded bygrenadefragments while onpatroloutsidePleikuin theCentral Highlandsin July 1966. He was with cameraman Peter Boultwood when he was wounded.[1][2]
Nessen was a member of thePeabody AwardsBoard of Jurorsfrom 1996 to 2003, and served as Chair in 2003.[3]
Quotes
[edit]- "Nobody believes the official spokesman but everybody trusts an unidentified source."
Works
[edit]- Nessen, Ron.It Sure Looks Different on the Inside.Playboy Press, 1979. (ISBN0-87223-500-9)
- Nessen, Ron.The First Lady
- Nessen, Ron.The Hour
- Nessen, Ron and Neuman, Johanna.Death with Honors
- Nessen, Ron and Neuman, Johanna.Press Corpse
- Nessen, Ron and Neuman, Johanna.Knight and Day
Saturday Night Live
[edit]On April 17, 1976, Nessen was the first political figure to hostSaturday Night Live.His episode is also known for havingGerald Fordopen the show with the "Live from New York, it's Saturday night!" tagline.[4][2]
On a previous episode, Ron Nessen had been portrayed byBuck Henry.
References
[edit]- ^Steinman, Ron,Inside Television's First War: A Saigon Journal(University of Missouri Press, 2002), viabooks.google.Retrieved 2016-01-14.
- ^ab"NBC's Ron Nessen wounded while on patrol with Charlie Company of 101st Airborne"Archived2016-03-22 at theWayback Machine,nbcuniversalarchives.Retrieved 2015-08-06.
- ^"July 1, 1996 – June 30, 1997... July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2004 Peabody Board Members"ArchivedMay 18, 2015, at theWayback Machine,peabodyawards.Retrieved 2016-01-14.
- ^"Saturday Night Live Season 1 Episode 17: Ron Nessen...",tv.Retrieved 2016-01-14.
External links
[edit]
- Ron Nessen at the Ford Presidential Library
- Brookings Institution press release on Nessen's becoming VP of Communications there
- Ron Nessen on Saturday Night Live
- AppearancesonC-SPAN
