Interview of former CNN president Rick Kaplan

Xing Zong, of Duke University Chinese Students and Scholar Association (DCSSA), recently had an interview with former CNN president Rick Kaplan.

About Rick Kaplan:

Kaplan has led some of the nation's largest television news organizations including his role as president of CNN (1997-2000), senior vice president of ABC News (2003), and president of MSNBC (2004-2006). Among his duties at ABC was coordinating coverage of the war in Iraq.

Prior to that he produced World News Tonight with Peter Jennings and was the founding producer for Primetime Live. He is the creator and executive producer of "Capital to Capital", executive producer of Nightline, and executive producer of "World News This Morning" and "Good Morning America."

Kaplan also has been actively involved with university journalism departments for the last 10 years. In 2001 and 2002, he was the Visiting Lombard Lecturer at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Since 1993, he has taught each summer at the University of Illinois.

Kaplan has received numerous awards for his work, including 34 Emmy Awards, four Overseas Press Club Awards, three George Foster Peabody Awards, two George Polk Awards, four Ohio State Awards, and four Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards.

Xing Zong and Rick Kaplan (R)

Z: Mr. Kaplan, what was it about your background --- the people you were surrounded by growing up, your family, your friends --that allowed you to realize that important lesson in life?

K: I was very lucky. I had a wonderful childhood. My grandparents facilitated in my upbringing as both my parents work very hard. My grandparents help bring me up, fed me lunches and dinners. It was a very close family. I am the only child. My father was a great role model for me, a great example of how to live. My mother was equally a great role model: hard-working, a really brilliant woman, and both lovely parents. My grandparents taught me great lessons of life of morality and integrity. I was just really blessed; I have a very strong family unit. My father's brother, my uncle, and his children live in Philadelphia, which is a long way away. My mother's sister and her children lived 120 miles south. So it was pretty much my grandparents and my mum, dad and I. It was great! A wonderful neighborhood. I have nothing but joyful memories.

Z: Just out of curiosity, what are your parents' professions?

K: My father was a builder, a contractor; he passed away in 1988, my mother is a broker and real estate, she is still a broker. She is going to be 89 years old.

Z: What have you learned from your education?

K: What I learned is the importance of having an education, which sounds like a clich¨¦ answer. But it is so important to understand as best we can the world around us and people around us. What I got to know is the differences between us are not the most important things, it is important to emphasize the similarities, our humanity, and our cultures.

So again, what you have learned through life is what binds us together is our similarity, our common humanity. You learned to celebrate the matter of difference, you respect our differences, but you must always keep in mind our sameness.

Z: Politics was your passion in your early years, and then you pursued a career in journalism. Why such a change?

K: As I grew older, it became more important for me to become one of those people who reports what is going on. I thought this is all about how you best serve your fellow citizens. For me, it became most useful and most productive, most satisfying to serve my fellow citizen by being a good journalist as opposed to a politician.

Z: You have been an administrator in several excellent TV programs. People describe you as "bombastic Kaplan", or "Ogre", while many others claim you know how to "micro-manage", what is your management style?

K: I think I am a really good boss, with quite a loyal following. Some people are happy with me, other are not. But I am willing to live with that.

Z: What gave you the chutzpah to realize that if you're good enough, you're okay? What's your leadership philosophy?

K: If you want to lead, you have to lead, you can't be afraid to make a decision. You can't be afraid to change if the decision you have made is wrong. You have to be willing to hire people who are smarter and better than you are to work for you. Not be afraid that somebody you hire might be too good to work for you and take your job. You want to do the best job possible, so you hire the best people. That's my philosophy and how I do work. I have to give 150% of a laser focus of what I love.

Z: Being unafraid to make decisions, do you think you are a risk-taker?

K: I didn't say I love risk, but I understand the necessity of risk to get something done. It would be marvelous to go through a day without having to make any risky decisions, believe me. If I have a choice, I'd rather have no risk, but you can't shrink if there is a risk.

Z: You served as the president of CNN and the vice president of ABC news, what is your true belief regarding reporting the news?

K: I think if you want to be a great journalist, what you have to keep in mind what your mission is. We are here to serve the needs of our fellow citizens. As long as you stay together, you won't fall.

Z: This month marks the fifth anniversary of 911. When the CNN news anchor was reporting the tragic event, he stayed calm. Some audience criticized him as indifferent and unfeeling. My question is: Do you like the journalist who ranges in emotions from high to low, or prefer someone more or less pretty mellow?

K: I think you have to keep it together, but I don't think it's unprofessional to let some of your emotions come through. If your emotion prevents you from being thorough and objective, though, then that's a problem.

Z: You mentioned Mr. Turner, the founder of CNN as someone in your field you've admired. What are the qualities you particularly admire in him?

K: He is a genius. He established 24 hour news and established news outside of just New York City. That's a vision and a courageous move.

Z: OK, let's switch our topic from media to politics. "Both gregarious, both personable, both deeply interested in politics, both news junkies, both charmers, both voracious eaters (their first encounter, appropriately enough, was in a restaurant), they hit it off instantly". As described in an article, President Clinton is a buddy of yours, what do you think of him?

K: He was a great president; he clearly had some problems he caused by himself and at some point will regret, I think he was a smart great caring leader. For the booming economy in 90s, I think he should get a lot of credit for it. But if he was the first point to tell you, our growing economy, our flushing economy, just as you can't blame a President when the economy suffers, it's not always his fault.

I think he did nothing but helping our economy. I think a lot of people should get credit for helping the economy but no more than the President. But I mean, in the end Bill really helped the economy. He was the missing part.

Z: I am sure you always had a brotherly sort of communication with him. By saying "missing part", what do you mean?

K: Bill Clinton was the element that made it really solid. Lots of things help the economy; lots of things put the economy in a position to grow. But what finally put it there and really made it solid was Bill Clinton.

Z: One reason you were so close to Clinton family is you and Hillary share the same Chicago roots. Is that right?

K: We share the same Chicago roots. I just think Clintons and I became friends when it wasn't advantageous. It wasn't like making friends with someone because he was the President of the U.S. I mean, I was a friend of his twenty years before he became the President. I think we are friends because we admire each other, like each other. Obviously for me, I have great affection for both Hillary and Bill Clinton.

Z: The world is now eyeing on Hillary Clinton, who would change history if she becomes the first female president of United States. Do you think she will run for president?

K: Sure. Why not? She would become the first female President of United States. I think if Hillary Clinton decides to run for the President, she has a good chance to win. If she was elected President, I would be shocked if she didn't do a good job.

Z: In your recent lecture at Duke, you shared your perspective of the 2008 Presidential Campaign. The Key to success is always a good economy, could you please elaborate?

K: Yes, the economy will bring down an administration. A bad economy will kill an administration, but the good one won't necessarily continue one. Al Gore proved he found a way that America needs to change, a piece of prosperity, so a good economy can't guarantee your election, but a bad economy can certain guarantee you won't be re-elected.

Z: What else do you think will affect the Presidential Campaign?

K: it is how well people trust you, how well people like you. That's trust and affection.

Z: America is still a quite conservative country. Isn't it?

K: It is a country that's been pretty satisfied with itself. No matter what the pluses or minuses about foreign policy have been. No matter what the popularity or unpopularity, our elected officials generally. Americans are pretty happy with the America, when you are happy with your country; you tend to be conservative about it. You don't think it needs a radical overhaul, so it shouldn't be surprising if a citizen is conservative. Countries that aren't somewhat conservative are countries they think they need to change a lot.

Z: Mr. Kaplan, you went to China long time ago. Would you please reactivate your memory of that trip?

K: Yes, I have been to China once, I met Chairman Mao back when Richard Nixon was the President. I actually got a lighter with Mao's picture on it. It was a gift from the government. Very cool, ah? I visited Beijing and saw a lot of things, then a little bit of Shanghai. I was around 29. I was a producer for the CBS evening news. But I haven't been to China since. I've visited countries around China. I would like to go again sometime. I have enormous affection for China, because I have enormous respect for what they have done in history.

Z: What is your hobby in your "free time"?

K: I like to read non-fiction books; of course I like to read "Harry Potter", but mostly history books, American history and political history books. I like to run and golf, see movies and go out to restaurants.

Z: Mr. Kaplan, thanks so much for your time!

K: My pleasure.