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NBC Election Night Coverage

Waxman Renews NBC News Assault
September 11, 2001

Election: GE chairman-- also a major contributor to GOP--pushed to have contest
called for Bush, Democrat's letter alleges.

Los Angeles Times

By Megan Garvey

Firing another shot in his ongoing feud with NBC, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los
Angeles) released an eight-page letter Monday detailing alleged efforts by
then-corporate chief Jack Welch--a major contributor to the Republican Party--to
intervene in the network's election night decision-making.

Waxman charged that eyewitness accounts of the evening "sharply conflict" with
statements made by Welch and network officials that he had nothing to do with the
premature decision to call the presidential election for Republican George W. Bush.

Waxman first broached rumors about Welch's behavior in January, when the heads
of the major network and cable news divisions were called before Congress to
account for serious mistakes made during the coverage of the 2000 presidential
election.

Welch recently retired after a legendary career as chairman of General Electric, which
owns NBC. During the hearing, NBC News President Andrew Lack told Waxman that,
if any existed, he was "certainly welcome" to internal videotapes made of Welch on
election night, only to withdraw the offer days later.

Welch, who attended an election night party at NBC's headquarters in New York, also
visited the newsroom, and he has conceded that he cheered for Bush, saying other
people cheered for Democrat Al Gore. But in an interview last week with Associated
Press to mark his long-planned retirement, Welch said the idea that he interfered with
coverage decisions was "pure crazy."

Waxman's letter, sent Monday to NBC Chairman Bob Wright, charges that
eyewitness accounts indicate otherwise.

The congressman's summary of the night's events came from interviews with "credible
individuals" who were present, he said. Waxman released his findings in frustration
over NBC's refusal to turn over the videotapes. Last month, in a move widely
criticized by free speech advocates, Waxman had threatened to seek a
congressional subpoena for the footage. The latest letter makes no mention of a
subpoena, but emphasizes NBC's use of public airwaves as cause for scrutiny.

NBC officials, however, dismissed Waxman's account.

"In an eight-page tome, Congressman Waxman comes up with the shocking
revelation that Jack Welch was interested in the result of what was perhaps the most
fascinating night in the history of presidential elections," NBC spokeswoman Kassie
Canter said. "And that he supported George Bush. Not exactly a news flash."

And, Canter said that Waxman "doesn't dispute" the network's assertion that news
decisions that night were "in no way, shape or form the result of Jack Welch's
influence."

Waxman said in the letter that Welch's "reported behavior in no way impugns the
integrity or independence of Tom Brokaw, Tim Russert or other news reporters at
NBC," but that it nonetheless raised "troubling questions."

According to Waxman's sources, Welch spent much of the night at NBC's decision
desk, where election returns were projected.

Among their allegations:

* Welch and other visitors "distracted" NBC News Director of Elections Sheldon R.
Gawiser with repeated questions about how his projection decisions were made.

* Welch had access to raw election data that weren't available to news anchors,
writers, producers or other on-air reporters.

* After instruction about reading the data, Welch later concluded that Bush had won
Florida, and shared his analysis with Gawiser. Witnesses told Waxman that "at
almost the same time, John Ellis--George W. Bush's cousin and Fox News' senior
decision desk official--called both the Florida and the national election for George W.
Bush. Immediately after this announcement, Mr. Welch was observed standing behind
Dr. Gawiser with his hand on his shoulder, asking why NBC was not also calling the
election for Bush."

According to Waxman's sources, "shortly after this," Gawiser called the election for
Bush. A similar call was made by all major television news outlets within minutes.

Waxman again called on NBC to turn over the videotapes and to explain the "specific
steps" it will take to protect the line between corporate and news activities.

In an internal review conducted earlier this year, NBC officials recommended that the
network consider isolating the decision desk and protecting the election analysts from
"unnecessary interruptions."