Staying Power
The
Great Ones During My Time
Excerpted from
AGAIN! "
Run That By Me One More Time
by
William
OShaughnessy
(To be published
2008)
When I first arrived in Westchester the highest compliment which could be bestowed by the old men of the neighborhood in the west end of our city was to tell you a certain individual stays. This lofty designation was accompanied by a right hand moving slowly toward you, chest high and palm down. He stays.
As the new year 2007 dawns I am aware once more that my portfolio as a community broadcaster for almost 50 years in the New York area has provided me with the unique opportunity to observe many thousands of strong, vivid, unforgettable souls. But these, I believe are the truly Great Ones. They operate in many disparate fields of endeavor, and know no age nor season. Their magic endures.
These are the ones who stay.
These are also the individuals I most admire. Many have left us. But their luminous genius and essential goodness lingers on to inspire and instruct.
Among this highly personal and arbitrary assemblage will be some who are familiar and known to you for their remarkable talents that have brought them great acclaim and the admiration and approval of millions.
Included are politicians who have inspired me, clergymen who have forgiven me and those in sports, the arts, communications, journalism and business. Some without high estate excelled merely in the business of life.
I realize Im top-heavy with restaurateurs (who have fed me). But as Ive squandered half my life at agreeable public tables, Ive listed some of those in whose hospitable care and keeping Ive known the delightful haze of an evening while scribbling in my notepad.
As with politics and public service in which Mario Cuomo and Nelson Rockefeller have few equals, Sirio Maccioni is the greatest of his profession. But everyone on this list, no matter their last, is sui generis unique and able to be defined only in his or her own terms.
Others less known have also earned my poor imprimatur. Some never played the center ring or enjoyed the spotlight or felt the glow and applause of the national stage. Although they were merely sidemen in orchestras long dispersed, they came into my life bearing only a remarkable generosity of spirit. Some, a few, even possessed that rare commodity Mario Cuomo calls sweetness"
2. And a fair number of them encouraged our efforts to sustain WVOX and WRTN (now WVIP), overlooking my erratic, confused and stumbling stewardship. Thus, they are included merely because they believed in me and mine. They earned their right to be here because of inexplicable kindnesses I dont forget.
Thats something I also learned from those old men
The Great Ones
Bob Abplanalp Floyd Abrams Laura Accurso Cindy Adams Val Adams Roger Ailes Harry Albright, Jr. Col Allan J.R. Allen Mel Allen Conroy Allison Joe Amaturo Joe Anastasi Walter Anderson David Annakie Joseph Apicella Peter Applebome Robert Armao Louis Armstrong Fred Astaire Michael Athanasatos Monsignor Terry Attridge Ken Auletta Chris Barclay Ed Barlow Edward Larabee Barnes Charles Beaudoin Marty Beck Keeling Beckford P.J. Bednarski Rocco Bellantoni, Jr. Sir Richard Rodney Bennett Max Berking Henry Berman Richard Berman Jeffrey Bernbach H. Jerome Berns Steve Bernstein Phil Beuth Mario Biaggi Ken Bialo Alex Von Bidder Senator Joe Biden Bob Blake Junior Blake Mayor Michael Bloomberg Louis Boccardi John Bodnar Frank Boyle Frank Brady James Brady Mayor Noam Bramson Jimmy Breslin Tom Brokaw Lois Bronz Les Brown Bob Bruno Gerardo Bruno Al Bryan Colin Burns Sr. John Burns Anthony Bulfamante Dan Burke David Burke President George H.W. Bush President George W. Bush Jonathan Bush William Billy Bush William Butcher Governor Brendan Byrne John Cahill Suzanne Calabrese Jimmy Cannon Joseph Wood Canzeri Louis Cappelli Nat Carbo Governor Hugh Leo Carey Michael Carney Oreste Carnevale Patrick Carroll Kevin Casey Winston Churchill Toni Cimino
3.The Great Ones (contd.)
Bill Clark James Mott Clark, Jr. Bobby Clarke Douglas Clement Rosemary Clooney Tony Cobb Anthony J. Colavita Kenneth Cole Maria Cuomo Cole Nat King Cole Lisa Colin Michael Collins David Patrick Columbia Rick Condon Frank Connelly Frank Connelly Jr. Monsignor Ed Connors Tom Constantine Rob Conte E. Virgil Conway Michael Copps Pastor Lester Cousins General Richard Crabtree Ted Crane John Crigler Jerry Cummins Billy Cunningham Jim Cunningham Andrew Mark Cuomo Chris Cuomo Governor Mario M. Cuomo Matilda Raffa Cuomo Steve Cuozzo Walter J.P. Curley Paul Curran Bernard F. Curry, Jr. George DAngelo Marvin Dames Richard Daronco Esther Davidowitz Mayor Ernie Davis Ossie Davis Mike DeGiacomo Ruby Dee Lionel Van Deerlin Janet DeFiore Tom Deignan George Delaney C. Glover Delaney Matt Dennis Abramo DeSpirito Frederic Dicker Arthur Hill Diedrick George Dillon Michael DiLullo Joseph Paul DiMaggio Bob Doll John Donnelly Robert Royal Douglass Hugh A. Doyle Vincent DePaul Draddy Anne Dranginis Brother John Driscoll Dr. Ronald Drusin Steve Dunleavy Bruno Dussin John Eggerton Edward Cardinal Egan Dr. Marc Eisenberg Edward Eliot Elson Jean T. Ensign Jamie Escobar Sidney Frank Frederic Fekkai John Feerick Paul Feiner Kevin Falvey Jinx Falkenburg Joe Farda Jim Fitzgerald John Fix John Chippy Flynn William Flynn Trevor Forde Lisa Foderaro Thomas Fogarty President Gerald Ford Dick Foreman Dr. Spencer Foreman Alex Forger Clint Formby Avril Francis Samuel George Fredman Louis B. Freeh Judy Fremont Adam Friedlander Marek Fuchs Scott Fybush Cindy Hall Gallagher Pastor Richard Garner Herman Geist Jim Generoso Arthur Geoghegan Edward Ned Gerrity Charles Gill Anthony B. Gioffre William Gibbons Nancy Gibson Dick Gidron Frank Gifford Charles Gill Pete Giordano Mayor Rudy Giuliani Marty Glickman Howard Goldfluss Martin Goldsmith Terry Golway Jack Gould Marsha Gordon Rob Gordon Larry Gottlieb Murray Grand Alicia Grande Bob Grant General Alfred M. Gray Ralph Graves Robert Greene
4.The Great Ones (contd.)
John Greenhut William Griffin Rich Guberti Tom Guida Claude Guignon Pranay Gupte Pete Hamill Gordon Hastings John Harper B.J. Harrington Ron Harris Michael Harrison Mernetta Hayden Chris Hazelhurst Mark Hedberg John Hennessy Nat Hentoff Neil Hickey David Hicks Denny Haight David Hinckley Kitty Carlisle Hart Paul Harvey Phil Hollis, Jr. Townsend Hoopes Josh Horowitz Marc Humbert Scott Humphrey Bobby Hutton Dennis Jackson Senator Jacob K. Javits Harry Jessell Derek Jeter Richard Johnson Tom Johnson Dave Juddah Charlie Kafferman Mike Kansler Peter Kaplan Rick Kaplar Mel Karmazin Monsignor Charles Kavanagh Nancy Q. Keefe Art Kellar John Shipwreck Kelly Murray Kempton President John Fitzgerald Kennedy William Kennedy Corey Kilgannon Craig King Larry King Arnold Klugman Mayor Edward I. Koch Henry Kissinger Burt Korall Bernard Koteen Laura Kowalski Erwin Krasnow Rainer K. Kraus H. Peter Kriendler Bernard Kruger Josh Kurtz Cappy LaBarbera Albert LaFarge James Jimmy the Doorman Lopolito George Latimer Ron Leal Louis Lefkowitz Paul H. Lenok Mel Levin Arthur Levitt Gary Lewis Don Lia John V. Lindsay Seth Lipsky Jim Lisa Arlene Lenok Marcel Levy Michael Lomonaco Philip Lombardo Joe Lovece Jim Lowe Nita Lowey General Douglas MacArthur Gavin K. MacBain Sirio Maccioni Egidiana Palmieri Maccioni Francesca Maccioni Father Kevin Mackin Joe Mahoney Patrick Maines Anthony Tony Malara Ed Mancuso Jim Mann Archbishop Henry J. Mansell Ann Mara Wellington Mara Kevin Marquis Bill Martin Ralph Martinelli Douglas Martin Charles Massimi Chris Matthews Loomis Mayer Lowry Mays Bill Mazer Senator John McCain Bishop James McCarthy Richard McCarthy Aidan McCormack Edward McCormack Tim McCormick David McCullough Susan Mara McDonnell William McElveen J. Raymond McGovern Bryan McGuire Thomas McKnight Paul McLane
Ed McLaughlin Paul McMasters Patrick McMullan
5. The Great Ones
(contd.)
Father Joseph McShane, S.J.
Mabel Mercer
Robert Merrill
Danny Meyer
Frank miceli
Edwin Gilbert Michaelian
Dr. Luigi Miele
Joseph Migliucci
Mama Rose Migliucci
Ray Miles
Cay Miller
Mark Miller
Sandy Miller
Stephen Miller
Howard Mirchin
Bob Mitchell
Jay Mitchell
Joseph
Montebello
William Mooney, Jr.
Walter Moore
Arthur H. Red Motley
Tommy Moretti
Peter Morris
Gem Morrison
Robert Morgenthau
Carl
Moxie
Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Tom Mullen
Stan Musial
Peter Mustich
Rupert Murdoch
William Mulrow
Thomas S. Murphy
Marcia Myers
Helaine Naiman
Dr. Emancia Neil
Dean Newman
Edward Noonan Ney
Julian Niccolini
Frank Nicolai
Margaret Noonan
Deborah Norville
Dick Novik
Jack OBrien
Archbishop Edwin OBrien
Father John OBrien
Monsignor William B. OBrien
Bob OConnell
John Cardinal OConnor
John J. OConnor
Kathleen OConnor
Niall ODowd
Father Joseph
OHare, SJ
Michael Buzzy OKeefe
Valerie Moore OKeeffe
Robert
ONeil
Thomas P. Tip ONeill
Bill OReilly
Andrew P. ORourke
Catherine Tucker OShaughnessy
David Tucker OShaughnessy
John T.
OShaughnessy
Johnny OShaughnessy
Julie OShaughnessy
Kate OShaughnessy
Nulty
Matthew Thayer OShaughnessy
Nancy Curry OShaughnessy
James
OShea
Emilie OSullivan
James OToole
Stu Olds
Bob Oppedisano
Maria Oppedisano
Nick Orzio
Bob Packwood
William S. Paley
Nancy
Palumbo
A.J. Parkinson
Richard D. Parsons
Michael Pasquale
Lt.
Governor David Patterson
Gregg Michael Pavelle
Pele
Eileen Perotti
Augie Petrillo
Ray Planell
Alex Philippidis
Jeanine F. Pirro
Kathy Pisano
Richard Rocco Pisano
George Plimpton
Caryl Donnelly
Plunkett
Kevin Plunkett
William Plunkett, Jr.
Don Pollard
Mary
Porcelli
Cole Porter
Elizabeth Backman Potter
Maurie Povich
Frederic
Powers, Sr.
Saverio Procario
Ward Quaal
Ken Raskie
Dan Rather
M. Paul Redd
Marty Rochelle
Ogden Rogers Reid
Carol Fernicola
Reilly
Joseph Reilly
Phil Reisman
Allie Reynolds
W. Franklyn Richardson
Aaron Richman
Murray Richman
John Riordan
Mariano Rivera
Wilfred Roberts J. Max Robins Jackie Robinson Sugar Ray Robinson Joseph Jim Rocco Happy Rockefeller Vice President Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller Angelo Roncalli - Pope John XXIII Tim Rooney Alan Rosenberg Kyle Rote Jon Rothstein Natale Rusconi Alvin Richard Ruskin Tim Russert Nancy Rutigliano Tony Ryan Howard Samuels Lisa Scanlan Jack Scarangella Chuck Scarborough Dr. Stanley Schneller Jonathan Schwartz Louis O. Schwartz Gene Scott Paul Screvane John Scully Sue Scully Nino Selimaj Robert Serrao Tony Serrao Benito Sevarin Hugh Shannon Michael Scott Shannon Gary Shapiro Rev. Al Sharpton Noel Shaw James J. Sheeran Preston Sher Allie Sherman Daryl Sherman James Sherwood Bernard Toots Shor Robert F.X. Sillerman Francis Albert Sinatra Herman Singh Sally Bedell Smith Scott Siskind Jeffrey Smith Jan Johnson Smith Liz Smith Michael Smith T.K. Smith Tommy Smith Richard Norton Smith Bruce Snyder Scott Solomon Nick Spano Jerry Speyer Rob Speyer John Spicer Joseph Anthony Spinelli Jeff Sprung George Steinbrenner III Andrew Stengel Stuart Stengel John Sterling Noel Stevens Martin Stone Chuck Strome Howard Sturman Edward O. Ned Sullivan John Van Buren Sullivan Arthur O. Sulzberger Teddy Suric Cameron Swayze Stephen Sweeny Lawrence B. Taishoff Sol Taishoff Gay Talese Val Taubner Steve Tenore Harry M. Thayer Walter Nelson Thayer Kenneth Theobalds Lowell Thomas Mac Tichenor Don Tramontano Richard Neal Travis Marietta Tree Donald Trump Joe Vacarella Joe Valeant Jack Valenti Jerry Valenti Linda Vaughn Jim Veneruso John Verni Nick Verbitsky Giuseppe Vitorelli Floyd Vivino Sean Vokhshoor Mario Wainer Buddy Waller Joe Ward Stephen Warley Will Weaver Don West Bruce White John Hay Jock Whitney Marylou Whitney Alec Wilder Brian Williams J. R. Williams Ken Williams William B. Williams Bud Williamson Governor Malcolm Wilson Robert Windeler Duffy Witmer Rabbi Amiel Wohl Greg Wright Robert Zimmerman Giuliano Zuliani Todd Zuzulo.
7.
Like I said: a broadcaster encounters many a colorful soul, on and off the microphone.
But these, I believe, are The Great Ones during my time.
Shakespeare said, Greatness knows itself So perhaps this is a futile exercise for I suspect the ones here designated already know of their worth.
But so do I.
# # #
William OShaughnessy is president of Whitney Radio and editorial director of WVOX and WRTN (now WVIP). A staunch First Amendment advocate and former chairman of Public Affairs for the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington, he was among the first 25 broadcasters elected to the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
He is the author of Airwaves! A Collection of Radio Editorials from the Golden Apple. It All Comes Back To Me Now and More Riffs, Rants and Raves published by Fordham, the Jesuit University Press in the City of New York.
He also edited Serving Their Communities, A 50 Year History of the New York State Broadcasters Association.
He is at work on his fourth book: Again! Run That By Me One More Time which will include this piece Staying Power.
He presently serves as a director and chairman of the Endowment Committee of the Broadcasters Foundation of America, based in Greenwich, CT.
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