Brokaw talks politics with sold-out crowd

Amy R. Spurgeon

NEWPORT BEACH -- Not even rush-hour traffic could keep Tom Brokaw from

sharing his views on the need for an overhaul of national elections.

Brokaw, anchorman of NBC’s Nightly News, arrived 45 minutes late to his

speaking engagement Friday at the Newport Beach Public Library after

battling Southland traffic on his way from Burbank. He was the second

guest speaker in the library’s third annual Martin W. Witte Distinguished

Speakers Lecture Series.

“Politics was the stuff of life in the 1960s. It defined who we were,

where we were going and how we would get there,” Brokaw told a sold-out

audience of more than 200 people. “But that is no longer the case.”

Brokaw began his presentation by skimming over stories he’s covered in

his 38-year broadcast journalism career, including the fall of the Berlin

Wall, the Persian Gulf War, his interview with Mikhail Gorbachev and the

Vietnam War.

“But I am not going to get into the El Toro Airport issue,” he joked.

“I’ve made arrangements with [U.S. Attorney General] Janet Reno.”

Brokaw primarily spent the hourlong discussion outlining his thoughts

about revamping elections in order to get more Americans involved in the

political process.

“Right now, we have two princes of a political dynasty who are running

like they were raised in log cabins,” Brokaw said, referring to

presidential candidates Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W.

Bush.

If Brokaw had his way, all primaries and caucuses would take place every

four years in June; candidates would be allowed only $20 million per

campaign; conventions would be held in July; and there would be a uniform

opening and closing of polls nationwide.

“It would be the Super Bowl of politics,” he said.

The crowd seemed to agree.

“It makes a lot of sense,” proclaimed Lorraine Smith of Newport Beach.

Everyone in attendance appeared to be pleased with the semiformal event

-- particularly Jene Witte, the widow of the lecture series’ namesake.

“It’s wonderful. We have had a remarkable response from the community,”

she said. “It has evolved into a true community service. My husband would

have been thrilled.”

Dignitaries in attendance included officials from the Irvine Co., the

Newport Beach City Council and even relatives of Brokaw, including his

mother, wife and brother.

“Are you surprised that I’m here?” laughed Laguna Woods resident Jean

Brokaw. “I am a big supporter of my son.”

Brokaw plans to spend the weekend at The Ritz in Dana Point, but hinted

at returning to the peninsula for a bite to eat.”The Crab Cooker is a big

part of [visiting Newport Beach],” Brokaw said following his speech. “We

just love hanging out down here.”

REFER: Brokaw’s speech was a rousing success, but it was also the source

of a spat between the library’s trustees and its foundation. See story,

Page A4.