• [ network ]
  • goatmatrix.net
  • gvid.tv
  • img.gvid.tv
  • games.gvid.tv
  • apps.gvid.tv
HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Why I Founded C-SPAN: Brian Lamb Tells All (Including His Crush on Brenda Lee)

Views:954
@ReasonVids

On March 19, 1979, C-SPAN first aired proceedings of the U.S. House of Representatives. American politics and media would never be the same.

Over the next 35 years, C-SPAN would expand its offerings to include coverage of the Senate, a wide variety of interview programs and live events, Book TV, radio broadcasts, and much more.

At the center of the C-SPAN story is Brian Lamb, who not only conceived the network but redefined the long-form television interview with a style that has been called stoic, spartan, laconic—and unbelievably effective in producing fascinating, revealing conversations.

Born in Indiana in 1941, Lamb told Reason that his interest in offering unmediated coverage of official legislative proceedings stemmed in part from his job in the Pentagon's public affairs office during the Vietnam War. "I kept saying to myself," Lamb recalled, "there's something wrong there. This ought to be an open situation, and the more closed it is and the more insular it is, the more both sides can fool the public for their own reasons. And we found ourselves in a major war, 500,000 troops deployed and 58,000 people killed."

Despite the immeasurable public value it provides, C-SPAN has never taken a dime of taxpayer money, always proudly insisting that it was "created by cable" and is funded by pay-television operations at no cost to taxpayers or cable subscribers.

In 2003 Reason named Lamb one of our 35 Heroes of Freedom, writing "The Great Stone Face of C-SPAN has produced more must-see TV than anyone else in the history of the medium. There's no reason to pick a favorite among the likes of Booknotes, Washington Journal, and all the other C-SPAN fare, but his greatest contribution may well be his first: turning a surveillance camera on the den of iniquity known as the U.S. House of Representatives." In 2012, Lamb stepped down as CEO of C-SPAN, though he still appears on the network.

In 2010, Reason TV's Nick Gillespie talked with Lamb about his attempt to get cameras in the Supreme Court (watch our video about that here). We also took the opportunity to have a wide-ranging—and distinctively non-stone-faced—discussion about the network, Lamb's views on politics, and a possible alternate career choice as a drummer for Merle Haggard or Brenda Lee. In celebration of C-SPAN's 35th anniversary, we're happy to release this conversation with Lamb.

About 40 minutes. Produced by Meredith Bragg. Additional camera: Dan Hayes and Joshua Swain.

Go to http://reason.com/reasontv/2014/03/19/why-i-founded-c-span-brian-lamb-tells-al for downloadable versions and subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube channel to receive automatic notification when new material goes live.

reason.com
,
reason (periodical)
,
libertarianism (school of thought)
,
brian lamb
,
c-span (organization)
,
nick gillespie (author)
,
meredith bragg
    Thumbnail for Ares Armor CEO Tries to Reason with ATF over Customer Privacy; Raid Ensues5:51
    Ares Armor CEO Tries to Reason with ATF over Customer Privacy; Raid Ensues
    ReasonVids
    976 views
    Thumbnail for Vlad and Nikita Pretend Play Selling Ice Cream | Vlad and Niki13:05
    Vlad and Nikita Pretend Play Selling Ice Cream | Vlad and Niki
    kids.topic
    120 views
    Thumbnail for When the dealership gives me a 30% interest rate0:36
    When the dealership gives me a 30% interest rate
    bestofupgoat
    85 views
    Thumbnail for Britt is late to work | Viva La Dirt League4:47
    Britt is late to work | Viva La Dirt League
    invidious
    97 views
    Thumbnail for Supabase in 100 Seconds | Fireship2:37
    Supabase in 100 Seconds | Fireship
    invidious
    348 views
    Thumbnail for Fast, easy, stress-free tax filing with ezTaxReturn (15 sec.) Dani | ezTaxReturn0:16
    Fast, easy, stress-free tax filing with ezTaxReturn (15 sec.) Dani | ezTaxReturn
    invidious
    328 views
    Thumbnail for Stone Age Minds: A conversation with evolutionary psychologists Leda Cosmides and John Tooby9:59
    Stone Age Minds: A conversation with evolutionary psychologists Leda Cosmides and John Tooby
    ReasonVids
    962 views
    Thumbnail for Clay Epstein: Censorship and Slashers7:12
    Clay Epstein: Censorship and Slashers
    ReasonVids
    980 views
    Thumbnail for 16 Coolest Gadgets That Are Worth Seeing | YouFact Tech8:39
    16 Coolest Gadgets That Are Worth Seeing | YouFact Tech
    invidious
    355 views
    Thumbnail for 한국 경제, 수출 마저 '주춤' .. 내수 부진 장기화에 "경기 전망 흐림" (이슈라이브) / SBS | SBS 뉴스1:00
    한국 경제, 수출 마저 '주춤' .. 내수 부진 장기화에 "경기 전망 흐림" (이슈라이브) / SBS | SBS 뉴스
    invidious
    189 views
    Thumbnail for 5 More Times We've Seen How Weak Mr Burns Is In The Simpsons | Screen Addicts0:40
    5 More Times We've Seen How Weak Mr Burns Is In The Simpsons | Screen Addicts
    invidious
    138 views
    Thumbnail for  Fireworks Power Level Test2:20
    Fireworks Power Level Test
    bestofupgoat
    168 views
    Thumbnail for Psycho (1960)1:48:51
    Psycho (1960)
    Fromcytube
    593 views
    Thumbnail for BREAKING: Trump SOARS in NEW POLLING | Trish Regan LIVE! | Trish Regan48:48
    BREAKING: Trump SOARS in NEW POLLING | Trish Regan LIVE! | Trish Regan
    invidious
    208 views
    Thumbnail for Smooth Piano Jazz Music to Work,Study ☕ Cozy Coffee Shop Ambience ~ Relaxing Jazz Instrumental Music | Cozy Coffee Shop11:54:59
    Smooth Piano Jazz Music to Work,Study ☕ Cozy Coffee Shop Ambience ~ Relaxing Jazz Instrumental Music | Cozy Coffee Shop
    invidious
    332 views
    Thumbnail for Starbucks Might Quit the Internet and It's All Your Fault | Ride and Roast31:08
    Starbucks Might Quit the Internet and It's All Your Fault | Ride and Roast
    Terrence Popp
    1401 views
    Thumbnail for Ever wondered how @Big_Fat_Dangus manages to spend so much time on here?0:22
    Ever wondered how @Big_Fat_Dangus manages to spend so much time on here?
    bestofupgoat
    149 views
    Thumbnail for The zucc is ready for pee time0:23
    The zucc is ready for pee time
    bestofupgoat
    125 views
    Thumbnail for Trailler for Upcoming Holocough Documentary Called FLUVID-19 2:48
    Trailler for Upcoming Holocough Documentary Called FLUVID-19
    voatcatbox
    582 views
    Thumbnail for Sen. Ted Cruz: "The Obama economic agenda has exacerbated income inequality"3:15
    Sen. Ted Cruz: "The Obama economic agenda has exacerbated income inequality"
    ReasonVids
    1072 views
    Thumbnail for Sean Lock - Rachel Riley0:51
    Sean Lock - Rachel Riley
    AOUisgay
    502 views
    Thumbnail for Reason-Rupe Poll: Obama Leads Romney, 52-45 Percent; Gary Johnson Pulls 6 Percent1:45
    Reason-Rupe Poll: Obama Leads Romney, 52-45 Percent; Gary Johnson Pulls 6 Percent
    ReasonVids
    950 views
    Thumbnail for 이시각  내란범 잡으러 용산으로 진격하라 !민주노총 행진 | 최현준TV3:44:50
    이시각 내란범 잡으러 용산으로 진격하라 !민주노총 행진 | 최현준TV
    invidious
    194 views
    Thumbnail for US Spy Operation That Manipulates Social Media Revealed1:00
    US Spy Operation That Manipulates Social Media Revealed
    bestofsaidit
    1042 views
    Thumbnail for What it's like trying to reason with a flat tard 0:53
    What it's like trying to reason with a flat tard
    bestofupgoat
    339 views

points

Permalink
Reply
reason.com
,
reason (periodical)
,
libertarianism (school of thought)
,
brian lamb
,
c-span (organization)
,
nick gillespie (author)
,
meredith bragg
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle