Interview with Robert Novak
Political reporter and columnist Robert D. Novak answers questions about his new book and many other issues. Enlarge video
Reporter Robert Novak visits Dole Institute
Politics and interactions with the famous and powerful in Washington were hot topics tonight at the Dole Institute of Politics. Enlarge video
Political reporter and columnist Robert D. Novak said Tuesday night he didn't believe a Bush administration official revealing the identity of Joseph Wilson's wife to him as a CIA agent was an orchestrated effort to smear Wilson, a Bush critic.
The Valerie Plame case was one story that the longtime journalist and commentator used to take an audience of 200 people at the Dole Institute of Politics inside the political winds of Washington during a 90-minute talk.
Novak's source, Richard Armitage, then the deputy secretary of state, was not overly critical of Wilson, a former ambassador, who on a mission to Niger said he found no evidence that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime had tried to purchase uranium there, Novak said.
Novak himself was a critic of the war and even the first Gulf War. He said Bush critics in the Senate and even in the CIA gave his column more attention weeks after it was published.
"They decided this was the lever to hammer Bush with, and it was a strictly political thing," Novak said.
Novak, who is conservative with some libertarian views, made it to Lawrence to discuss his new book, "The Prince of Darkness: 50 Years Reporting in Washington."
A fellow writer coined the name for him during his early years covering the Senate because of Novak's "low opinion for the political class." But others have since attached the nickname because of his support for "limited government, low taxes and individual economic freedom."
"In Washington, that makes you the 'prince of darkness,'" Novak said.
During the question-and-answer session with Jonathan Earle, the institute's interim director, and the audience, Novak, 76, provided several anecdotes, such as President Kennedy taking corners rapidly as he drove him around Washington in a convertible.
He also talked about the Iraq war, which he said is one major reason for the Republican party's current troubles.
"George W. Bush got into nation-building. We're not very good at nation-building. I don't know who is good at nation-building, but we're not," he said.
His stories included former Sen. Bob Dole - the 1996 GOP presidential nominee - leaking his vice presidential candidate choice of Jack Kemp to Novak, even though the two were not generally fans of each other, Novak said.
"He only mentioned the tip of the iceberg, I'm sure," said Joe Levy, of Lawrence. "It's great that someone like him can come in here and share these stories with us because we're not privy to the information."
Novak called his decision to name Plame in the column valid. He also said he considered his involvement in the case one of the least important things he's done, but because of the late stage in his career, it likely will be in the first line of his obituary.
"I never dreamed it would cause this much trouble," he said.
Excerpts from interview with Robert Novak
On history judging President George W. Bush
"I would say some presidents were so bad that immediately after death they don't have the elevation. Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, those are two examples. And (Bush) may be in that category, too, but it's hard to say. I don't think everything (Bush) did was wrong, but he's not my favorite president."
On Valerie Plame's new book
"There's a lot of things she doesn't address, and there's not very much new information. One thing she does is she got a lot more money up front than I did. I don't know how many copies she's going to sell, but let's see if she sells more than I do. It's not a very good book. ... I don't think it's gotten the attention she had hoped because she certainly had a terrific media roll-out."
On the political climate in Washington
"Everything is in favor of the Democrats. The Democratic candidates, especially Senator (Hillary) Clinton don't run very well against a theoretical Republican candidate. ... But they won't nominate a theoretical candidate. They'll nominate a real person, and all of the Republican candidates have defects and problems."
On abortion, Phill Kline and the Planned Parenthood charges
"I don't know how many people would take this on because obviously he's not had a very happy experience, but he is a stalwart on this."
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Oracle_of_Rhode (anonymous) says…
This sinister man betrayed his country by revealing the identity of a covert CIA agent. Too bad Lawrence feted him like some kind of hero.
Bunny_Hotcakes (anonymous) says…
Jon Stewart pretty much hit the nail on the head when he called this guy "Douchebag of Liberty." Ugh.
bd (anonymous) says…
Do not ever trust a reporter!
They are always looking for "THE" story!
Orwell (anonymous) says…
Whose idea was it to treat this self-aggrandizing, anti-American jerk with anything approaching respect? To paraphrase the late Dr. Thompson, Novak is a gutless, treacherous journalistic hack who should be put in a #*!@& bottle and sent out with the Japanese Current.
justthefacts (anonymous) says…
What has happened to the concept in America that everyone deserves a modicum of respect and that listening to ALL sides is a good idea, whether you agree with the "other side" on whit (or not)? I find it alarming and sad to see how many people make up their minds without doing much personal investigation into ALL the facts (not just those facts that support an already reached conclusion) and how often the minds made up this way include a large amount of hate towards any/all who may disagree. Whatever happened to civil discourse and polite debate? Has the culture of quick answers and easy access to information created a large group of people who do not want to hear anything but information that supports their beliefs nor have anything to do with people who are not exactly like them? So much for tolerance and peace.
75x55 (anonymous) says…
"Has the culture of quick answers and easy access to information created a large group of people who do not want to hear anything but information that supports their beliefs nor have anything to do with people who are not exactly like them?"
Bingo.
Along with that thought - the elevation of politics and political power to a near-cultic position, so that opponents are heretics that must be destroyed. Which is amazing, considering the very real ineffectiveness of political power to make substantive differences.
jumpin_catfish (anonymous) says…
bd said never trust a reporter, does that include the likes of dan rather? hmmm
Crossfire (anonymous) says…
On abortion, Phill Kline and the Planned Parenthood charges
"I don't know how many people would take this on because obviously he's not had a very happy experience, but he is a stalwart on this."
...he's not had a very happy experience...
Novak is an idiot. He belongs in the orgy with Phill and Phred and Sam.