European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 1, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Media Sam Donaldson in Sarajevo in August 1992, responding to the death of Abc to producer David prime and push of abcs Sam Donaldson a a a a a a a a by Frazier Moore a television writer. A dozen years Sam Donaldson stood i tall on the White House a Quot v it is upon that much trod turf that Cor i respondents who Chase the president pause Long enough to do their so called Quot a a standup shots. But since moving to primetime five five years ago Donaldson though still nning has also had to learn to walk. Quot when i was doing hard news i done to recall walking in my standup More than three or four times a says the Veteran Abc newsman. A now 1 have to walk while i do my 15-second Intro for a report. I done to do it Well. But in be had to learn How. Because that a a Rule of the Magazine Rule when you re chasing a Story done to Ever look like you re standing still. Donaldson knows he must think a show Biz Quot along \ with Quot news a must entertain his viewers As Well As inform them on Primet Itne where he has schooled himself in skills he Driows co Anchor Diane Sawyer. Long ago mastered. 1. Rather than recount another Page of the pc Sidon tial Saga every night on the evening news he shapes each of his primetime reports into a self contained morality talc with beginning Middle and end. Then he checks the ratings to make sure viewers tuned in he worry primetime is ranked a healthy 20th for the season to Date. And through it All he upholds in met a Jet a duty to give the Public what its interested in seeing. A i get a few anguished letters a How dare you put on this silly Tonya Harding Story that s not important when people Are dying in Bosnia Quot a a right but let me just Tell you something my Friend. I am not King of information when it comes to deciding what a Good for the american people to a watch.�?T. A. A a a. A the press is there to come along not drive a he says. A a it a a Tail that gets wagged by the big dog of a a a a. a a a. A. A a a a a granted maybe he has had to relearn a few things. But on primetime and this week with David Brinkley Donaldson always puts on a show. And always has. How could it be otherwise that voice erupting in fanfares like a marching band. And that face Frozen in an almost Kabuki Tike mask curiously at Odds with his souped up temperament his co workers take turns telling a reporter what an engaging collegial Loyal fellow he is. But Don. Aldson operates under no illusion that his chummy Side Ever translates to the to screen. A show him to me a he trumpets at the suggestion that a viewer might find him lovable. _ indeed he thrives As a continuing rebuke to the notion that to correspondents must be comfortable to has the Peculiar ability to rattle his audience along with those he covers. It is noon a couple of sundays ago and Donaldson. Has done his Best to rattle Lloyd Cutler. The just named White House counsel was one of the guests on this week which has signed off a few minutes earlier. Donaldson a self described contribution to the panel a a Little kerosene on the in his office in abcs Washington Bureau Bat loons and a huge handmade greeting card remain from a Surprise birthday party two Days earlier. Now. A the 60-year-old excitable boy is eagerly waiting for the phone to ring. A the is ripping off taxpayers a says Donaldson speaking of someone whose Home a primetime producer at that moment is staking out. A the declined Quot our kind interview requests repeatedly up we re. Going to have to go interview him in some Public place. Maybe this Mal peasant walks his dog maybe he plays Golf at a Public course Donaldson is ready to pounce should the Quarry show his face but when the phone finally rings the message is that two Days Worth of newspapers remain unclaimed in the Many a front Yard. Donaldson tells his producer to Knock off the Vigil until tomorrow. A but if she had gotten a glimpse of him i would have been out that door Quot Donaldson says in a Way that makes Clear its just a matter of 28 sunday May 1.1994
