Covering Peter McPherson was always a challenge. Controversy was not his middle name, and he loathed being dragged into anything that even hinted of that



Covering Peter McPherson was always a challenge. Controversy was not his middle name, and he loathed being dragged into anything that even hinted of that

MSU prez scooped media at graduation

Web-posted Dec 31, 2004

By TIM SKUBICK

It was a story that took four long - very long - months to come to fruition, and in between reporting it and confirming it, there were lots of naysayers who claimed the thing was just dead wrong.

As we put 2004 into the record books, it was on Jan. 9 that it was reported here that Michigan State University President M. Peter McPherson was on his way out the door.

On the surface, the column had to be wrong. Tapped by the White House to set up a new banking system in war-ravaged Iraq, McPherson returned stateside to all sorts of bravos ... and all sorts of subrosa speculation that his once rock-solid relationship with the MSU Board was showing some minute, yet visible, fissures. That complete story is yet to be written.

The far-fetched report hinted that McPherson was being shown the door, or else he might be escorted out the door by the board.

There was nothing on the record to prove it. And to add even more ammo for the naysayers, the board in late winter granted McPherson a pay raise. One person chuckled, "Hey, I thought you said he was leaving!"

The weeks ticked by with no hint the January report was correct. Then came the May graduation exercises at MSU featuring Dr. Condoleezza Rice of the Bush White House.

When one walked into the room for the pre-commencement ceremony, it didn't take long for the spotlight to focus on McPherson, and not Rice.

First, there was one source, then another, confirming that McPherson was leaving. Board member Scott Romney was asked to comment, confirm, or otherwise help nail down the story. He remained tight-lipped, stone-faced and totally useless. Nonetheless, the story was as good as gold. It was time to seek a reaction from el presidente himself.

Covering McPherson was always a challenge. Controversy was not his middle name, and he loathed being dragged into anything that even hinted of that. So, he listened intently at the back of the room as he was informed there would be a report at 5 p.m. breaking the story.

"How do you know?" he appropriately asked.

"I've got good sources." The two conversationalists laughed at the less-than-forthcoming response.

The one-on-one eventually ended. McPherson went on to address the assembled Green and White faithful and then proceeded to the Breslin floor, where he would introduce Dr. Rice to the seniors.

Oh, yeah - he did one more thing. He also scooped the story by revealing to the stunned audience that he was leaving at the end of the year.

After the dust had cleared, McPherson and the correspondent, who saw his "exclusive" vanish into thin air, shared an uproarish laugh at his deft handling of the story that finally confirmed the January report.

No hard feelings. None. It's how the game is played and, now, as he heads down to D.C. for whatever the future holds, his indelible mark remains etched on the Spartan vineyards he leaves behind. Godspeed, peace and thanks for the great memories.

Tim Skubick has covered Michigan politics and the state Legislature since 1969. He anchors the weekly public TV series "Off the Record" and is capitol correspondent for WWJ-AM (950). His column appears Fridays in The Daily Oakland Press.

When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

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December 25, 2004: This Week's Top Stories Soldiers of Peace 23 Dec Nepal RPCV discovers new species of catfish 23 Dec Tom Murphy will not seek 4th term as Pittsburgh mayor 22 Dec Richard Celeste is spicing things up 22 Dec Gov. Jim Doyle streamlines state government 22 Dec Namibia Volunteers sworn in 21 Dec RPCV serves as Ukraine election observer 21 Dec Christmas Gifts for Peace Corps Volunteers 21 Dec Estonia RPCV John Isles wins NEA poetry award 21 Dec Director Vasquez decries racism and discrimination 20 Dec RPCV criticizes "harrassment by Russian government" 20 Dec War's horrors turn RPCV's son into pacifist 19 Dec more top stories...

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