December 31, 2004: Headlines: COS - Peru: University Administration: The Oakland Press: 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
Peace Corps Online:
Directory:
Peru:
Special Report: MSU President and Peru RPCV Peter McPherson:
December 31, 2004: Headlines: COS - Peru: University Administration: The Oakland Press: 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
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. |
| Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia." |
| Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors. |
| The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn. |
| Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here. |
Read the stories and leave your comments.
Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.
Story Source: The Oakland Press
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Peru; University Administration
PCOL15704
76
.