Let's Talk…About Something Else

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As former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw continues his book tour he is being asked nearly everywhere he goes about the Brian Williams matter.

In a disciplined manner he is refusing comment. The strategy is so effective that when he appeared on Fresh Air with Terry Gross Wednesday, Gross began her interview like this:

“I just want to start by saying my understanding is you’ve said all you care to say about Brian Williams. True?”

Pause. Brokaw: “True.”

Gross: “OK. So let’s move on.”

Gross then went on to conduct a full interview mostly about Brokaw’s continuing battle with cancer which he likened to living with any other chronic disease. It was an interesting use of the “strategic retreat” by Gross who has at times been criticized for pushing an interview subject too far.