“There is no such thing as bad press. The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about,” political strategist roger stone told the Observer this afternoon.
Mr. Stone is a character. Since his early involvement in Richard Nixon’s 1972 campaign, he has often been the force behind stormy weather in the poli-jungle. He’s known for his dapper suits, bowties, and pant braces. But really, he’s just as likely to strip for photo shoots, turning his back to the camera for a peek at his notorious Nixon tattoo. He’s the kind of guy who will criticize Eliot Spitzer and then manage one of Mr. Spitzer’s madams in a quixotic campaign for office. No, quirky doesn’t cut it.
As for Mr. Stone’s relationship with the press? It’s complicated. He was there when Vietnam and Watergate changed the way we report the news, and he’s personally endured his share of scandal. So perhaps it’s surprising that, on Oct. 1, he’s chosen to speak with a room full of prospective writers at one of the most radical schools in the country, Columbia University.
The ostensible reason behind his odyssey into liberal arts territory is his new book, Nixon’s Secrets: The Rise, Fall, and Untold Truth about the President, Watergate, and the Pardon.
“It’s not a love letter to Nixon, nor is it an excoriation. It’s a more balanced view,” Mr. Stone said.
The text commemorates the 40th anniversary of Nixon’s resignation and applies to journalists because of its insight into how the ’60s and ’70s changed news coverage. In his talk on Wednesday, Mr. Stone will shed light on the now-inherent skepticism that serves as a journalist’s bread and butter. He’ll also offer a more nuanced view on one of the first U.S. presidents to face the wrath of daily print.
Given Mr. Stone’s ideology – he has always professed a sort of libertarianism accented by plenty of social libido, but his associations have been primarily with conservatives — he makes an unlikely candidate to address an institution recognized for anti-Vietnam protests and minority activism. Predictably, his stint at the Journalism School’s Stabile Student Center has been a topic of controversy. Though Columbia University College Republicans were quick to sponsor the evening, the university chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists voted against supporting the event at their meeting on Friday. SPJ’s advisor Rebecca Castillo blames timing and not political prejudice for the organization’s decision, but in an environment where socialist tendencies are the norm, it’s true that a libertarian with a Nixon bent is the anti-Beyoncé.
“I’m told these folks didn’t want me to speak on campus at all,” Mr. Stone said of the SPJ student representatives. “That’s really sad. They’re the losers in this. All you had to do is show up and listen. Then you could make up your own mind.”
Though he may be disappointed, Mr. Stone is no stranger to media discrimination. In 2013, the New York Times and the Washington Post both neglected to review The Man Who Killed Kennedy, and generally, leftist news outlets have been stingy with their time and commentary on his work.
“Liberals love freedom of speech as long as it’s theirs,” he added.
Life as a conservative may not be the easiest road these days, especially on 116th and Broadway. But rest assured that the best graduate journalism school in the country is not judging its speakers based on party lines, even if its attendees prove less objective.
Travis Irvine, a Columbia Journalism School alumnus, has been working with Mr. Stone on campaigns and videos for two years and helped research Nixon’s Secrets. As the organizer for this week’s lecture, he emphasized the ease with which he and his former professors collaborated.
“The Journalism School was very cooperative, and they’ve given us a room in their school when they didn’t have to,” he said. Thanks to the sponsorship of CUCR, Mr. Irvine was able to book the Stabile Student Center free of charge, a luxury that isn’t extended to all visitors.
And of course, no matter what is thrown at him by Columbia’s demographic, Mr. Stone is ready–and excited–to spar.
“I’m looking forward to Columbia ’cause I don’t mind a good give and take, and I like it when the questions and answers are argumentative,” he said. Hopefully, he throws off his custom-tailored suit before jumping into the ring. Plus what would a night with Mr. Stone be without a glimpse of his Mr. Nixon?
