In a piece of fawning propaganda for Wednesday’s NBC Today, special correspondent and former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw made it clear that the network would be covering the liberal legend rather that the hard reality of John F. Kennedy’s legacy to mark the 100th anniversary of the late President’s birth.
At the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, co-host Matt Lauer teased the upcoming gooey segment by proclaiming: “And coming up, the Kennedy century. Tom Brokaw takes us on an inside look at a new exhibit marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of John F Kennedy. The fresh take on his presidency, his life, and his legacy.”
In the report that followed minutes later, Brokaw touted himself being the keynote speaker at the opening of a new JFK exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C.:
John F. Kennedy was born 100 years ago this month. But in our memory, he will remain forever young....When the Kennedy family gathered at the Smithsonian for a celebration of his life. It was a reminder of how the Kennedy legacy has so many parts and how it has been a part of our lives for so long.
Brokaw proceeded to not only lionize President Kennedy, but to applaud nearly every member of the family tree:
Caroline Kennedy is the sole survivor of the President’s immediate family. A child during Camelot, an ambassador to Japan, a reserved carrier of the flame during so many dark days. Mother, Jackie, elegant American royalty....John, the prince, his wife and sister-in-law died in a small plane crash at sea on route to a family wedding....
RFK, the next Kennedy who might have been president, was murdered in Los Angeles. But Ethel and his public-minded children push on, including a grandson now in Congress....Ted Kennedy tried to be president, but failed. He was never able to escape his own dark scandal of Chappaquiddick, but he was highly regarded as a U.S. Senator....
Jean Kennedy Smith is JFK’s sole surviving sibling. As ambassador to Ireland, her sons called her “the ambassasdorable.” Maria Shriver, daughter of JFK’s sister, Eunice, a force on television and in California politics. Always a survivor. Her brothers, separate forces in Special Olympics and other causes.
Wrapping up the report, he offered a gauzy portrait of the Kennedy clan: “One Irish Catholic family from Boston with a financial genius father of relentless ambition for his children. An ambition that brought great rewards, historic acclaim, scandal, endless pop culture fascination and crushing tragedy. A family that has been part of American life for almost 60 years, with admirers and detractors, determined to go on 100 years after President Kennedy’s birth.”
Brokaw added: “We knew him only as a young man of charisma, ambition, and accomplishment, brought to a violent end. His family wants us to remember what might have been.”
Co-host Hoda Kotb praised the glowing profile: “Beautiful, beautiful.” Fellow co-host Savannah Guthrie excitedly told viewers of more Kennedy promotion to come: “And Friday, by the way, we’re going to have an exclusive live interview with Caroline Kennedy and her son, Jack, who will be presenting the Profile in Courage Award to President Obama on Sunday. That’s Jack’s first sit-down interview live.”
Missing from Brokaw’s rosy remembrance of JFK was any mention of the 2012 revelations from former White House intern Mimi Alford that President Kennedy had an affair with her when he was in office. Even though Alford shared the unflattering news about the Democrat 50 years after his death, NBC still scolded her for daring to tell the truth about Kennedy’s behavior.
Viewers can expect NBC to continue covering for Kennedy as they celebrate his centennial in the weeks to come.
Here is a full transcript of Brokaw’s May 3 report:
8:22 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Guys, a new exhibit opens at Smithsonian American Art Museum today. It celebrates the life of President John F. Kennedy, who of course would have turned 100, had he lived, on May 29th.
HODA KOTB: An event was held there last night and NBC’s Tom Brokaw was the featured speaker. And this morning he takes you inside.
TOM BROKAW: John F. Kennedy was born 100 years ago this month. But in our memory, he will remain forever young. The 46-year-old president assassinated in Dallas.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Honoring the Kennedy Legacy; Tom Brokaw on JFK Dynasty as Family Marks 100th Birthday]
When the Kennedy family gathered at the Smithsonian for a celebration of his life. It was a reminder of how the Kennedy legacy has so many parts and how it has been a part of our lives for so long.
CAROLINE KENNEDY: President Kennedy’s memory really sill resonates, and that’s because of the vision that he set forward for America.
BROKAW [AT THE EVENT]: Caroline Kennedy exhibits grace under pressure. That was her father’s definition of courage.
Caroline Kennedy is the sole survivor of the President’s immediate family. A child during Camelot, an ambassador to Japan, a reserved carrier of the flame during so many dark days.
Mother, Jackie, elegant American royalty. Always her own person, a victim of cancer. John, the prince, his wife and sister-in-law died in a small plane crash at sea on route to a family wedding.
ROBERT F. KENNEDY: I just think that we just have to change our policies.
BROKAW: RFK, the next Kennedy who might have been president, was murdered in Los Angeles. But Ethel and his public-minded children push on, including a grandson now in Congress.
TED KENNEDY: We have to breathe new life!
BROKAW: Ted Kennedy tried to be president, but failed. He was never able to escape his own dark scandal of Chappaquiddick, but he was highly regarded as a U.S. Senator. He died of cancer, leaving his second wife Vicky, sons Teddy Jr. and Patrick, daughter Kara.
Jean Kennedy Smith is JFK’s sole surviving sibling. As ambassador to Ireland, her sons called her “the ambassasdorable.”
Maria Shriver, daughter of JFK’s sister, Eunice, a force on television and in California politics. Always a survivor. Her brothers, separate forces in Special Olympics and other causes.
One Irish Catholic family from Boston with a financial genius father of relentless ambition for his children. An ambition that brought great rewards, historic acclaim, scandal, endless pop culture fascination and crushing tragedy. A family that has been part of American life for almost 60 years, with admirers and detractors, determined to go on 100 years after President Kennedy’s birth.
We knew him only as a young man of charisma, ambition, and accomplishment, brought to a violent end. His family wants us to remember what might have been.
KOTB: Beautiful, beautiful.
GUTHRIE: Wow. And Friday, by the way, we’re going to have an exclusive live interview with Caroline Kennedy and her son, Jack, who will be presenting the Profile in Courage Award to President Obama on Sunday. That’s Jack’s first sit-down interview live.
