Wendy Whitworth

RTDNF First Amendment Awards Dinner

Wendy Whitworth accepts the First Amendment Service Award on March 10, 2005, at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington. Wendy Walker Whitworth is a CNN senior vice president and the senior executive producer of Larry King Live.

Thank you Larry. And Frank, thanks for pointing out why I stay behind the camera. To Barbara and the R-T-N-D-F, this is an amazing and overwhelming honor. I am so humbled to be in the same company with Jim Keelor and Ed Bradley -- I'm still in shock.

When Katie and I started at ABC on the same day in 1979, little did we know that we weren't just getting jobs, we were starting our careers.

I remember working in the newsroom as a secretary so excited to be in the same room as Frank Reynolds. Everyone had to put out their cigarettes before the broadcast. I can recall staying after work to help on a show that Roone Arledge pledged to keep on the air until the hostages were returned. It took longer then he thought, so the show became "Nightline." I would carry my big typewriter to the edit rooms and help log tapes. There was also an added bonus: dinner. Food was catered every night from Dukes so I was eating steak and mashed potatoes -- which beat the chicken pot pies that Katie and I would eat at home.

I really thought it was magical to see how a broadcast came together in the control room every night. There was so much confusion before hand -- everyone yelling at each other -- crashing tapes in machines, throwing to this remote and that reporter.

I couldn't understand how everyone knew what to do. And after all of the yelling when the show was over, I used to think: "They are all really mad at each other." But instead they would say: "That was great. Thanks a lot. You're terrific. Nice show!" I thought to myself: "That is so weird, this job is for me!"

So when Ted Turner asked George Watson to start the DC bureau for Cable News Network, George asked me to go with him. Thanks, George.

Bernie Shaw was the big hire. I was the little one. I met with this old guy -- Ted Turner -- who was all of 43 at the time. Sam Donaldson said to me: "Go to Cable News -- learn how to be a producer and then come back to ABC." Well, Sam, as soon as I learn to be a producer, I promise I will come back.

It will be 25 years tomorrow that I began my journey at CNN. I took six coffee mugs and a brand new Rolodex to work on my first day, since we didn't have either. We were so poor that there were signs in the bathrooms limiting the amount of tissue we could use. Those early days at CNN were so much fun. It never seemed like work. And I can actually say the same today.

I had the privilege of covering the White House for 10 years and was an eyewitness to history over and over again. I watched President Reagan ask Gorbachev to tear down the wall in Berlin. I was able to have a small part in how the world began to recognize and rely on CNN after our coverage of the Gulf War. It was amazing to see President Bush say something from the White House and then moments later, watch Saddam Hussein respond on CNN. Global communication changed forever that year.

Then out of the blue, Tom called me and asked me if I would like to produce the Larry King Live show. I said sure! After a decade of White House press planes, I thought: piece of cake. But I had forgotten about a little thing that I had not had to worry about in the past: ratings. Not a piece of cake.

And in all these years, I've only gotten into really big trouble once. That was when Tom Johnson called me after the show with Marlon Brando. Tom was very upset: "Why did you let them kiss? AND ON THE LIPS?" I told Tom I was sorry that I forgot to tell Larry no kissing -- especially on the lips.

I am blessed to be going into my 12th year with Larry. He makes TV look so easy and is such a kind and generous friend. We are quite a team -- in fact, this is the longest relationship I have ever had. I love him with all my heart and he is truly a television icon.

The only problem with the job is that I am really tired of people asking me how many times he has been married. Because honestly I don't know. But I do know that he finally got it right with his wife Shawn, who is one of my closest friends. I remember one night early on when he was trying to woo her...he called me at 2 am and said: "Could you please call Shawn and tell her the newspapers have it wrong? I have only been married FOUR times!!!" I knew then it was TRUE love.

I am overwhelmed by all of my dear friends who have traveled so far to be here tonight. I'm so happy to see my White House family and my amazing Larry King Live family. I want to thank Ted Turner for his vision; Tom Johnson for always believing in me; and Gail Evans, Brad Ferrer, Jim Walton and Phil Kent. And to Larry, thanks for giving me a shot even though you wanted to hire a guy so you could talk baseball.

I would also like to remember a few friends who are no longer with us. David Kaplan, who looked out for me when I was a cub White House producer; John Holliman who made laughter a priority; Bob Squier who taught me: "If you can't say something nice about someone, say something funny." And finally Leo Meidlinger. When you look up "producer" in the dictionary, there's a picture of Leo.

To all of my colleagues at Larry King Live and CNN -- this honor is really about you. Those of you who know me, know that I try to live by Ronald Reagan's motto that was on his desk for years which said: "There's no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit." Well this honor tonight goes out to all of you at CNN who deserve the credit for helping me do the job that I love.

My biggest accomplishments are here tonight: my daughter Amaya and my son Walker. They describe my job as watching TV and worrying about ratings.

And lastly I would like to dedicate this award to my mother and father. Mom is in the audience with my sister Mary. And I know Dad is watching and is thrilled that my degree in etching finally paid off.

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