Chuck Todd, NBC News, chief White House correspondent, political director.
Could you tell us about your charity?
Playing for Samaritans Inn, it's a, uh... it's a shelter, if you well, for homeless or at-risk addicts, men and women. They get there, you work with 'em--sometimes it's a 28-day intensive deal--to try to be able to become self-sufficient.
Does your experience in politics give you an advantage?
I think it hurts. I think I'm a one-category guy. That's my fear. Uh, y'know, as a kid, as Trivial Pursuit, I avoided Arts & Literature, I avoided Entertainment. I'm scared bejezus of, uh, how I'm gonna do, but we'll see. Uh, uh, I fear that there's not going to be enough politics.
Do you have a dream category?
COLLEGE FOOTBALL, 1970 TO--TO THE PRESENT. I would like s--uh, let's see, uh, AMERICAN LOSING VICE PRESIDENTS, that would be nice. CABINET SECRETARIES, ELECTORAL COLLEGE. Uh, I don't want, uh, NORDIC MYTHOLOGY, that would be bad. Um, and, uh... let's see... 17th CENTURY AUTHORS.
Are you going to take a "deep dive" into the game?
Oh, I see. Well, I hope so, if I take a--I don't want to take a dive, like, lose, as much, as, y'know... [Interviewer: What's worse here?] I think, first of all, facing a comedian... is harder, because comedians are well-read, they need material, they're smarter...
...
Did you wake up this morning expecting to win your game?
I woke up this morning paralyzed with fear. I've done a lot of television, a lot of things. This, I just didn't want to bomb. So, I was--I just wanted to finish in second place. I just didn't want to finish in last place. So I'm thrilled beyond belief that I was able to win.
How much fun were your opponents?
They were great. I mean, you know, I've--I know Clarence well, he and I are friends--uh, both members of the--of a great little journalism organization. I'd never met Lewis, and it was--he couldn't have been nicer, and frankly, calmed our nerves, I think, a lot, if you ask Clarence. You know, his intense, uh, intense anxiety I think helped the rest of us.
What impact will $50,000 have on your charity?
It's interesting--Samaritans Inn is--they use their money very well, and it's a very--and they... you know, sometimes it's dollar in, dollar out in what they're trying to do, and they're trying to do some expansion, they're trying be able to help, uh, at-risk children now, and be to do things, so, I mean, I hope this has a great impact. I think it will, because they, like I said, the--they use every--they need every dollar and they use it wisely. |
"Chief White House correspondent and political director for NBC News, he also anchors The Daily Rundown, a political affairs show on MSNBC. Here's journalist..."
2012 Power Players Week winner: $50,000.
Playing for Samaritan Inns.
Chuck Todd is the Chief White House Correspondent for NBC News, as well as the co-host of The Daily Rundown on MSNBC. He became NBC News' Political Director in March 2007. He also serves as NBC News' on-air political analyst for NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, Today, Meet the Press and MSNBC.
In addition to his on-air analysis, Todd has been responsible for all aspects of the network's political coverage, serving as the point person for political news and information. He is also the editor of First Read, NBC's must-read guide to political news and trends in and around Washington, D.C. (www.firstread.msnbc.com).
In 2009, Todd co-authored with Sheldon Gawiser the definitive election result analysis book for the 2008 presidential campaign, titled, How Barack Obama Won, published by Vintage.
Before joining NBC News, Todd was the Editor-in-Chief of National Journal's The Hotline, Washington's premier daily briefing on American Politics. In his 15 years working at The Hotline or one of its affiliates, Todd became one of Washington's foremost experts on political campaigns of all levels. He served as Editor-in-Chief for six years. He also serves as a contributing editor to The Atlantic Monthly where he pens political essays.
Todd frequently contributes op-ed essays for various publications, including The New York Times and the Washington Post. During the 2004 elections, he moderated one of the few presidential candidate forums in Iowa. In addition to Todd's extensive media presence, he's served as an adjunct professor, teaching a graduate-level political communications course at the Johns Hopkins University.
In December 2005, Todd was featured as one of "Washingtonian's 'Best Of'" journalists. In March 2001, George magazine named him one of the 50 most influential people in politics.
Todd is a native of Miami and currently resides in Arlington, Va., with his wife, Kristian, and two children. |
