An unusual news conference
Posted: Sunday, December 02, 2007 5:37 PM
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On Assignment
By Kerry Sanders, NBC News Correspondent
CARACAS, Venezuela -- I’ve reported for more than 25 years. I’ve sat through my share of news conferences. Some boring. Some self-serving. Some just plain weird.
I’ve attended press conferences in the United States, and through out the world, but the news conference with President Hugo Chavez on Saturday was hands down, the most unusual ever.
The leader of this oil-rich South American nation entered the room and walked past his desk, and the microphones, and walked around like a professor in the classroom.
He launched into a story of the history of native South Americans. He dropped a few words in English, but mostly chatted in Spanish. He smiled, laughed, and engaged the assembled media. He had no notes, and at the time, it seemed he was going on and on with no real point.
At one point he looked at one of the international journalists here and asked, where you are you from?
The reporter answered, through a translator, that he was from Japan.
President Chavez said he thought the reporter looked like a Quechua Indian from the Andes. Then, he went on to explain how it’s believed the continents on earth were once connected, and how the Asian influence is evidenced in the native people of South America.
Chavez, who calls himself an Indian, says the Europeans like to say they “discovered” this continent, but it was discovered long before the Spanish and Portuguese claim to have found it.
To say I was perplexed is to put it mildly.
Entertaining, educational, and as engaging as Chavez can be, this was unlike any news conference I’ve ever covered. I was wondering when we’d get to the NEWS. At one point, well into the second hour, an aide walked around and offered coffee to the assembled reporters.
This news conference was so unusual, I actually enjoyed it. But as time went on, and on and on, I was fearful it would continue well past my deadline.
We, the assembled journalists, in the end asked only four questions.
I know politicians like to talk, but three hours and 15 minutes to answer four questions. That has to be a record. It’s a record in my career anyway.
I was one of the correspondents who had his name pulled from the hat to ask a question. (Yes, a very democratic process to determine who asks questions here.) | Video
Reporters who regularly cover these news conferences have one piece of advice before Chavez begins. Make sure you stop off in the bathroom, as it may be a long time before you can leave.
I wish I’d known that before President Chavez walked into the room.
