Washington's Changes Over The Past 50 Years

A lot can change in 50 years, particularly around the nation's capital.  

Fueled by the tremendous growth of the federal government, given an added boost after 9/11, the population around the Washington metropolitan area has tripled over the past five decades.

One way you can see the changes is on a map published by a predecessor to Exxon, known to drivers as Esso back then.

Look at this part of the map, showing the eastern side of what would become the beltway.

The core of downtown Washington was radically different.  Pennsylvania Avenue was open to traffic along the North side of The White House.  One section of the map notes tours of The White House are given between 10 a.m. and 12 noon Tues - Sat. For the F.B.I tour, "activities of 'G-Men' are described."  I was personally pleased to see The National Press Club noted on the map.

The Labor Department headquarters was to the west of the present location. An amphitheater, long gone, was in the shadow of the Washington Monument. The wildly popular modern version of the National Air and Space Museum, now along the National Mall, would open over a decade later.

The Metrorail system wasn't opened until 1976 and airplane travel was mostly an expensive luxury. The best option for most tourists, driving was regarded as less of a chore and something almost romantic back before Washington became noted for the congestion of its roads.  The map is emblazoned with "Happy Motoring!" It probably didn't hurt that a gallon of gasoline cost about 29 cents back in 1963.

And Now This Old Christmas Radio Ad For Cigarettes (or how times have changed)

If you have last-minute Christmas shopping to complete, how about purchasing a package of cigarettes?
That was the message in this commercial in the Dec. 1953 Christmas edition of the classic radio show "Dragnet." Seems shocking by today's standards, doesn't it?

Here's the link to 41 seconds of audio closing the Christmas program titled "Big Little Jesus."

Click hear to listen via SoundCloud Just click on the orange "play" arrow.

Cigarette advertising was huge years ago, particularly on radio and television. They touted health benefits, and sex appeal. But a ban in 1971 put an end to all of that.

Another old commercial I heard recently from the "golden days" of radio said the tobacco company hired "a doctor" to do a study of cigarette users and found no health problems at all.  One can only imagine what kinds of revelations future generations will learn about unhealthy things we're doing now.

As a footnote, Jack Webb, the creative force both on and off-screen for "Dragnet," died in 1982 of a heart attack at age 62.

6 Things For Which I'm Thankful

While I try to say a prayer of thanksgiving on on a regular basis, the tradition of the holiday provides an opportunity to reflect. Here are a few thoughts, mostly serious.

1. Good health and a sound mind. Okay, one out of two isn't bad.

2. The love of friends and family, both near and far.  We miss those we don't see as often as we'd like or can, usually because we are separated by distance. Still, we are sustained by these relationships.

3. A home in the Washington area, where we've lived for more than two decades. It isn't always easy to relocate for career purposes, but we've been blessed to live in Washington while its economy has thrived. It was a wonderful place to raise our son and provide him with an education.

4. A career I love with opportunities to work for great organizations with tremendously talented colleagues. Growing up in a small town afforded the luxury of making mistakes early and to learn from them.  There's still much to learn and that's a good thing.

5. The good fortune of having been born in the U.S., which provides remarkable opportunity, freedom and security. Despite our challenges, our nation still sets examples in many areas including innovation, technology and civil rights. Because we strive to do better, we most often find a way to succeed.

6. Connections with smart, kind and engaging people who've helped me along the way. They've shared their knowledge and passion involving many things such as journalism, public speaking and the business world.
As for those who tried to teach me about golf, I guess we can all equally share the blame.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Memorial Day -- Flying the flag is just a start

Symbolism and thanks for those who died

Unlike just about everyone on our little street, I try to fly the American flag on a regular basis at our house, not just on patriotic holidays. It is a gesture of my appreciation for our country’s traditions and ideals.

Similarly, I do try to spend some time around Memorial Day to say a silent prayer en behalf of those who have served our country and gave the ultimate sacrifice.  We wouldn’t be here without the service they provided.

But it isn’t nearly enough to fly the flag or express patriotism verbally alone.  Being truly engaged in our democracy, by striving to remain informed should ensure the war dead are memorialized. Presumably, being knowledgeable leads to better decision-making and puts pressure on our leaders to act wisely and responsibly. That’s how it is supposed to work, anyway.

The disengaged American -- my recent exchange

That’s why an otherwise innocuous exchange in a local store struck me as an unfortunate example of failure to act in a way that’s consistent with what our Founding Fathers intended. 

The incident occurred recently in a little shop in suburbia. I was wearing a fleece given to me by C-SPAN, non-profit the cable television network which televises proceedings of the federal government, as well as the National Press Club. I was 2011 Club president.

The young man, who looked to be in his 20s, seeing the C-SPAN name and logo, said “that looks like a television channel, or something.”  I said “yes, it’s a channel devoted to the affairs of the government.” He mentioned that he likes watching YouTube and looking at a website devoted to technology. And then he added, “I don’t really care about what happens in this country.”  Without much pause, I said, “It is good that you have that luxury.” It wasn’t necessarily a constructive reply on my part, but reflected my inner frustration. 

Who knows what led the young man to be disinterested in government?  It could be lack of education, cynicism, or parents who also failed to set an example.

Our country is far from perfect, but we have more than two centuries of history demonstrating an ability to innovate, adapt and improve.  

There are countries where, until there's revolution, or war, apathy and cynicism rule the day. Inaction allows corruption, or worse, to persist.  It is the perfect recipe for disaster from a governance standpoint.

Shared ideals?

In an ideal world, in which we don’t live, there would be a better balance between true community involvement, at the intersection of awareness, action and comfort.  Clearly, this young man’s world favored only the latter.

Our exchange was not unpleasant, and he undoubtedly was unaware of my unease about his orientation.

As I prepared to leave, he failed to make the correct change from our transaction, giving me about a half dollar too much in coins.  I corrected him and handed it back.  Here’s hoping he also begins to understand the necessary transactions of a healthy democracy and why so many people have given their lives so that we can look forward to a peaceful, long weekend. Here's hoping we can all remember why this is a special time of reflection and remembrance.

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10 things for aspiring journalists and communications pros to consider

5 things I wish someone had told me:

1.     The pace of change will accelerate and show no sign of easing. That includes many aspects of society and experience such as politics, technology, economies, demographics and climate.

2.      You must set your own high standards and must be your own critic and fan. While you should ask for and be ready to accept constructive criticism, managers or others might not have the time to give a full accounting of their assessment of you.   

3.      Basic skills such as writing and storytelling are absolutely critical.  Technology and skill sets will change, but core abilities will anchor you amid change.

4.      Many journalists do very well beginning as generalists and that is appropriate for someone starting out. Later, specialization may help your career, whether differentiated by beat or location.  If you can afford to be a freelancer, consider that option.

5.      Journalism and professional communications careers can be very rewarding, financially and personally. They can also take a toll on family and individuals. Most of the people who’ve gone into the professions will say it was worth the effort.

5 action items for you:

1.     Begin immediately to create and build a solid portfolio for display online. Ideally it crosses platforms, such as text and video. Have you learned to do all you can? What about excellent photography and videography, lighting, SEO, interviewing and presentation skills such as on-camera?

2.    Write, blog and write again.  When you are blogging, consider having a content partner or mentor who can give it a second look and edit before you publish. If you publish material containing errors, that sets you back.

3.      HR professionals say LinkedIn is the primary online tool they are using for prospective employees. Don't be shy about asking for recommendations and get specific on your skills and accomplishments.

4.     Think about being a role model, including with your digital identity and in your professional interactions with nearly everyone.  Are your public photos on Facebook a potential embarrassment? In interactions, how you treat people matters, whether in an office or in the field. 

5.     Your network is what sustains and propels you. No matter where you are located at any given time, set up meetings and maintain connections over time. Work to put yourself in a position so you can take advantage of every possible opportunity to learn, fail and succeed again.

A Few of My Favorite Quotations

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” - Soren Kierkegaard.

"I find friendship to be like wine, raw when new, ripened with age, the true old man's milk and restorative cordial." - Thomas Jefferson

"Everything is changing. People are taking the comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke." - Will Rogers

"We are ever bound in community:
We build on foundations, we did not lay.
We warm ourselves at fires, we did not light.
We sit in the shade of trees, we did not plant.
We drink from wells, we did not dig.
We profit from persons, we did not know.
We light this chalice in thanksgiving
For those who have passed their light to us." - Adapted from Deuteronomy 6:10–1.

“Freedom makes a huge responsibility of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his own weight, this is a frightening prospect.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

"You stay classy San Diego." - Ron Burgundy, Action4 Newsteam

"Stake my future on a hell of a past
Looks like tomorrow is coming on fast
Ain't complaining 'bout what I got
Seen better times, but who has not?" - from Bob Dylan's "Silvio"

"You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take." —Wayne Gretzky

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

A Young Boy's Meeting with Stan Musial in 1970

It is hard to imagine a man who was more loved by his community. The legendary St. Louis Cardinal Stan Musial owned a restaurant which I recall was dimly lit with red leather booths.

It was 1970. I was in 5th grade when my father took me to "Stan Musial and Biggies" one night to celebrate my good grades.  Hard to imagine at this point they were actually that good, but apparently they warranted some recognition. We both wore neckties and jackets and the occasion seemed formal and special. This was the steak house long before the sanitized chain experiences we've come to know today.

I remember my father and I were sitting down, probably early in our meal when Stan strolled through the restaurant and saw that I was the rare child among his customers that night.

Dressed in jacket and tie himself, Stan 'The Man' came straight to the table and engaged us in what I remember to be a delightful conversation. He congratulated me for my would-be achievement. He excused himself saying he'd be right back. When he returned quickly, he had a personalized autographed photo in hand. I was thrilled.

That was one of first experiences meeting a celebrity. It was a time when we only knew mostly positive things about athletes, before the 24/7/365 news cycle and so much transparency. 

A year later we would move to my eventual Kansas hometown. Unfortunately, because of a number of moves by my family over the ensuing years, the autographed photo was lost. But that's okay. The wonderful memory and the image of the remarkably kind Stan Musial is emblazoned in my mind. I can treasure that with great pleasure after all these many years.

RIP Stan Musial.  It only took you a few minutes to make a positive difference in a young boy's life.