Eye to Eye with Connie Chung
Encyclopedia
Eye to Eye With Connie Chung was a news show that aired on CBS
from 1993 to 1995. The show, hosted by Connie Chung
as a second project from her time as co-anchoring the CBS Evening News
with Dan Rather
, she hosted and would often report, either on individual stories or doing interviews. The series typically ran about 4 or 5 stories in each one-hour installment.
It caused a great deal of controversy in early 1995 when Chung was interviewing then-Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
's mother, Kathleen. Chung asked her what her son thought of then-First Lady
Hillary Clinton, and, when Kathleen didn't answer right away, Connie said she could whisper, and it could be between them. Subsequently, Ms. Gingrich's microphone volume was turned up, and her reply was "He thinks she's a bitch", which sparked instant attention. Congressman Gingrich complained publicly, saying the network "took advantage" of his mother. The unwanted publicity to both Chung and CBS News contributed to Chung being dropped as co-anchor of the Evening News in May 1995, which prompted her to leave the network altogether. Eye to Eye would continue airing until that August, although "with Connie Chung" was dropped from the title.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from 1993 to 1995. The show, hosted by Connie Chung
Connie Chung
Connie Chung, full name: Constance Yu-Hwa Chung Povich is an American journalist who has been an anchor and reporter for the U.S. television news networks NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, and MSNBC. Some of her more famous interview subjects include Claus von Bülow and U.S...
as a second project from her time as co-anchoring the CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963....
with Dan Rather
Dan Rather
Daniel Irvin "Dan" Rather, Jr. is an American journalist and the former news anchor for the CBS Evening News. He is now managing editor and anchor of the television news magazine Dan Rather Reports on the cable channel HDNet. Rather was anchor of the CBS Evening News for 24 years, from March 9,...
, she hosted and would often report, either on individual stories or doing interviews. The series typically ran about 4 or 5 stories in each one-hour installment.
It caused a great deal of controversy in early 1995 when Chung was interviewing then-Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
's mother, Kathleen. Chung asked her what her son thought of then-First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
Hillary Clinton, and, when Kathleen didn't answer right away, Connie said she could whisper, and it could be between them. Subsequently, Ms. Gingrich's microphone volume was turned up, and her reply was "He thinks she's a bitch", which sparked instant attention. Congressman Gingrich complained publicly, saying the network "took advantage" of his mother. The unwanted publicity to both Chung and CBS News contributed to Chung being dropped as co-anchor of the Evening News in May 1995, which prompted her to leave the network altogether. Eye to Eye would continue airing until that August, although "with Connie Chung" was dropped from the title.
Correspondents
When Chung herself wasn't reporting or interviewing, the program's other stories were reported on by one of five correspondents. The correspondents were:- Bernard GoldbergBernard GoldbergBernard Richard Goldberg , also known as Bernie Goldberg, is an eleven-time Emmy Award-winning American writer, journalist, and political commentator...
- Edie Magnus
- Russ MitchellRuss MitchellRussell Mitchell is an American journalist for CBS, anchor of the Early Show on Saturday, and weekend anchor of the CBS Evening News.-Early years:...
- Roberta BaskinRoberta BaskinRoberta Baskin is an investigative reporter, who until early 2009 was the Director of the Investigative Team at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.. As of late 2010 she has been working in the Department of Health and Human Service's office of inspector general as a senior communications adviser...
- Bill Lagattuta