Mary Tillotson
Encyclopedia
Mary Tillotson is an American broadcast journalist formerly with CNN
, for whom she was a White House correspondent and host of CNN & Co.
majoring in journalism. She worked for WSB
in Atlanta, Georgia
from 1970-75. After a move to Washington, D.C.
she worked as a reporter and anchor with WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C.
; a congressional reporter for Independent Television News Association; and as a news anchor for Mutual Radio Network.
She was hired by CNN in 1981, and from 1985–1988 and 1991-1993 was the CNN White House correspondent. From 1988-1991 she was a Congressional correspondent. She covered the 1984 presidential campaign, including the Democratic National Convention
, and the 1988 Republican
and Democratic National Convention
s, as well as the 1992 presidential campaign; she also covered two international summits between Ronald Reagan
and Mikhail Gorbachev
.
From 1993-1999 she was the permanent host for CNN & Co., a talk show highlighting female policy experts covering current news.
press pool for CNN
, she questioned then-president George H.W. Bush at a White House news conference about never-proven allegations of adulterous behavior, which had been reported by the New York Post.President Bush replied: "I'm not going to take any sleazy questions like that from CNN."
Bush spokesman Marlin Fitzwater
later said that Tillotson "will never work around the White House again," The New York Times reported.
Early on the morning of the news conference, August 11, 1992, editors at CNN's Atlanta headquarters faxed Tillotson who was working with other reporters at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine
, a copy of the New York Post
story alleging Bush's extramarital affair.
Bush and Democratic rival Bill Clinton
were in the midst of an intense presidential campaign , and the Bush re-election staff often mused aloud (though not for attribution) that Clinton was not suitable for the Oval Office
because of questions about "family values," his "character," and his reputation as an adulterer.
Reporters attending the Kennebunkport news conference were herded behind a rope line. Before the news conference, one of Fitzwater's young press office assistants walked the rope line asking which reporter might ask about the Post story.
Before Tillotson was called on, several other reporters received a so-called "Presidential Point"—meaning a question was allowed. They all asked about Middle East
politics. When Mr. Bush nodded in Tillotson's direction, she asked if the president, given the importance his campaign placed on "family values," wouldn't like to respond to the New York Post story. Mr. Bush, as quoted above, excoriated Tillotson and CNN for the "sleazy" question.
After the news conference, Tillotson joined the presidential motorcade for a ride to Air Force One
and its return flight to Washington. A CNN assignment editor reached her by cell phone to tell her she would likely be fired because of the controversy surrounding her question.
Upon her return to the White House press work space, Tillotson was virtually alone. Most of the White House press corps
had chosen to return to Washington later on a designated press plane, not Air Force One. Tillotson heard Anna Perez, who was first lady Barbara Bush
's press secretary, coming down the stairs towards CNN's work space. She loudly called, "Mary Tillotson? Mary Tillotson?" as she descended the steps.
Stopping at the door of the CNN booth, Perez raised her hand in benediction and said "I absolve you," burst into a belly laugh, and left.
Late that afternoon, Dateline NBC
's Stone Phillips
interviewed Mr. Bush at the White House and also asked about the Post story. Bush again refused to answer, explaining, "... you're perpetuating the sleaze by even asking the question, to say nothing of asking it in the Oval Office, and I don't think you ought to do that, and I'm not going to answer the question," The Times reported.
An NBC camera crew who recorded the interview said Phillips had apologized to the president off-camera. Phillips explained to Bush that he had asked the question because bosses at NBC had ordered him to, according to the NBC crew.
The next day, Fitzwater asked Tillotson why she had asked the question. She answered that the story had been reported and was already known. She was simply covering a presidential campaign and her job was to ask such questions of the candidates. Her employers expected no less, she said.
In a book years later, Fitzwater transformed the scene: he wrote that Tillotson wept and said her bosses had ordered her to ask about Fitzgerald.
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, for whom she was a White House correspondent and host of CNN & Co.
Biography
Mary Tillotson attended the University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
majoring in journalism. She worked for WSB
WSB (AM)
WSB — branded AM 750 and 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB — is a commercial radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting a news/talk format. The station transmits with 50,000 watts of nondirectional power day and night, enjoying clear-channel status on its broadcast frequency according to the U.S...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
from 1970-75. After a move to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
she worked as a reporter and anchor with WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
; a congressional reporter for Independent Television News Association; and as a news anchor for Mutual Radio Network.
She was hired by CNN in 1981, and from 1985–1988 and 1991-1993 was the CNN White House correspondent. From 1988-1991 she was a Congressional correspondent. She covered the 1984 presidential campaign, including the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
, and the 1988 Republican
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
and Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s, as well as the 1992 presidential campaign; she also covered two international summits between Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
.
From 1993-1999 she was the permanent host for CNN & Co., a talk show highlighting female policy experts covering current news.
Bush adultery question
In 1992, while working as a member of the White HouseWhite House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
press pool for CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, she questioned then-president George H.W. Bush at a White House news conference about never-proven allegations of adulterous behavior, which had been reported by the New York Post.President Bush replied: "I'm not going to take any sleazy questions like that from CNN."
Bush spokesman Marlin Fitzwater
Marlin Fitzwater
Max Marlin Fitzwater was White House Press Secretary for six years under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, making him one of the longest-serving press secretaries in history.-Early life:...
later said that Tillotson "will never work around the White House again," The New York Times reported.
Early on the morning of the news conference, August 11, 1992, editors at CNN's Atlanta headquarters faxed Tillotson who was working with other reporters at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,720 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford metropolitan statistical area....
, a copy of the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
story alleging Bush's extramarital affair.
Bush and Democratic rival Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
were in the midst of an intense presidential campaign , and the Bush re-election staff often mused aloud (though not for attribution) that Clinton was not suitable for the Oval Office
Oval Office
The Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, is the official office of the President of the United States.The room features three large south-facing windows behind the president's desk, and a fireplace at the north end...
because of questions about "family values," his "character," and his reputation as an adulterer.
Reporters attending the Kennebunkport news conference were herded behind a rope line. Before the news conference, one of Fitzwater's young press office assistants walked the rope line asking which reporter might ask about the Post story.
Before Tillotson was called on, several other reporters received a so-called "Presidential Point"—meaning a question was allowed. They all asked about Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
politics. When Mr. Bush nodded in Tillotson's direction, she asked if the president, given the importance his campaign placed on "family values," wouldn't like to respond to the New York Post story. Mr. Bush, as quoted above, excoriated Tillotson and CNN for the "sleazy" question.
After the news conference, Tillotson joined the presidential motorcade for a ride to Air Force One
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...
and its return flight to Washington. A CNN assignment editor reached her by cell phone to tell her she would likely be fired because of the controversy surrounding her question.
Upon her return to the White House press work space, Tillotson was virtually alone. Most of the White House press corps
White House Press Corps
The White House Press Corps is the group of journalists or correspondents usually stationed at the White House in Washington, D.C. to cover the president of the United States, White House events and news briefings. Their offices are located in the West Wing....
had chosen to return to Washington later on a designated press plane, not Air Force One. Tillotson heard Anna Perez, who was first lady Barbara Bush
Barbara Bush
Barbara Pierce Bush is the wife of the 41st President of the United States George H. W. Bush, and served as First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. She is the mother of the 43rd President George W. Bush and of the 43rd Governor of Florida Jeb Bush...
's press secretary, coming down the stairs towards CNN's work space. She loudly called, "Mary Tillotson? Mary Tillotson?" as she descended the steps.
Stopping at the door of the CNN booth, Perez raised her hand in benediction and said "I absolve you," burst into a belly laugh, and left.
Late that afternoon, Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
's Stone Phillips
Stone Phillips
Stone Stockton Phillips is an American television reporter and correspondent. He is the former co-anchor of Dateline NBC, a newsmagazine TV show. He also has worked as a substitute anchor for NBC Nightly News and Today and as a substitute moderator on Meet the Press. He is known for his clear...
interviewed Mr. Bush at the White House and also asked about the Post story. Bush again refused to answer, explaining, "... you're perpetuating the sleaze by even asking the question, to say nothing of asking it in the Oval Office, and I don't think you ought to do that, and I'm not going to answer the question," The Times reported.
An NBC camera crew who recorded the interview said Phillips had apologized to the president off-camera. Phillips explained to Bush that he had asked the question because bosses at NBC had ordered him to, according to the NBC crew.
The next day, Fitzwater asked Tillotson why she had asked the question. She answered that the story had been reported and was already known. She was simply covering a presidential campaign and her job was to ask such questions of the candidates. Her employers expected no less, she said.
In a book years later, Fitzwater transformed the scene: he wrote that Tillotson wept and said her bosses had ordered her to ask about Fitzgerald.