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Q&A With Bob Levey
Washington Post Columnist
Tuesday, March 19, 2002; Noon EST
"Levey Live" appears Tuesdays at noon EST.
Your host is Washington Post columnist Bob Levey. This hour is your chance to talk directly to key Washington Post reporters and editors, local officials and people in the news.
Today, Bob’s guest is Diane Rehm, host of National Public Radio’s the Diane Rehm Show.
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Diane Rehm
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For more than 20 years, the Diane Rehm Show has offered listeners conversations on a wide array of topics with many distinguished people of our times. Each week, nearly 1,000,000 listeners across the country tune in to the Diane Rehm Show. Recent guests include Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Senator John McCain, Patrick Buchanan, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, novelist Margaret Atwood, actor Sidney Poitier and violinist Isaac Stern. Newsweek magazine calls the program one of the most interesting talk shows in the country. The National Journal says Rehm is "the class act of the talk radio world."
Rehm is a native Washingtonian who began her radio career in 1973 as an assistant producer for talk shows at WAMU. She became host and producer of two health-oriented programs, and in 1979 was selected to host WAMU's local morning talk show, which was renamed the Diane Rehm Show in 1984. It was picked up by National Public Radio in 1995.
In 1998, Rehm was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological condition that causes strained, difficult speech. After finding treatment, she wrote several articles and produced a program about the little-known disorder. The National Council on Communicative Disorders recognized her work with a Communication Award, and the Maryland Speech-Hearing-Language Association honored her with a Media Award. ABC's Nightline host Ted Koppel devoted an entire program to a conversation with Rehm about her disorder.
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Bob Levey:
Good afternoon, Diane, and thanks so much for joining us today. Let's begin with the latest about your voice. You've been suffering for several years from a condition that makes your voice sound fragile and a bit raspy. You've been treated peridoically with botulism (of all things). How's the condition lately?
Diane Rehm: Hi, Bob, Good to be with you. I've just had an injection of Botox a week and a half ago, so I'm still Finding My Voice again. It'll take at least this week to get back on track. I hope to be back on the air next Monday, God willing.
Bob Levey:
You're known in the business as being courteous and non-confrontational. Do you ever feel like being non-courteous and confrontational?
Diane Rehm: Sometimes, sometimes not. But it's important to let the guests and callers have their say. If somebody's really outrageous, however, I don't feel as though I have to let that person get away with it!
Bob Levey:
Why are so few women among the top-rated radio talk show hosts in America?
Diane Rehm: You know, I cannot answer that. The old saw used to be that listeners were more comfortable with men's voices. I don't think that's still the case, but there aren't a whole heck of a lot of women willing to take the grief, perhaps, that up-front criticism brings with it.
Bob Levey:
You've been very outspoken about the trend in commercial talk radio toward partisanship and rudeness. Do you think that trend will continue indefinitely?
Diane Rehm: I think the trend will continue as long as there are listeners tuning in. Think of all the folks who adore the lewd comments of some radio hosts, and the confrontational and even ugly remarks of others. As long as people laugh at these kinds of comments, that trend will continue.
Bob Levey:
It seems very cruel that Diane Rehm and Rush Limbaugh have both suffered illnesses in the last few years that put their careers in jeopardy. Do you ever wonder what you two did to make The God of Fate angry?
Diane Rehm: My faith in God is very strong. I don't know about Rush and faith. I do not ask what I've done to make God angry. Rather, I see the voice problem as an opportunity to educate others about a very little-known or -understood neurological disorder. You have no idea how many people have written or called to thank me for helping them find answers to their own voice problems. God has given me a gift.
Montclair, VA:
Diane, you are a "class act" and between you and your producers, you can make almost any topic an interesting discussion to listen to.
My questions is about books. I haven't read yours yet, but I do wonder about the trend of TV and radio personalities churning out autobiographical, political, and self-help tomes. Is there a reason for this other than capitalizing on their popularity making money and perpetuating a cult of personality?
Diane Rehm: Actually, writing books has really been something I never expected, but that people expected of me. In addition to Finding My Voice, my husband and I have just finished our book about our 42-year relationship called "Toward Commitment" which Knopf will publish in September. It's meant to help people who are struggling with their own relationships, whether married or otherwise. Money was not the issue.
Washington, D.C.:
Diane, I just wanted you to know what a difference you made for me. I worked my way through college slowly, coming from a blue-collar background with no others in my family ever having attended college and no money for it. During all the hours I logged at work at that time (late 80s, early 90s), I listened to your show, and it changed my life. It opened up the world for me. It was as big a part of my education during that time as college was.
There was something about your style that was very comforting, and while other talk shows seemed full of themselves or overly intellectual, your show spoke to me where I was. I often read books after hearing interviews with authors. I followed up on topics that you covered. It really was a wonderful experience. Thanks so much!
Diane Rehm: Thank you so much. I realize that I came to this profession out of a great deal of doubt, never believing that I -- who also never had a college education -- could aspire to having a daily radio program. I have the feeling that belief in oneself -- despite DOUBT about oneself -- has got to be what moves us forward. And, of course, having others believe in us as well. My husband, children, and friends have been without question the moving forces in my life.
washington dc:
All I can say is WOW! I've never seen a picture of Diane before, but I've listened to her for years. Diane -- you're beautiful! May you have many more wonderful years on the radio.
My question is -- do you think that syndicating your show has changed the feel of it? I admit I liked it a bit better when it was local. I'm not sure I like sharing you with the rest of the country! Also, does it change who your guest might be, since you no longer just have a Washington audience?
Diane Rehm: I'm so glad you like the program and the picture too! Actually, I've been very careful NOT to change the program since we 'went national." I felt as though I wanted to be loyal to our local listeners, just as Bob has been so loyal to his local readers. Our guest list has expanded, but the nature of the discussions has remained the same.
Bob Levey:
You're known around town as a slow speaker on the air. Is this deliberate? Or does the slow pace just seem right to you?
Diane Rehm: You know, Bob, I've always been a slower speaker than most, but there's no question that the spasmodic dysphonia has slowed me even more. I listen to old tapes and I cannot get over how fast I used to talk. Alas, as hard as I push myself, my pace right now is my pace.
Alexandria, Va.:
Good day Bob and Diane,
In all the years I've listened to your show, the most remarkable thing to me has been your ability to respond to the occasional combative and annoying caller with graceful calm and firm but polite dismissal. Would that we all had your skill.
Diane Rehm: Thanks, I appreciate your comment. Remember, I do have some control over just how far the caller goes. At the same time, I think it's important to represent a kind of reasonableness on the air that maybe others will try to emulate. If we all go around blowing up at each other, we'll never find a way to be together.
Bob Levey:
You were born and raised in Washington. Who were your earliest influences on the Washington radio dial?
Diane Rehm: Bob, do you remember Betty Groebli? She used to be on WRC Radio (or was it WTOP?), and I listened to her every day, while I was at home raising our two children, something I did for fourteen years. When she made the transition to radio, her show flopped. Funny how that is. I think folks really prefer radio to tv, because their imaginations are allowed to run free, and their thinking heads work better. Anyhow, she was certainly one of the people who had an impact on me. Then, my first boss on radio, Irma Aandahl.
Washington, DC:
If your show attracts as many listeners as the promotional blurb at the top of this page claims, why does it "need" taxpayer subsidies? Can't it survive in the free market, just like Bob Levey's Washington does? Imagine the howls of outrage if the Post started getting public funding. Why should your show be any different?
Diane Rehm: The 'free market' has filled the airwaves with radio that's not always what folks want to listen to. NPR now has more than 23 million listeners for its Morning Edition. I think those people who contribute to Public Radio are happy to do so. The amount of U.S. taxpayer money has diminished considerably in the last decade, and will likely continue to decline in the decades to come. Underwriting will grow, as will listener contributions. I'm quite comfortable with remaining in public radio, which I believe is GREAT radio!
Washington, D.C.:
Which people from the current administration have you had on your show? Who do you especially respect in Washington these days?
Diane Rehm: We've had the Vice President on the program, plus Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior, and Lewis Libby, Assistant National Security Adviser to the Vice President. I have had Secretary of State Colin Powell on the program in the past. He is someone I have great respect for.
washington dc:
I am hooked on your show! As a twenty-something female, I am inspired by the professionalism, intelligence and integrity you have displayed throughout your career.
I so enjoy the breadth of topics discussed on your program and the respectful yet direct manner in which you moderate discussion- you have a gift.
How involved are you in the decisions regarding show topics and guests?
Thank you.
Diane Rehm: Very involved. The producers and I are talking each and every day about topics and who to have on the program. They're a great team, and support me in every way. It's really hard when I'm out as I am now, recovering my voice. But they take it all on, with e-mails flying back and forth each day.
New York, N.Y.:
Has anyone ever treated you badly in the course of your career for the fact that you didn't go to college? How did you handle it, if so?
Diane Rehm: You know, I was so afraid I'd encounter just this sort of bad treatment, especially since my employer is American University. But to my utter and absolute delight, the issue has simply never come up. I think if you treat people with respect, they will, in turn, treat you the same way.
Bob Levey:
Hillary Clinton was a huge fan of your show during the years her husband was president. Was she a good, open, surprising guest when she appeared on your show? Or did she play it close to the vest, like most people in public life?
Diane Rehm: Hillary Clinton is one of the brightest women I've ever had the pleasure of being with. She is also kind, and down to earth. Of course she played it close to the vest, because she's smart and she's learned in politics. But she is, at the same time, a true human being, with warmth and vulnerabilities.
Harrisburg, Pa.:
If you could pick any guest for one show, who would it be?
Diane Rehm: Right now, I'd very much like to sit down for a chat with President Bush. It hope it will happen before too much longer. There are so many subjects I'd like to discuss with him.
Bob Levey:
Are top Bush administration people harder to book since Sept. 11?
Diane Rehm: I think it depends on who you're trying to get. This Administration is not terribly friendly to the media in general, and to live talk shows in particular. So, we shall see.
Bob Levey:
You were roasted by a Baltimore newspaper columnist last fall for your interview with Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. "To call Rehm's questions softballs is to demean softballs," wrote Dan Rodricks. Any comment in return?
Diane Rehm: To each his/her own. If you invite the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland on and she doesn't want to talk about whether she's running or what her positions would be because she's not ready, there's not much you can do. She's a savvy woman who's interested in holding on to her position. So when next she comes on, she may be more forthcoming.
Lexington Park, MD:
I watch quite a bit of television and the talking heads on the political shows. One that caught my attention was Bill O'Reilly. He claims that he's being blacklisted by NPR for his opinions. That doesn't seem very likely given the wide variety of guests you've had on your show. What is the NPR's reason for not bringing him on? It's good to see both sides of each story.
Diane Rehm: To say that Bill O'Reilly has been "blacklisted" by NPR is certainly not anything I know about. We get hundreds of books each month and make careful decisions on which ones would be of greatest interest to our audience. I operate totally independently of NPR's decision-making process as far as books are concerned. My own personal decision was to pass on Bill O'Reilly.
Bob Levey:
Please tell us more about your condition, spasmodic dysphonia. How common is it? Are women affected more often than men? Are radio personalities affected more often than people in other lines of work?
Diane Rehm: Bob, spasmodic dysphonia is a rare neurological order that begins in the basal ganglia of the brain, which sends an incorrect message to the vocal cords, telling them to clamp down inappropriately. The cause is unknown, and there is no known cure. The treatment I have employed since I was first diagnosed in 1998 is injections of botulinum toxin, a deadly poison which is given in minute doses, directly into the vocal cords. The cords are then paralyzed for a period of time. Then, slowly, the poison wears off the cords begin to vibrate again. The injection usually lasts for anywhere between three and six months, when I have to return to Johns Hopkins for another treatment. Yes, it hurts to get the injection, but it's tolerable, and allows me to continue my radio program.
Washington, D.C.:
Who are your favorite writers?
Diane Rehm: Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid's Tale, Cat's Eye), Maya Angelou (Tell Me Why the Catbird Sings), both of whom will be coming on the show fairly soon. So many fine writers working today, but those two stand out for me.
Fairfax, Va.:
Where do you get ideas for who to have on your show?
Diane Rehm: Each day, we're doing lots of talking and reading and discussing, thinking about who to have on the show and what subjects we should be considering. Sometimes we'll think a topic is great, and the next day, scrap it. The producers and I are working and talking together all the time, so it's really a concensus effort. We get great guests because people regard the show as worth doing and listening to.
Bob Levey:
Larry King is a legend in the world of TV talk for saying that he never reads the book before the author is his guest. Does Diane Rehm always read the book?
Diane Rehm: For the most part, Bob, the producers or volunteers read the books. I can no longer spend the time to read each book, but the producers give me enough background material so that I undertand what the issues are that need to be raised. Larry is a good friend, and even helped launch the national distribution of the Diane Rehm Show. He does a first-rate job, in a different way.
Bob Levey:
Who are your listeners? Old or young? Male or female? Rich or poor? Black or white?
Diane Rehm: You know, it's interesting. I used to think that our listeners were all over forty. Lately, however, I've run into more and more younger people who tell me that they grew up listening to me because their parents listened to me. I recently made a speech out in Ft. Worth, and the entire audience was made up of younger women and girls. About fifty per cent of our audience is male. They do tend to be fairly well educated.
Bob Levey:
Take us inside the studio with you. There you sit, taking live calls from the public. If someone gets wild, or obscene, or out of control, do you dump him right away? Or do you tend to stay with callers even if they seem questionable?
Diane Rehm: Bob, you've got lots of questions! You probably know I have a seven-second delay, which gives me great comfort. But in all the years I've been doing the show, I've had to use that 'dump' button about three times. Most people seem to understand I'm not there to fool around, and are quite respectful of guests and the audience. I do try to stay with callers, and to make sense out of what may not, at first, seem a sensible question. But usually, there is something that can be salvaged and can contribute to the discussion.
VA:
I'm deaf. Do you have transcripts of your show?
Diane Rehm: No, we do not yet have transcripts, but there is some discussion in the works of providing them. They are, unfortunately, expensive, so it's not an easy decision.
Bob Levey:
Your heritage is Arab Christian. Are you concerned (as many Arab-American leaders have said they are) about the prospect of racial profiling in the wake of Sept. 11?
Diane Rehm: Yes, Bob, I am an Arab American, born here in this country. My father came from Beirut, Lebanon, my mother from Alexandria, Egypt. I am concerned about racial profiling for people of Arab descent, but I also believe that we are entering an age when other, more sophisticated forms of identification will diminish the need for such profiling. There are ways to develop these kinds of identifications that will allow us all to feel and be more secure.
Washington, D.C.:
Kudos for your new roundup Friday show. It puts it all in perspective better than the best news shows.
Diane Rehm: Thank you so much. We work very hard at trying to provide a good mix for that discussion. The news has been horrendous, of course, but at least our news folks have been able to put it into some sort of perspective. I'm so glad you approve. We started that segment of the show more than fifteen years ago, first with just one reporter, then two, and now, three. I think it works best that way.
Gaithersburg:
Before WAMU dropped bluegrass from its daily lineup, it was possible to hear in one afternoon two people with spasmodic dysphonia--you and the guitarist Tony Rice, who used to have one of the best singing voices in acoustic music. Are you familiar with him?
Diane Rehm: Yes I am, and had hoped to have him on the show the last time he was in town. Unfortunately, the timing didn't work, but I'll hope to meet him next time around.
Bob Levey:
You've always had the same mid-morning time slot. A blessing or a curse?
Diane Rehm: You know, people used to say to me, "I wish you were on at night when people could listen." Well, the fact of the matter is that MORNING is radio-listening prime time. Everything shifts to tv in the evening. When we began distributing the show on NPR back in 1996, we had 125,000 listeners. We now have more than 1.3 million listeners, tuning in at 10 a.m. I love the time slot because I'm a morning person. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Bob Levey:
Because they are so pressed for time, more and more Americans consider radio talk shows primary sources of information. How do you feel about this?
Diane Rehm: It worries me, because no one form of media can supply all the information we as citizens need to make crucial judgements. We need radio, tv, newspapers, magazines -- all of it. It's the only way we can continue to be well informed.
Bob Levey:
NPR is a partner in the emerging business of satellite radio. How will this affect the network? How will it affect your show?
Diane Rehm: My show will be part of the satellite radio effort. How it will affect the radio show I have no idea. Let's hope for the best.
Bob Levey:
The recurring gag around radio is that on-air people are not attractive--that they have "a face made for radio." Yet here you are with that glorious head of hair and great looks. How did you manage to reverse the cliche?
Diane Rehm: I guess I got lucky with the parents I chose and their genes. I love the fact that people are surprised when they meet me, because my voice sounds as though I'm so old. But, hey, that's what radio's all about, isn't it?
Best to all.
Bob Levey:
Many thanks to our guest, Diane Rehm. Next Tuesday, March 26, "Levey Live" visits with legendary sex-crimes prosecutor and novelist Linda Fairstein. Be sure to join us at the usual starting time, noon Eastern.
Bob Levey:
Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion.
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