BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Mike Emanuel, chief congressional correspondent at Fox News
How/where are you celebrating your birthday and with whom? “Since it is on a Tuesday and we’re in the middle of a very busy time on Capitol Hill, I expect we’ll do something low-key with the family with a little ice cream cake at home. But I’m pretty confident my wife, two kids and I will end up celebrating at The Capital Grille this weekend. My wife, Evangeline, believes in celebrating a birthday for a good week or more, so that might just be the start of it.”
How did you get your start in journalism? “I grew up in charming Westfield, N.J., and was told after graduating from Rutgers that I needed to move to a small town to get my start and pay my dues. I sent out audition tapes all over the country. The first place to call offering me an on-air job was a TV station in Midland/Odessa, Texas -- home of ‘Friday Night Lights.’ I actually flew there on my birthday in December 1991. I did every job in the newsroom -- except weather -- because that is pretty serious business in West Texas. I met really friendly wonderful people, and it was the start of a fascinating adventure.”
What’s an interesting book/article you’re reading now or you’ve recently finished? And why? “‘Sacred Duty: A Soldier's Tour at Arlington National Cemetery’ by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). I have a very healthy respect for the United States military after my dad served in the Army during the Korean conflict. I’ve been on assignment with U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan over the years and admire their selfless service. It is pretty awesome the attention to detail and dedication those elite soldiers put into farewells for the fallen at Arlington.”
What’s a trend going on in the U.S. or abroad that doesn’t get enough attention? “I’m deeply disturbed by Christian persecution around the world. Churches are being burned and faithful people are being slaughtered. They are modern martyrs in places where Christians have lived for 2000 years.”
How’s the Trump presidency going? “I report on the news. I am not an opinion guy. My guess is his presidency, like others, will be studied for decades, and I’m happy to allow others to make the assessment.”
What’s a fun fact that people in Washington might not know about you? “I was the first Fox News correspondent in the Dallas bureau -- March 1998 to March 2001. One weekend we were sent to the Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas. I figured if I was there live on the scene I should jump into the pen with hundreds of rattlers. I nearly gave the entire control room in New York heart attacks as rattlesnakes were attacking my protective boots live on Fox News. It was a memorable day of reporting and great fun.”
