“Journalists are very unsubtle people, and as a result very easy to study”

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As I delve into this captivating piece, it’s evident that Robert Redford, the silver-screen legend, was a complex figure who defied easy categorization. His interactions with Seymour Hersh, the relentless investigative journalist, were as intriguing as the characters he portrayed on screen.

Add All the President’s Men to your watchlist.

As a seasoned city dweller with years of navigating New York traffic under my belt, I can attest that Robert Redford’s feat of making it 26 blocks down Park Avenue without hitting a single red light is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s like trying to jump a motorbike over the Grand Canyon – an audacious stunt that only the truly skilled and daring would even dare to attempt.

“He says he did.”

“Okay, so what’s the big deal?”

Mentioning a high-speed drive on Park Avenue at night is significant, as it requires boldness or even recklessness given the sharp turn at the end. Some might even deem it suicidal. During my peaceful taxi ride with Redford, I intended to bring up this thrilling drive and explore its symbolism, but our conversation veered into serious topics like environmental politics, a cause he passionately supports, and journalism, the focus of his latest movie. As a result, we didn’t get a chance to discuss it.

However, our discussion centered around the portrayal of journalists versus their true nature, and it was intriguing to sense that Robert Redford, though seemingly upright, harbored a bit of a scandalous past, akin to a pricey car with a loud exhaust system hiding in his closet.

The movie “All the President’s Men,” produced by Redford and featuring him as Bob Woodward – one of the Washington Post reporters who exposed the Watergate scandal – is primarily focused on the authenticity of journalism. In 1973, Redford visited many journalists to learn about their profession. Many were initially skeptical, expressing doubts about his intentions to delve into the world of newspaper business and understand its reality. This aspect is the central theme of the film. Few were willing to wait and see, choosing instead to jump to conclusions or present a preconceived image.

Many journalists found themselves pondering over the classic film “The Front Page,” a timeless tale set in 1920s Chicago featuring newsmen who were known for their laziness, wit, dishonesty, and frequent intoxication. The concern among Washington journalists was that Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, who portrays Carl Bernstein in the movie, might create an unrefined remake. Editors and reporters, both nervous and off-handedly critical towards Redford, were secretly anxious about their public image. The humor lay in the fact that these journalists were emulating the very behavior depicted by newsmen in the original “Front Page” portrayal.

Following the departure of the movie producers from Washington, The Washington Post swiftly published a critical and extensive article about Redford and Hoffman, which can be described as a classic case of newspaper betrayal. Reflecting on this incident later, I shared my thoughts with Redford, commenting that journalists are often more unfriendly than depicted in his movie. “I concur,” he replied, albeit with a hint of bitterness. “They are indeed more unfriendly.”

After pondering for a while, he remarked, “These individuals are quite straightforward and thus simple to observe. The predicament is that if you depict them truthfully, people might not find it believable. However, we could only delve into the fundamentals. Our intention was to reveal something unknown to the public – the inner workings of a newspaper, particularly investigative journalism. We lacked the opportunity to create an in-depth character study.”

It’s unfortunate that they didn’t have the opportunity to spend time together. With a cheerful demeanor, as he was heading home to Utah for two weeks of skiing with his family, Redford delivered sharp yet blunt portraits of Carl Bernstein — “He may seem sensitive, but he’s actually quite insensitive, more establishment-oriented than people perceive” — and Seymour Hersh, the top investigative journalist from the New York Times, who often competed with Woodward and Bernstein on Watergate stories. “He showed no trace of refinement or elegance. He was like a rabid dog, yet intriguing. I found him appealing. He never finished a thought. He entered my hotel room chattering and left the same way. He never said hello or goodbye.”

While Redford presented his evaluations, I found it plausible enough for me, the writer with ink-stained fingers, to discard my defensive, elitist perspective towards the affluent, jet-setting celebrity. It became clear to me that he is not only intelligent but also possesses a strong mindset.

As a seasoned observer of Hollywood and politics, I find it intriguing to see how some celebrities choose to align themselves with political figures. In this instance, Robert Redford, a prominent figure in Tinseltown, opted not to join the bandwagon of Jimmy Carter, the glamorous front-runner for the Presidency. Instead, he voiced his disapproval of Carter, stating, “I don’t like him. I think he’s highly dangerous.”

I don’t like Jimmy Carter. I think he’s highly dangerous

I proposed to Redford that movies such as “All the President’s Men,” “The Candidate,” and “Downhill Racer” – a compelling depiction of a sports champion – share a common theme about obsession, offering different interpretations on the American narrative where good-hearted individuals end up in second place, while those who are resilient come out on top. He acknowledged the idea, and to further reinforce it personally, he brought up the topic of environmental issues again.

When President Ford initially sought to name Stanley Hathaway as secretary of the interior, Redford actively argued against Hathaway’s confirmation due to concerns about Hathaway’s environmental track record in Wyoming being less than favorable.

1. Redford recently visited Washington to discuss matters with Congress, and now he’s working on establishing a comprehensive organization for environmental advocacy groups. Earlier, The Citizens’ Action Fund was kickstarted through initial funding from box office collections of the film All the President’s Men in 13 U.S. cities. He spoke enthusiastically about future endeavors.

As they prepared for their journey westward to Utah, he carried on engagingly, sharing tales about minor hindrances during the production of “All the President’s Men” from members within Ford’s White House. He also mentioned a shared heritage, having some Scottish and Irish blood like myself, which perhaps explained his affinity for the outlaw roles, such as in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”

In his latest confession, there was a hint of stickiness, evoking what could be described as the ‘Porsche-like’ aspect of his character. Redford is committed to numerous aspects, but when it comes to journalism, which he referred to as an unsubtle field, we should avoid taking sides entirely. Everything isn’t black and white, even with Redford. It’s a bit disheartening that most aspiring journalists who will fill our nation’s schools in emulation of the brave Watergate reporters won’t perceive things quite this way.

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2024-08-02 17:04