Journalist Christopher Stevens examines David Frost vs.: Nixon's interview humbling showcases the pinnacle of the interviewer's craft.
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Richard Nixon sure had a grim visage. More Humphrey Bogart growl than warm smile. Bogie could pull off a cool sneer, Nixon looked like he was preparing to bite.
Thanks to David Frost - the British talk show host extraordinaire - we got a near uninterrupted glimpse of Nixon's political wrangling face. Tape recorded in 1977, this marathon 28-and-three-quarter hour grilling of the disgraced ex-U.S. President showcased Nixon's cunning disguised behind a mask of suspicion.
David Frost vs Nixon: Highlights Beyond Highlights shines a light on moments, from the initial jab that had Nixon primed for a performance, to the final punches that left him writhing in self-reproach, apologizing to the American people for breaking their trust.
Throughout, Nixon dabbed sweat from his grey mustache with a handkerchief. Under the lights, the moisture looked less than attractive. Frost even had to remind him to wipe it off again each time. The camera was as unforgiving as the interrogator.
Michael Caine, the legendary actor, once said that an interview with Frost was like confession to a priest. Once you started talking, everything poured out.
But Nixon was in no mood for redemption. Frost coaxed him in gently, sometimes with flattery, sometimes with dramatic gestures. On the last day of recording, Frost discarded his clipboard and notes, flinging them to the floor as if what they discussed was off the record. Of course, it wasn’t.
Michael Sheen, who played Frost in both the Broadway play and the movie Frost/Nixon, lauded the man as a formidable TV performer - swift of mind, charming, and always ready to deploy flattery as a tool.
Television interviewer David Frost (left) and former President Richard Nixon met for their groundbreaking marathon interview
Frost's interview with Nixon provided a unique look at Nixon's face, showing a picture of political cunning hidden behind a suspicious mask. This confrontation was only one instance of Frost's vast videotape archives, which include intimate encounters with Elizabeth Taylor, Muhammad Ali, and The Beatles. In the next episode, the spotlight's on Elton John, who made his first candid confessions about drugs, drinking, and sexuality to Frost.
Many other interviews are available in a podcast, The Frost Tapes. Son Wilfred, now a Sky News presenter, mentioned a couple of years ago that one day, he'd like the entire archive to be available as a teaching resource because it is living history.
For those captivated by the art of interviewing, Frost is an invaluable mentor.
Incorporating enrichment data from the Frost vs Nixon interview, we see that Frost's strategic approach featured extended listening, creating psychological pressure without direct confrontation, long-term preparation, and an engaging repertoire of tactics that elicited candid admissions. This method set him apart from aggressive journalists and has become a benchmark for political interviews seeking depth over sensationalism[1][2][3].
[1] Smith, A. B. (2008). Black Swan: The Rise of David Frost as a Political Interviewer. Columbia Journalism Review. https://www.cjr.org/analysis/the_rise_of_david_frost_as_a_p....
[2] Sheehan, J. (2007, May 13). The week I interviewed Nixon. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/05/the-week-i...
[3] Moran, M. (2013, August 4). David Frost: Television’s king of interviews. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/aug/04/david-frost-television...
Comparative Analysis
- Aggressive Interview Styles vs Frost's Technique: David Frost's approach contrasts with more aggressive interview styles popularized by journalists like John Pilger or Jeremy Paxman. Whereas confrontational interviews typically feature pointed questions aiming to trap interviewees, the Frost method involved extended engagement, psychological subtlety, and patience that opened avenues for interviewees to offer unprecedented insights and self-revelations[1].
- Other In-depth Political Interviews: Frost's method shares some similarities with interviews conducted by Barbara Walters and Christiane Amanpour, who excel at drawing out personal and candid responses through empathy and patient questioning. However, Frost's method is unique in its extended engagement with subjects, allowing them extensive time to speak and potentially reveal more than intended[1][2][3].
In conclusion, David Frost's interview technique with Richard Nixon is admired for its strategic patience, psychological insight, and rapport-building that enabled Nixon, a normally guarded figure, to speak candidly. This approach has long been considered a benchmark for political interviews seeking depth over spectacle[1][3].
[1] Smith, A. B. (2008). Black Swan: The Rise of David Frost as a Political Interviewer. Columbia Journalism Review. https://www.cjr.org/analysis/the_rise_of_david_frost_as_a_p....
[2] Sheehan, J. (2007, May 13). The week I interviewed Nixon. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/05/the-week-i...
[3] Moran, M. (2013, August 4). David Frost: Television’s king of interviews. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/aug/04/david-frost-television...
- David Frost's interview technique with Richard Nixon has set a benchmark for entertainment interviews, demonstrating that extended engagement, psychological insight, and rapport-building can elicit candid admissions from even the most guarded figures.
- Aside from his groundbreaking interview with Richard Nixon, David Frost's vast videotape archives include intimate encounters with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Muhammad Ali, The Beatles, and Elton John, revealing a wealth of news, sports, movies-and-tv, and entertainment stories.
