Don’t tell me. I already know how goofy this is going to sound to you. But it’s the way it was.
I was an investigative reporter for more 35 years and during that time I conducted hundreds of hostile interviews, what I called “showdown” interviews. For an interview like that I would study the documents I had gathered along with transcripts of preliminary interviews and carefully prepare each question.
Sometimes I would be forced to abandon my plan and improvise. But that careful preparation — knowing I had done everything I could to get ready — gave me confidence and helped me switch to a new line of questions.
An old cartoon song also helped ready me for the mental pushing and shoving.
The state government office complex was only a few blocks away and I usually walked to those interviews. I would go out the back door of The News & Observer, across a parking deck behind our building, and then turn left on Salisbury Street.
And in my head Popeye’s theme song would begin playing. You know the tune I’m talking about if you’ve ever watched cartoons.
Bluto, the big bearded guy who was always after Popeye’s girlfriend, would tie up Popeye and then try to run away with Olive Oyl. Popeye would suck spinach out of a can with his corn cob pipe — which gave him way more strength — the tune would play, “Ta, ta, ta, ta — ta ta…” and Popeye would break the chains, punch Bluto in the nose, and rescue Olive Oyl.
As I walked to the showdown I’d put a fresh chew of Red Man tobacco in my jaw, sort of like Popeye and his spinach, and play that tune over and over in my head.
And I’d say to myself, “I’m ready. You better be ready.”
Coming Friday: The Gift Of Life
