Carol Ross Joynt recalls advice she received early on in her career from Merriman Smith - I remember to this day some advice he gave me that has always served me well. He said, "When you cover Washington, you're going to get invited to a lot of parties. At the parties are going to be the people you're covering. Just remember they're not your friends." He said, "You're better off not going to the parties, but always remember the ... people you're covering are not your friends." A Ockershausen: This Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I am so delighted today to introduce you to a person new to my show, new to WMAL, as far as I know. This is still WMAL. Carol Joynt, welcome. Carol is the author, producer, and Emmy winning producer of Innocent Spouse, a story about her own life experience, guest wrangler, Janice added that, producer at MSNBC and Hardball, host of the Q&A Café, magazine writer, ex-saloon owner, proud mom. This is a great thing, a breast cancer survivor. She's a real fighter, a woman who doesn't like surprises. Welcome to Our Town, Carol Joynt. Carol Ross Joynt: Thank you. Yes. Carol Joynt. Here I am. A Ockershausen: Carol Ross is not from Washington. You were not born here. From Denver to Our Town Carol Ross Joynt: Carol Ross was born in Denver, I'm happy to say. I was born in the Rocky Mountain state. A Ockershausen: Oh my. Carol Ross Joynt: I was a military brat, then, we moved many other places and then ultimately ended up here, because my father ... A Ockershausen: Army? Carol Ross Joynt: He came here to be at the Pentagon with the Air Force, then retired and went to George Washington University, where he was the Assistant Dean of the School of Business. Then, he went out to Warrenton, Virginia and ran a think tank called Airlie House. I parted ways with them amicably, but when they moved to ... A Ockershausen: ... He is your father. Carol Ross Joynt: Yes. I graduated from high school, and they moved to rural Virginia. I said, "I'm heading into the city." That's what I did. A Ockershausen: You had been in Colorado up until then? Carol Ross Joynt: No. We'd been ... A Ockershausen:... You traveled with the Air Force. Mount Vernon, VA Carol Ross Joynt: I'd spent my teenage years growing up by Mount Vernon, since it was so close to our house. These were the times before homeland security. My friends and I, when Mount Vernon would close in the evening, we'd just jump the fence and have the coolest time, respectful, cool time, just wandering around George Washington's Estate. Janice Ockershausen: Sonny Jurgensen and his wife, Margo ... Carol Ross Joynt: ... were doing the same thing? Janice Ockershausen: They lived right next door. A Ockershausen: They got a key. Somebody gave them a key. They had a lock on that fence. Carol Ross Joynt: As it should be ... A Ockershausen: ... They could walk right in. Carol Ross Joynt: ... if you're Sonny Jurgensen. May I just say, that it's such a thrill to be here. I'm just daunted by the company of the other guests, Sonny being one of them. A Ockershausen: Yes. Of course. Carol Ross Joynt: I don't know what I'm doing here. A Ockershausen: His wife maybe, but not him. Don't be… Carol Ross Joynt: Anyway ... A Ockershausen: ... They had a key. They could go in. I went on the grounds with them a few times. Was your dad a pilot? Was he a flyer? Carol's Dad's Military Service Carol Ross Joynt: He was a pilot in World War II. He dropped paratroopers on Normandy Beach ... A Ockershausen: Wow. Carol Ross Joynt: ... On D Day. A Ockershausen: A multiple-engine pilot too. Carol Ross Joynt: He was from Minnesota. He was from Thief River Falls, Minnesota. A Ockershausen: Did he go to the Air Force Aca ... That was before the Air Force Academy. Carol Ross Joynt: Rainy Lake, was ... A Ockershausen: ...
Carol Ross Joynt recalls advice she received early on in her career from Merriman Smith -
I remember to this day some advice he gave me that has always served me well. He said, "When you cover Washington, you're going to get invited to a lot of parties. At the parties are going to be the people you're covering. Just remember they're not your friends." He said, "You're better off not going to the parties, but always remember the ... people you're covering are not your friends."
A Ockershausen: This Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I am so delighted today to introduce you to a person new to my show, new to WMAL, as far as I know. This is still WMAL. Carol Joynt, welcome. Carol is the author, producer, and Emmy winning producer of Innocent Spouse, a story about her own life experience, guest wrangler, Janice added that, producer at MSNBC and Hardball, host of the Q&A Café, magazine writer, ex-saloon owner, proud mom. This is a great thing, a breast cancer survivor. She's a real fighter, a woman who doesn't like surprises. Welcome to Our Town, Carol Joynt.
Carol Ross Joynt: Thank you. Yes. Carol Joynt. Here I am.
A Ockershausen: Carol Ross is not from Washington. You were not born here.
From Denver to Our Town
Carol Ross Joynt: Carol Ross was born in Denver, I'm happy to say. I was born in the Rocky Mountain state.
A Ockershausen: Oh my.
Carol Ross Joynt: I was a military brat, then, we moved many other places and then ultimately ended up here, because my father ...
A Ockershausen: Army?
Carol Ross Joynt: He came here to be at the Pentagon with the Air Force, then retired and went to George Washington University, where he was the Assistant Dean of the School of Business. Then, he went out to Warrenton, Virginia and ran a think tank called Airlie House. I parted ways with them amicably, but when they moved to ...
A Ockershausen: ... He is your father.
Carol Ross Joynt: Yes. I graduated from high school, and they moved to rural Virginia. I said, "I'm heading into the city." That's what I did.
A Ockershausen: You had been in Colorado up until then?
Carol Ross Joynt: No. We'd been ...
A Ockershausen:... You traveled with the Air Force.
Mount Vernon, VA
Carol Ross Joynt: I'd spent my teenage years growing up by Mount Vernon, since it was so close to our house. These were the times before homeland security. My friends and I, when Mount Vernon would close in the evening, we'd just jump the fence and have the coolest time, respectful, cool time, just wandering around George Washington's Estate.
Janice Ockershausen: Sonny Jurgensen and his wife, Margo ...
Carol Ross Joynt: ... were doing the same thing?
Janice Ockershausen: They lived right next door.
A Ockershausen: They got a key. Somebody gave them a key. They had a lock on that fence.
Carol Ross Joynt: As it should be ...
A Ockershausen: ... They could walk right in.
Carol Ross Joynt: ... if you're Sonny Jurgensen. May I just say, that it's such a thrill to be here. I'm just daunted by the company of the other guests, Sonny being one of them.
A Ockershausen: Yes. Of course.
Carol Ross Joynt: I don't know what I'm doing here.
A Ockershausen: His wife maybe, but not him. Don't be…
Carol Ross Joynt: Anyway ...
A Ockershausen: ... They had a key. They could go in. I went on the grounds with them a few times. Was your dad a pilot? Was he a flyer?
Carol's Dad's Military Service
Carol Ross Joynt: He was a pilot in World War II. He dropped paratroopers on Normandy Beach ...
A Ockershausen: Wow.
Carol Ross Joynt: ... On D Day.
A Ockershausen: A multiple-engine pilot too.
Carol Ross Joynt: He was from Minnesota.