Jim Vance on the proper way to learn the language - "What’s it called? Diagramming. Remember we had to learn how to diagram a sentence? That’s how you learn the language by diagramming. When you know where every word goes and why it’s there. And what its point is. What its value is. I keep from hearing from all these kids I see today. Nobody ever taught them diagramming. They don’t even teach it anymore." A Ockershausen: And this is Our Town. We're so delighted, and honored frankly, that our next guest is a regular in our house. He probably doesn't know it, but we used to see him twice a night, now we only see you once. Jim Vance: But I like your house, man. I like the way you've done it. Janice Ockershausen:Thank you. Jim Vance: Janice, it's gorgeous in here. A Ockershausen: Jim Vance started out as a teacher. We'll find out what he was teaching. He's been a hostage negotiator, he's been Washingtonian of the Year. The two are not related, but he's had 19 Emmies. That's incredible. He's in the Black Journalist Hall of Fame. He's a member of the Silver Circle of the National Association of Television Arts& Sciences, an imposing figure with unbelievable street cred. His opinion pieces give him a personal connection to his audience. He's a force to be reckoned with. Welcome to Our Town, your town, Jim Vance. Jim Vance: Well, thank you, Andy. And I appreciate so much being here. And, Janice, thank you so much to the both of you. I mean that sincerely. There are so few people, and you can attest to this, in this town that we can speak of as friends for almost 50 years. That's to be treasured as far as I'm concerned, man. A Ockershausen: What we've found out when we brought back the idea of Our Town, was the talk about Our Town to people, and everybody was saying, "well gee, I haven't heard from him." Or, "I didn't know he did that. Gee that's just great." So we've been so fortunate to have people such as Jim Vance. And really thinking that Our Town is special. Jim Vance: Right. A Ockershausen: And even though he was born in Pennsylvania? And he went to school in Pennsylvania, and he went to Cheyney University. I didn't know that, Cheyney University is part of the state system isn't it? Jim Vance: It used to be. When I was there it was one of the 12 state teachers' colleges. And I need to say, because I need to make the alum proud, Cheyney in fact is the first HBCU in the country. It wasn't founded as Cheyney, because it was founded as a trade school for black people in America by the Quakers. In I think, if I'm not mistaken 1837. Now there are some of the other HBCUs every time I say that, they raise their hand or raise their fist and say, "no, we were first, because you weren't really a college then." Or whatever the case may be. I say to hell with them. Cheyney is the first HBCU in the country and I am so proud to have been there. And may I say that, I am also so proud of the graduates of Cheyney. Ed Bradley and I, late of 60 Minutes- A Ockershausen: I was at a recent party that was a salute to you. And Ed Bradley was the main speaker. I was there. Jim Vance: Yeah, you remember that? A Ockershausen: A special night. Jim Vance: But he and I went to Cheyney together at the same time, played ball together, lived together. I was the best man at his first wedding. He was the best man at my first wedding. And we've each had a couple or three, but anyway ... We hold that in common as well. Anyway, I am so proud of him and of all the other graduates of Cheyney State. It's now called Cheyney University, but for all of who ... I came out in '64, so for all of us were there back in the day, it's still Cheyney State. A Ockershausen: Jim, that's well over 50 years ago. But you were born in Ardmore. Is Ardmore on the main line? I see it in my mind's eye? Jim Vance: You know what? It is the main line and I have to explain to people that I'm not a main liner.
This is Our Town. We're so delighted, and honored frankly, that our next guest - Jim Vance - is a regular in our house. He probably doesn't know it, but we used to see him twice a night, now we only see you once. Jim Vance started out as a teacher. We’ll find out what he was teaching. He’s been a hostage negotiator, he’s been Washingtonian of the Year. The two are not related, but he’s had 19 Emmies. That’s incredible. He’s in the Black Journalist Hall of Fame. He’s a member of the Silver Circle of the National Association of Television Arts& Sciences, an imposing figure with unbelievable street cred. His opinion pieces give him a personal connection to his audience. He’s a force to be reckoned with. We welcome Jim Vance to Our Town, his town. Jim Vance grew up in Ardmore, PA and attended Cheyney State, now known as Cheyney University, the first HBCU in the country. He earned a degree in secondary education and taught high school English. Ed Bradley attended Cheyney with Vance and they became best of friends. Jim discusses his journey from the classroom to the newsroom. This interview is full of Vance’s personal accounts of what it meant to be a news anchor in Washington DC. You can read the entire text of the interview at http://ourtowndc.com/jim-vance-news-anchor-news4/ A special thanks to Our Town sponsors GEICO, as well as Attorney Mike Collins and Ivy City Smokehouse.