By: Drew Aggus
The 25th annual R. Dan Boulware Convocation on Critical Issues gave Western students a chance to see
the world from the perspective of a journalist. Fox News anchor Chris Wallace was the guest speaker at the 2018 convocation, which took place on Nov. 13.
Wallace has been working in broadcast for 54 years. He started his career at the Boston Globe and, for a time, worked as an assistant to Western’s own Walter Cronkite.
Wallace’s speech included a wide array of stories. He told stories about awkward encounters with Vladimir Putin, as well as stories about playing basketball with Michael Jordan. Wallace also moderated the final 2016 Presidential Debate between Trump and Clinton and was the first Fox News representative to ever do so.
Wallace had advice for students growing up surrounded by the current divisiveness that exists in the U.S.
“Challenge yourself and be sure to read or watch something you don’t agree with,” Wallace said.
Thousands of students, faculty and community members showed up to hear Wallace’s speech. Sophomore public relations major Rachel Bertram remembered Wallace from the presidential debate in 2016.
“I think he’s really quick; I think that’s one of the things that has helped him in journalism,” Bertram said. “He’s not only someone who’s famous now but will be remembered later.”
This was the first convocation for senior studio art and painting major Indigo Gaydusek who thought Wallace lived up to the hype.
“I was amazed by the first-person accounts he had with a lot of major players in our country and other countries,” Gaydusek said. “The talks he had with Putin and other people were really exciting to hear about.”
Chris Wallace’s accolades include three Emmys, a degree from Harvard and the experience of following former President Ronald Reagan around the globe for six years.
However, Wallace’s favorite experience was his trip with Mother Teresa. In 1979, he got the opportunity to travel to Kolkata, India, and spend time with Mother Teresa right after she won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Wallace is glad to have the experiences he has had, including his visit to Western, a visit by which he was highly impressed. He is happy to be in the field of journalism, and despite the recent negativity from President Trump, Wallace has great faith in the security of his and his colleagues’ jobs.
“[Presidents] come, and they go, and guess what; I’m still there, and a lot of my colleagues are still there,” Wallace said. “I feel proud and privileged to be a reporter. I’ve gotten to witness a lot of history.”
Wallace has gotten to witness far more history first-hand than most others combined. And as his career continues on, he’s only going to witness more.