Watergate Figure Charles Colson Dies at 80

Charles Colson, a special counsel for President Richard Nixon during the Watergate era, has died at the age 80.

Colson, who once said he would run over his grandmother to get Mr. Nixon re-elected, went to prison for his role in a Watergate-related case.

Colson helped run the Committee to Re-elect the President when it began an effort to gather intelligence on political rivals. The arrest of five of their employees burglarizing the Democratic National Committee offices in 1972 set off the scandal that led to Mr. Nixon's resignation in August 1974.

The Washington Post described him in 1972 as “one of the most powerful presidential aides, variously described as a troubleshooter and as a 'master of dirty tricks.' ''

Colson pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and served seven months in prison in Alabama.

Prior to the start of his prison sentence, Colson became a born-again Christian. After his release he founded Prison Fellowship, a nonprofit organization that conducts outreach to prisoners.

He wrote dozens of books and had a Christian-themed radio show that reached millions of listeners.

In 2005, Colson was named one of Time magazine's “25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America.”

Entertainment Pioneer Dick Clark Dies at 82

Dick Clark, entertainment pioneer and television host of American Bandstand, has died at age 82. Publicist Paul Shefrin said Clark suffered a heart attack Wednesday and died at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

He was not a singer or musician, but Dick Clark was one of the most famous names in rock and roll.  In the 1950s and ‘60s his afternoon television show, American Bandstand, was a daily staple for teens across the country and it changed the way Americans listened to pop music.

Born in Mount Vernon, outside of New York City, Clark hit the airwaves before he was even out of high school. His career began in the mailroom of a radio station run by his father and uncle. Before long, he was on the air. He continued to work as a disc jockey through college, and returned to the small, family run station after graduation. One year later, in 1952, he hit the “big time,” moving to  WFIL in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and soon was one of the best known radio DJ’s in town. At that time, WFIL also owned a television station that had an afternoon teen dance show called “Bandstand,” and in a few years Clark became the regular host of that program, too.

In 1957, the ABC television network decided to take “Bandstand” national, after Clark convinced them that a teen dance show would be popular all across the country.

“I was a very young fellow," noted Clark. "That show was getting huge audiences in Philadelphia. Sixty-five percent of the people watched Bandstand when it was in Philadelphia. It wiped out all the competition. I said ‘It doesn’t matter. It isn’t just Philadelphia, this is a universal language. It will work everywhere. Trust us, it will work. Give us five weeks.’  And in August of 1957, they did, and, as they say, the rest is history.”

Renamed American Bandstand, the show became one of TV’s longest running series and was a part of network’s lineup from 1957 to 1987. 

Everyone who was anyone in the pop music business performed on Bandstand, from Jerry Lee Lewis and the Jackson Five to Prince and the Talking Heads. Paul Anka launched his career on American Bandstand in 1957 with the song “Diana.”

“I think Dick has been very massive, in that he was the first and one-of-a kind who allowed all of us that conduit [pipeline] to the public," Anka said. "Who not only was a very viable force then, but stayed contemporary through all of these years and uniquely kept everything that he was about very special.”

His initial television success led Dick Clark to diversify.  He soon moved into the music publishing and record business, which the US government later saw as a possible conflict of interest. At the time, payola, or bribery, was widespread in the music industry, with record companies paying DJ’s to play their records. Clark was a prime target of a Congressional investigation into this illegal activity. He was cleared of any suspicions, but was required by ABC to sell his publishing and recording companies in order to keep his television show.

Clark moved to Hollywood in 1963, and “American Bandstand” went with him. Soon, he started up Dick Clark Productions and was cranking out hit television programs. Some of the shows were music related, but many were game shows and award shows. He was also an author, leading some to wonder if Clark was a workaholic.

“People say ‘Why do you work so hard? You made enough money to retire on when you were a kid!’  And I say, everybody should be this lucky to live out the fantasy of their youth," Clark said. "I wanted to be in the radio business when I was 13. I started working on it when I was 17, and I don’t want to stop.”

In 1972, Clark became synonymous with one of the biggest party nights of the year, when he launched Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and watching the show every December 31 was soon a yearly tradition for millions and millions of Americans. Clark continued to host the show until 2004, when he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed and struggling to speak. But a year later, Clark was back and even though his speech was, at times, still difficult to understand, many praised his bravery, including other stroke victims.

Dick Clark earned countless awards and honors during his long career: he has Emmys, Grammys, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.

Clark was often teased for his eternally good looks, which earned him the nickname “America’s Oldest Teenager.” He always credited his youthful appearance to good genes, and was quoted as saying “If you want to stay young looking, pick your parents very carefully.”

Mike Wallace, Iconic American Journalist, Dies at 93

Mike Wallace — an entertainer in the early days of television who rose to become one of America's best known broadcast journalists — has died. He was 93.

In a statement Sunday, the CBS network said Wallace died Saturday at an extended care facility in Connecticut after a long illness.

Wallace spent nearly 40 years on the ground-breaking CBS news magazine “60 Minutes.” There, he interviewed hundreds of the world's most prominent public figures, from U.S. presidents, generals, artists and athletes to international dignitaries, writers, playwrights and Hollywood stars. He also interviewed scores of lesser-known figures, including suspected cheats, fraudsters, and many others alleged to have used dubious means to achieve wealth and fame.

CBS on Sunday cited Wallace's “extraordinary contribution as a broadcaster,” calling him “a force within the television industry throughout its existence.”

Wallace's relentless style drew millions of viewers and fans to Sunday night television, where “60 Minutes” has been a mainstay since its first broadcast segment in 1968. But that style also drew criticism and a highly publicized lawsuit stemming from the Vietnam War.

That suit, brought by army General William C. Westmoreland — the commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam — sought $120 million in damages for a Wallace-anchored “60 Minutes” report alleging the general deceived the American public by under-counting the enemy in Vietnam. The case went to trial in 1984, and months later Westmoreland withdrew the suit.

Wallace later revealed in an interview with colleague Morley Safer that he had attempted suicide during the lawsuit crisis. He later spoke repeatedly about his recovery from depression and said the years after the attempt were some of the most productive of his long life.

Photo: Journalist Mike Wallace in the television program Mike Wallace Interviews, 1957.

Malawi Mourns Death of President Mutharika

Malawi's vice president Joyce Banda has called for calm as the nation mourns its late President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died of a heart attack on Thursday.

Ms. Banda told reporters Saturday that flags will be flown at half-staff and that broadcasters should play “somber” music for the next 10 days.

Malawi State radio confirmed earlier Saturday that President Mutharika was dead, after two days of unconfirmed reports.

Malawi's constitution stipulates that the vice president is to take over the presidency if the president dies, but Ms. Banda has not yet taken the oath of office.

Mr. Mutharika was rushed to a hospital Thursday in the capital, Lilongwe, after falling ill at his home.

He was elected president of Malawi in 2004 and won a second term in 2009.

He was credited with improving food security in Malawi and, at one time, making his country a political and economic model for other African countries. But in more recent years, the economy has stumbled and unemployment has been high. Critics of the late president say he had become increasingly autocratic. Nineteen people were killed last July in anti-government protests.

An economist by education, Mr. Mutharika was a World Bank official and served as a civil servant in Malawi. He was appointed minister of economic planning and development in 2002, and then-President Bakili Muluzi nominated him as his successor.

He later broke away from Mr. Muluzi and formed the Democratic Progressive Party, which has the majority in parliament.

Malawi's vice president Joyce Banda:
“Ladies and gentlemen and members of the press, I call upon all Malawians to remain calm, and to keep the peace during this time of bereavement. Further, I wish to direct that all national flags at public buildings be flown at half-mast and that the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and private media of goodwill play somber music as we honor this mourning period, which is for 10 days.”
“I don't think there is any way we can discuss who is caretaker and who is not. Because that is what I was saying. And I think that is what the chief senator said. That the constitution is prevailing right now. But the purpose of this meeting this afternoon is for us, and I want to repeat this: is that we should focus on the funeral. That right now, what is paramount is that we should focus on the father of the nation.”

Malawi Confirms Death of President Mutharika

Malawi State radio is confirming President Bingu wa Mutharika is dead.

Saturday's official announcement follows multiple reports quoting medical and government sources on the president's death.

Mr. Mutharika was rushed to a hospital Thursday in the capital, Lilongwe, after falling ill at his home.

On Friday, medical and government sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 78-year-old president died of a heart attack, but the government would not confirm the reports.

Mr. Mutharika was elected president of Malawi in 2004 and won a second term in 2009.

He was credited with improving food security in Malawi and, at one time, making his country a political and economic model for other African countries. But in more recent years, the economy has stumbled and unemployment has been high. Critics of the late president say he had become increasingly autocratic. Nineteen people were killed last July in anti-government protests.

An economist by education, Mr. Mutharika was a World Bank official and served as a civil servant in Malawi. He was appointed minister of economic planning and development in 2002, and then-President Bakili Muluzi nominated him as his successor.

He later broke away from Mr. Muluzi and formed the Democratic Progressive Party, which has the majority in parliament.

Photo: Bingu wa Mutharika at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, 23 September 2009. Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson