25 Facts About Brian Lamb

Brian Patrick Lamb is an American journalist, Presidential Medal of Freedom Laureate, and the founder, executive chairman, and now retired CEO of C-SPAN, an American cable network that provides coverage of the U S House of Representatives and U S Senate as well as other public affairs events.

Brian Lamb served as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy for four years.

Brian Lamb was born in Lafayette, Indiana, and lived there until he was 22 years old.

Brian Lamb showed an early interest in television and radio: he started his first radio job at a local station in Lafayette, WASK, at the age of 17, working as a disc jockey and selling advertisements.

Brian Lamb took up this role midway through the Vietnam War and, in addition to handling queries from radio and television networks, he attended press briefings with Defense Secretary Robert McNamara.

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In July 1967, following riots in Detroit, Lamb was sent there and tasked with providing recordings of news conferences of Governor George W Romney of Michigan for the White House Situation Room.

Brian Lamb served as a White House social aide to Lyndon B Johnson, in which role he escorted Lady Bird Johnson down the aisle at the wedding of Chuck Robb and Lynda Johnson.

Brian Lamb later said that his time in the U S Navy "was probably the most important thing [he has] ever done".

In 1977, Brian Lamb submitted to cable television executives a proposal for a nonprofit channel that would broadcast official proceedings of Congress.

Brian Lamb is the former CEO and president of C-SPAN, and now serves as executive chairman of its board of directors.

Brian Lamb has described the network as "in every single way, the antithesis of commercial television".

In March 2012, Brian Lamb announced his plan to step down as CEO, handing control over to Rob Kennedy and Susan Swain.

Brian Lamb published five books based on Booknotes interviews, each a collection of essays written from transcripts of his interviews with authors.

Brian Lamb continued to host Washington Journal, C-SPAN's morning call-in program, until 2008.

In 2011, Brian Lamb donated his collection of books from the Booknotes series, many containing his personal marginalia, to the rare books collection of George Mason University to create an academic archive.

Brian Lamb opposed the "must-carry" provisions of the Cable Television Protection and Competition Act of 1992, which he later stated, had led to 10 million Americans losing or experiencing reduced access to C-SPAN.

Brian Lamb has written to chief justices Rehnquist and Roberts requesting the televising of oral arguments before the Supreme Court of the United States and other federal courts.

Brian Lamb has received numerous honors and awards for his work at C-SPAN.

Brian Lamb was the recipient of the National Press Club's Fourth Estate Award in 2002.

In November 2007, Lamb received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then President George W Bush for his work at C-SPAN.

The medal is the highest civilian award in the United States, and the White House announcement stated that Brian Lamb had received the award for his "dedication to a transparent political system and to the free flow of ideas".

In September 2011, Lamb received The Lone Sailor award from the U S Navy Memorial, recognizing individuals who begin their careers in the Navy, and to have gone on to have had "exceptional civilian careers".

Brian Lamb has received numerous honorary doctorates, including one from his alma mater, Purdue University.

Brian Lamb has never been a member of a political party, though he did work for the Republican Nixon–Agnew campaign in 1968.

Brian Lamb has voted for candidates across the political spectrum during presidential elections.

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