PORT ANGELES — An old-fashioned radio man, Bob Edwards does not sugarcoat what’s happening in his life.
In an interview advancing his American Conversations speech at Peninsula College next Thursday, Oct. 2, Edwards, 67, spoke about the latest twist in his personal road.
Edwards, National Radio Hall of Fame inductee, elder statesman of public broadcasting, has been canceled a second time.
The first time was 10 years ago, when National Public Radio removed Edwards from his “Morning Edition” host chair after nearly a quarter-century.
Soon after, he landed at SiriusXM, which began offering “The Bob Edwards Show” on its network and on Public Radio International. North Olympic Peninsula listeners can hear the hourlong program at 10 a.m. Saturdays on the Seattle public station KPLU-FM.
SiriusXM recently announced that Edwards’ interview program — on which he converses with writers, actors, directors, dancers and many other kinds of newsmakers — will end production today.
Reruns will air, but Edwards will be out of a job.
“I have mixed emotions,” Edwards said by phone from his office in Washington, D.C.
When asked what his ideal next thing would be, he replied: “My dream gig would be doing what I’ve been doing,” which is engaging in conversation with passionate people.
That is, Edwards said, “exactly what I want to do.”
He’d like to go back to NPR, so he’s got an appointment with the network’s new CEO, Jarl Mohn.
Yet “I’m concerned. I’m older. I don’t know if anyone wants someone 67.
“I’ve got all the energy and curiosity I’ve always had,” he added.
Then: “I’ve got a mortgage to pay. I’ve got alimony to pay.”
American Conversations
Edwards will earn some money by coming to Port Angeles for the Peninsula College Foundation’s annual American Conversations fundraiser.
His fee is $12,500 plus travel and lodging, foundation Executive Director Mary Hunchberger noted.
The foundation’s board wanted to bring in a public radio personality this year, and Edwards struck a chord, added Getta Rogers, development manager for the foundation.
Tickets to the Oct. 2 American Conversations are $125, including the 6 p.m. dinner catered by Kokopelli Grill in the Peninsula College PUB, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., followed by Edwards’ 7:30 p.m. program in the adjacent Little Theater.
Reservations can be made at www.pencol.edu/foundation. For details, phone 360-417-6400.
Proceeds will benefit the Peninsula College Foundation, which awards scholarships to students and grants to teachers — totaling $232,777 so far this academic year.
The foundation took a break from American Conversations last year.
In 2012, the speaker was Rory Kennedy, a documentary filmmaker and the daughter of Robert F. and Ethel Kennedy.
The $95 event was well-attended, as was the free public lecture Kennedy gave as part of Peninsula College’s Studium Generale series.
Unlike previous years, Edwards won’t give a Studium Generale speech.
In an effort to keep the speaker’s cost down — fees have averaged around $15,000 plus travel and hotel — Hunchberger said she and the board decided to hire Edwards for just one appearance.
“We were losing attendance from the evening fundraiser to the free event at Studium,” Hunchberger added.
As for Edwards’ plans, he won’t hold back once he’s in the Little Theater.
‘Going to rant’
“I’m just going to rant,” he promised, “about things I think are wrong with the world.
“I live in a dysfunctional town,” that District of Columbia.
“I’m appalled at our government. It will be a view from the other Washington.”
At the same time, Edwards is eagerly anticipating his first visit to the North Olympic Peninsula.
“This is good. This is new,” he said of the trip, which will include a few days of exploring with his wife, NPR news anchor Windsor Johnston.
Edwards’ only experience with Clallam County was through reading Temple Grove, Scott Elliott’s novel about eco-terrorism in Olympic National Park’s forests.
He interviewed Elliott, a Whitman College professor from Walla Walla, on his show.
“I just love radio,” Edwards said.
“The prospect of not going in every day and doing something new is daunting.
“I love learning. These interviews . . . and the research were such a pleasure.”
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
