The Last Interview

By Paul Bouchard

It is June 2016 as Professor Roger Johnson of George Mason University sits in the C-SPAN studio in Washington, DC, with executive producer Peter Slen across from him. As the live, three-hour In Depth session begins, the eighty-year-old professor reveals that he has been diagnosed with throat cancer. Still, he delves into the interview with enthusiasm, knowing this may be his last chance to impart his wisdom and life experiences onto the world.

As Professor Johnson begins answering questions from Slen and numerous callers, he reflects on his career as a scholar; his experiences as a presidential consultant to Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and others; and his latest book, Politics and Government in the Age of Social Media. While providing his insights and predictions on the 2016 presidential election, Johnson leads his audience on a fascinating journey that reveals how data analytics can help bring efficiency in government, how technological advances will improve future societies, and why Americans have so many reasons to be optimistic about the future of their great country.

The Last Interview shares a seasoned professors opinions and reflections as he looks back on his career, assesses the current political environment, and provides hope for the future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9781532018060

Paul Bouchard

Paul Bouchard is the author of numerous books of fiction and nonfiction including Priya’s Choice and A Catholic Marries a Hindu. A retired Army JAG officer, he practices law in the Washington, D.C. area.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 Paul Bouchard.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

iUniverse

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.iuniverse.com

1-800-Authors (1-800-288-4677)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5320-1807-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-1806-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017905500

iUniverse rev. date: 05/19/2017

For Christopher Hitchens, Dinesh D’Souza, and Dennis Prager—three intellectual heavyweights who taught me to question my views

I think about my education sometimes. I went to the University of Chicago for a while after the Second World War. I was a student in the Department of Anthropology. At the time, they were teaching that there was absolutely no difference between anybody. They may be teaching that still. Another thing they taught was that nobody was ridiculous or bad or disgusting.

—Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut

I worship individuals for their highest possibilities as individuals, and I loathe humanity for its failure to live up to these possibilities.

—Ayn Rand

November 2015

T he phone rings.

Hello?

Is this Professor Johnson?

Yes. Speaking.

"Professor Johnson, I’m Eileen Cohen, a production assistant at C-SPAN. We would like to invite you for one of our In Depth sessions this upcoming summer to discuss your extensive body of work. Is this something that would interest you?"

Hmmn? Well, my health is not too good. Maybe … I guess I could …

June 2016

D ressed in a light brown three-piece suit, Professor Roger Johnson, age eighty, was sitting comfortably in the C-SPAN studio in Washington, DC. Directly in front of him, on a small glass table next to his feet, was a white porcelain cup filled with coffee, and beyond the glass table—some four feet away—was C-SPAN executive producer Peter Slen, also comfortably seated in a chair.

"We are joined live for a three-hour In Depth session with Professor Roger Johnson of George Mason University. Professor Johnson, thank you for joining us this morning."

Thank you for having me on your show.

Professor Johnson, how long have you taught at George Mason University, which, incidentally, is some twenty miles from here in northern Virginia?

I’ve taught at George Mason University for … oh … let’s see. Well, I started there in 1994, so that’s twenty-two years.

And you are in the American studies program at George Mason?

Yes, that’s correct.

And before George Mason, where did you teach?

I taught at Rutgers University, in the history department. I taught there for nearly ten years. Before Rutgers, I taught at Washburn University in Kansas, and my academic career began at Oregon State University.

"And for our guests watching and listening in, this is the second time Professor Johnson has appeared on C-SPAN. The first appearance was in 1996 when you discussed your book In Defense of the Businessman with Brian Lamb."

Yes, that’s quite right. You are refreshing my memory, Johnson said. This, in all likelihood, will be my last appearance on your show, given my age and ill health.

And for our guests, Professor Johnson, how old are you, and how is your health?

I’m eighty years old, Johnson said matter-of-factly. The topic of his age and health was previously discussed with Slen just minutes prior to the show. As to my health, I’m afraid it’s taken a turn for the worse. Six months ago, I was diagnosed with throat cancer. I’m currently receiving treatments at Johns Hopkins.

We wish you a speedy recovery, Professor.

Thank you.

"And your latest book is titled Politics and Government in the Age of Social Media, a book that came out last year."

That’s correct.

What is that book about?

Well, as the title suggests, it’s a book that argues social media has an impact on how politicians govern. In the book, I spend quite a bit of time on the Arab Spring phenomenon, but I also discuss the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and domestic political issues such as health care, education, police tactics, and consumer safety.

Professor Johnson, can you discuss your background and why you became a history professor?

"Sure. I was born in 1934 in Boise, Idaho. My father was a paper mill worker, and my mother was a homemaker. I was the middle child—I have an older brother and a younger sister. I noticed in middle