(Left to right) Marc Howard, Vernon Odom, Jim O'Brien, Jim Gardner & President Jimmy Carter
in the WPVI studios during the 1980 Presidential campaign
Wednesday, September 3, 1980

During the 1980 U.S. Presidential election, the incumbent, Jimmy Carter visited the Action News studios for a taping of Channel 6's news interview program, "Action News Issues and Answers."

Jim Gardner was named PERSON OF THE YEAR by the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia in 1996. Gardner, Jim O'Brien and Vernon Odom are all inductees into our HALL OF FAME.

On Wednesday, September 3, 1980 President Jimmy Carter was in Philadelphia. He had left the White House at 10 am that day via the helicopter Marine One. That vehicle brought the Chief Executive to and from Philadelphia. He didn't use Air Force One.

President Carter spent the day visiting sites in Philly. His last visit before WPVI was the Zion Baptist Church at Broad and Venango. According to President Carter's "diary of the day," it only took ten minutes to drive the seven miles from the Church to the television station.

The President arrived at WPVI-TV at 2:41 pm that Wednesday afternoon where he was greeted by three people from Channel 6. They were: Larry Pollock, General Manager, Charles Bradley, Program Director and Alan Nesbitt, News Director. Then the President was ushered into a prep room for make-up. At 2:57 pm, he entered the studio where the half-hour program proceeded to be recorded with no stops. Six minutes after the program was finished, he was in his motorcade where he went to the Naval Base in South Philly for the return trip to Washington, DC.

From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
Photo originally donated by Vernon Odom
Massive graphic restoration by Broadcast Pioneers member Gerry Wilkinson
©2008, Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
All Rights Reserved

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