They cut about seven minutes from that broadcast, but it was still vital to the story’s momentum.

Meaning of the quote

The quote means that even though the editors removed about 7 minutes from the broadcast, the remaining content was still important for keeping the story moving forward. The editors had to make some cuts, but they made sure the most important parts were still included so the story would not lose its energy or excitement.

About Ben Bradlee

Ben Bradlee was a legendary American journalist who served as the executive editor of The Washington Post from 1965 to 1991. He was a key figure in the publication of the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate scandal, and he continued to be involved with the Post even after his retirement, advocating for education and the study of history.

More about the author

More quotes from Ben Bradlee

The really tough thing would have been to decide to take Woodward and Bernstein off the story. They were carrying the coal for us – in that their stories were right.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

Sure, some journalists use anonymous sources just because they’re lazy and I think editors ought to insist on more precise identification even if they remain anonymous.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

It took us about a day and a half to find out what had gone wrong.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

If an investigative reporter finds out that someone has been robbing the store, that may be “gotcha” journalism, but it’s also good journalism.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

They cut about seven minutes from that broadcast, but it was still vital to the story’s momentum.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

We were right about the slush fund. But Sloan did not testify about it to the Grand Jury.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

Maybe some of today’s papers have too many ‘feel-good’ features, but there is a lot of good news out there.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

I must be out of it, but I don’t know any good journalists who have excused Clinton’s problems.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

I think he had a strange, passionate devotion to the truth and a horror at what he saw going on.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

I give Cronkite a whole lot of credit.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

The Nixon administration really put a lot of pressure on CBS not to run the second broadcast.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

They certainly did. They tried to make her look like a “nut case” and they succeeded to some extent.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

We made only one real mistake. And even then we were right.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

There have been as many investigative reporters on this newspaper working on Clinton’s many problems as I can remember there were working on Watergate.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

You never monkey with the truth.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

The champagne was flowing like the Potomac in flood.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

I never believed that Nixon could fully resurrect himself. And the proof of that was in the obits.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991

The biggest difference between Kennedy and Nixon, as far as the press is concerned, is simply this: Jack Kennedy really liked newspaper people and he really enjoyed sparring with journalists.

Ben Bradlee

executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991