By Andrew Polino
Buffalo, NY – CNN's Wolf Blitzer appeared in Buffalo Friday to visit his alma mater, the University at Buffalo, and to receive UB's Distinguished Alumni Award. The host of CNN's "The Situation Room" graduated from UB in 1970 with a BA in History. Blitzer says that his time at UB as a history student was very inspirational.
"I loved history, and I still do. And I think it's one of the reasons I went into journalism," Blitzer said. "When all is said and done, what is journalism? It's a first draft of history. So we write that first draft, and then others come along and polish it, and revise it, and make it better based on more information. But we do a first draft. So I think that the history education that I received in Buffalo was fabulous."
Blitzer says bringing vital information to the public has always been his primary goal.
"I want to make sure our viewers are on top of all of the inside politics -- just get them the information, bring all sorts of points of view out there and make sure that we have the right, the left, and the middle," Blitzer said. "But I really want on my show, people who are smart, and experienced, and knowledgeable, and can add to the knowledge of our viewers. When the viewers watch my show, after two hours, they'll say, 'You know, I learned something. Thank you.'"
Blitzer also says that today's fiery political climate means it's an exciting time for him as a political news reporter.