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	Rod Grams United States Senator

Thinking back on my times at the TV station, it was KTCM-TV at the time. I had business cards that had the Capitol Dome, etc.

I was the only person in the news room. I was news director, sports director, weatherman, reporter, photographer, etc. Most days, I would begin by making the normal news rounds, to the Sheriff’s office, police, city and county offices, and or meetings. That would begin about 8am, and then would work through the 6pm and 10pm newscasts and lock up and leave about 11pm.

I remember trying to film just generic shots of areas of town to run with stories and had the filmed developed by the lady that did all the spots and developing of the film, etc.

My favorite story of being in Helena at KTCM-TV, was that during the newscasts, I would be the only person in the studio, and there were two in control, one doing the switching and the other loading tapes and commercials. I would focus the camera on my news desk, then sit down and do the news. I would then say, I’ll be back

with weather after this. During the break I would move the camera and focus on the weather map and when we came back I would do the weather and forecasts and then say I’ll be back with sports after this. During the break, move camera back to news desk, refocus, pull out the news flat and replace it with the sports flat and then do the sports, close out the news cast and say good night. Whew.

Over the two years I was in Helena, we did hire someone to do weather, a teacher from one of the high schools, and I thought he did a great job, and someone on sports, so we did become a much better news cast and did a much better job with production. I also remember this was a time of questions dealing with illegal campaign contributions to the Nixon for President campaign and involved former Gov. Tim Babcock who was at the time also the owner of the TV station. He would be in nearly every day in his

office at the station and I remember several times he would come into my office in the news room and ask to see the story I was going to run during the news that night. He would stand and read it and then set the copy back on my desk and walk out. He never told me what I could or could not air, etc. I had a lot of respect for him because of that.

I also remember the Gov. at the time, Tom Judge and Lt. Gov. Christianson, who was I believe the owner of some car

dealerships, Ford I believe. I had him on several times on certain programs, or interviewed him at the capitol, and I remember him say,…’ I sure wish I got as much air time as you do.’ I was in my early 20’s, and I felt it was a great opportunity for me, to learn and experience a lot of things that would be a great benefit to me through out my life. Especially some of the great friends I had and still do, namely Bud and Mary Helen Iwen. And Joe and Jewel Hurley.

I wish you all the best of luck and success in the years

ahead.

Sincerely;

Senator Rod Grams

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