In this episode of Galesburg's Morning News, Robin Johnson, a political consultant, Monmouth College lecturer since 2000, and host of Heartland Politics on WVIK public radio, joins us to remember Joe Angotti, the veteran NBC News journalist and Monmouth College adjunct professor who passed away January 25 at age 87.
Johnson, a longtime friend and colleague of Angotti, shares personal stories of his understated humility, his refusal to boast about a career that included covering the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Tiananmen Square, and his Emmy-winning work on global hunger.
Johnson recalls how Angotti arranged a memorable phone interview with Tom Brokaw for him and how the two bonded over meals at La Tavola Italian Eatery in Burlington, Iowa. He highlights Angotti's passion for objective journalism in the classroom, using real-world examples from Vietnam and Watergate to teach students the importance of accurate reporting in democracy.
Beyond media, Johnson notes Angotti's quiet commitment to the community through co-founding Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Riding Center with his wife Karen, serving children with special needs.