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Les has been covering the White House since the Nixon Administration and his pointed questions have often drawn much humor, some criticism, but also national headlines. Any White House Press Secretary can tell a story about Les Kinsolving's questions and encounters with various presidents.
And here are some reactions over the years to what WCBM's Program Director Sean Casey identified as: "Baltimore's only radio White House correspondent: Les Kinsolving".
Ron Ziegler, Press Secretary of President Richard Nixon:
(When asked by the New York Daily News about Les Kinsolving's question as to why Nixon had ended White House worship services and stopped attending church):
"A worship service may be scheduled just to keep Kinsolving off balance!"
Ron Nessen, Press Secretary of President Gerald Ford:
"Kinsolving is abrasive, but it's been my experience that he has raised serious questions before other members of the White House press corps realized their significance."
Jody Powell, Press Secretary of President Jimmy Carter:
"In South Georgia, you've got gnats. In the White House, we've got Les Kinsolving."
Larry Speakes, Press Secretary of President Ronald Reagan:
"The President once remarked: 'My finger must be crooked, every time I point at someone, Les Kinsolving starts to ask a question!'"
Marlin Fitzwater, Press Secretary of President George H.W. Bush:
"Every broadcast of his sounds like the Starr Report! I am a member of a special class: Presidential press secretaries for the last 25 years who can regale their audiences with Les Kinsolving stories. Les is an extra-hard worker who's become an almost legend in D.C. circles."
Mike McCurry, Press Secretary of President Bill Clinton:
(While he was Press Secretary of the Democratic National Committee) "Mr. Kinsolving's commentary tends to provoke the strongest reaction in these quarters. They are uniformly bizarre, wild, off-the-mark, and utterly entertaining... We would rather hear him than not hear him, even if it's only for the grand theatre of it all!"
Joe Lockhart, Press Secretary of President Bill Clinton:
"Listen Lester: You find it easy to cross the line. I'm going to let you make your statements, but I don't have to respond to them."
Ari Fleischer, Press Secretary of President George W. Bush:
"Les always brings an air of anticipation to the briefing room. You never know what question you're going to get, but you can always count on Les to push the envelope. He has a creative mind, and he's not afraid to speak out."
Tony Snow, Press Secretary of President George W. Bush:
"I think you're one of the most colorful reporters I've ever worked with... I'm always eager to find out what you're going to ask!"
Sam Donaldson, ABC:
"Sometimes you press too hard; and sometimes you press the envelope. But you often ask questions we're dying to ask!"
Matt Drudge, The Drudge Report:
"Les Kinsolving, the Baltimore radio talk show host known for being the pitbull of the White House press corps, was chastized Friday afternoon by Presidential spokesman Joe Lockhart, for bringing up the name of Juanita Broaddrick- the Arkansas woman who accused the President of a 1978 rape."
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