TEANECK, N.J.—On Sept. 17, the National Council of Jewish Women Bergen County Section (NCJW BCS) was delighted to welcome American media icon Phil Donahue as the guest speaker at their general meeting at Temple Emeth in Teaneck.
Donahue is a celebrated writer, film producer, and the creator and host of “The Phil Donahue Show.” During his illustrious broadcast career, he was awarded 20 Emmy Awards, 10 for Outstanding Talk Show Host, and 10 for “The Phil Donahue Show.” He also received the prestigious Peabody Award in 1980, and was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame. In 1996, Donahue was ranked #42 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.
His television program, later known as “Donahue,” was the first talk show format that included audience participation. The show had a 29-year run on national television in America that began in Dayton, Ohio, in 1967 and ended in New York City in 1996.
Donahue’s shows have often focused on issues that divide liberals and conservatives in the United States, such as abortion, consumer protection, civil rights and war issues.
Donahue was one of the most influential talk show hosts of all time and has been called the “King of Daytime Talk.” He has interviewed icons such as Mohammad Ali, Elizabeth Taylor, Nelson Mandela, and hundreds more.
NCJW BCS Co-Presidents Elizabeth Halverstam, Bari-Lynne Schwartz and Ruth Seitelman, and Program Chairs Fran Einiger and Marilyn Sirulnick, were delighted that Donahue agreed to be the featured speaker at their annual meeting. His history of championing women’s rights and speaking out against domestic violence made him an excellent choice.
When Donahue spoke with this journalist before the meeting, he said, “I have always believed in women being treated respectfully, especially by men, and organizations like the NCJW that advocate for women’s health and wellbeing as well as so many other important issues should be applauded.”
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.
After a brief business meeting and short video showing NCJW’s advocacy achievements, Mr. Donahue came to the podium and fascinated the record-breaking crowd of 250 people with a speech punctuated by humor and humility.
He began by recounting some of the highlights of his career. “The biggest technical problem that I sustained in all my years in TV was audio,” he said. “When we first started ‘The Phil Donahue Show,’ we were a visually boring show, just me and my guest. On the next stage, Monty Hall on ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ was giving $5,000 to a lady dressed as a chicken salad sandwich!”
Fortunately, over the years, Donahue’s guests were attention-getters, and ratings soared.
“I’ve met a lot of wonderful people—people going to jail and famous stars—and I’ve had a wonderful time doing it and learning things I never knew,” he said.
“So much has changed since those early days in Dayton, Ohio,” he recalled. “For example, on my first show in 1967, we had a real live homosexual. The building fell in, but the ratings went through the roof. It wasn’t easy, and sponsors cancelled. Mothers were afraid that their kids would catch homosexuality if they watched it on TV and some people thought I was queer, which, in those days, would have sunk my career.
“I did a lot of other shows with gay people who were really nice people and my staff stood by me. I received the first GLAD award at the Time & Life hospitality room in Midtown Manhattan, where there were only 11 people. Twenty years later, as their first recipient of their award, GLAD invited me to their 25th anniversary at a dinner at the Marquis Marriott Hotel in Manhattan,” Donahue said. “When I showed up, there wasn’t an empty table in the enormous ballroom and the walls were full of Fortune 500 logos—IBM, General Electric, General Motors, American Airlines, etc.—and the red carpet on which the celebrities arrived was the longest I had ever seen.
“In many cases, I became personally attached to some of my guests and I experienced humanity at its best, such as in the case of Ryan White, a 15-year-old teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States,” he continued. “The hysteria about AIDS was at an all-time high and he failed to be re-admitted to school following a diagnosis of AIDS. As a hemophiliac, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated factor VIII blood treatment and, when diagnosed in December 1984, was given six months to live.”
With his eyes tearing up, Donahue related, “I served as a pallbearer for Ryan White, and in the funeral procession I rode in the third car behind the hearse along with Elton John, Michael Jackson, and other celebrities. This was a story of a young man whose courage was not recognized until he was dead and I was able to be part of this story because of my show.”
Donahue concluded by reiterating, “I am a very lucky guy. I have had so many things happen to me because of my good fortune of having a television show.”
With a broad smile, he remarked, “I love being a celebrity, but it isn’t easy. At airports people still sometimes rush over and knock me down to get to my wife, Marlo Thomas. Someone once called out, ‘We like you too, Regis!’”
In another quip about his famous wife, Donahue said, “When I married Marlo, my father-in-law Danny Thomas raised his glass and said, ‘I haven’t lost a daughter—I gained a fundraiser!’”
After a Q&A session, Donahue descended from the stage amidst roaring applause and was surrounded by dozens of fans.
In addition to six general meetings with guest speakers like Phil Donahue, NCJW provides educational and stimulating programs and speakers throughout the year, as well as study groups, book groups, trips and advocacy opportunities. For more information, visit www.ncjwbcs.org or call (201) 385-4847.
NCJW has accomplished a great deal over the past year, especially in the area of advocacy in light of today’s political environment. It co-sponsored events related to gun violence, reproductive justice and sexual violence and worked hard to get out the vote in the midterm elections. The annual community-wide forum on “Reproductive Freedom at Risk” on April 16, 2019 brought a large audience.
This year, the organization awarded significant one-time grants to three of its community partners—Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, Center for Hope and Safety, and Youth Consultation Service—and contributed funds to many of its community agencies.
To mark its 95th anniversary, it awarded a $9,500 scholarship to Chani B. Getter towards tuition in a graduate program in a public policy field. College scholarships were awarded to eight young Jewish women graduating from Bergen County public high schools.
Over 125 volunteers worked with local community partners to meet the increasing needs of Bergen County’s underserved neighbors. They dedicated their time to programs for children, adults, families and seniors, and helped the hungry, homeless, and victims of domestic violence.
To support its programs, NCJW met its fundraising goals through proceeds from The Council Thrift Shop in Bergenfield, its annual “Stay-at-Home” campaign, exciting trips and fun events. Members finished the year in style at the Florentine Gardens in River Vale, where they honored New Jersey State Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal with the Hannah G. Solomon Award and past president Gladys Laden as Woman of the Section.
