John P. Witherspoon

John P. Witherspoon entered broadcasting as a student in the period immediately following World War II. After graduating from the University of the Pacific in 1951, Witherspoon worked in commercial radio, military service and as a broadcaster and teacher at San Diego State University. He was Chairman of the Board of National Educational Radio at the time of the passage of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. He was the first Board Chairman of National Public Radio. In 1970, Witherspoon became the first Director of Television Activities for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. At the time of this interview, he was the President of the Public Service Satellite Consortium.

In this interview, Witherspoon discusses mostly activities which led to the passage of the Public Broadcasting Act, and his role in the formative days of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He talks about the people and the concepts involved as well as the future of both public radio and public television as he sees it.

People

• John Crabbe
• Richard Estell
• Al Hulsen
• John Macy

Topics

• Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)
• National Public Radio (NPR)
• Public Broadcasting Act of 1967
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
• Public Service Satellite Consortium (PSSC)

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