Geraldo Rivera Recalls Capone Vault, Says He'd Vote for FOX Colleague

By Nicki Gostin Posted Sep 7th 2010 08:32PM

Here's something guaranteed to make many readers feel really old. Geraldo Rivera, 67, is in the thick of celebrating his 40th year in the news and entertainment business. The opinionated (and perennially mustachioed) TV host spoke to PopEater about his favorite guest ever, the contradiction of being an "Obama Republican" at FOX News, and a little disaster known as the Al Capone vault.

Was the Al Capone vault episode in 1986 your most embarrassing moment?
Yes it was. Reviewing all the old footage in preparation for the 40th anniversary shows brought back so many memories -- good and not so good, like Capone's empty vault. In the last scene of history's highest rated and most personally embarrassing syndicated show, I walk off after finding not bodies or machine guns or criminal contraband, but only an empty bottle of 1920's-era Gilbey's Gin and an antique stop sign.

How did you take it, when it became clear nothing was there?
What the camera doesn't show is me walking straight across the street from the old Lexington Hotel to a catfish restaurant with a tequila bar and I proceeded to get totally wasted. Back in my hotel, I refused all calls and visitors. The first one in the room the next morning was the man pushing the antique room service cart. Reminiscent of the railroad porters of old, he extended his hand holding a fistful of messages for me. While I may have been previously unemployable, the batch of messages I took from him contained 22 job offers including the one I ultimately accepted, my own talk show. "See," I remember him saying to me. "I knew they weren't going to blame the messenger for the bad news."

I'm sorry, but I still find it fascinating that you are at FOX. Do you get along with Mike Huckabee?
He's a great guy. Obviously I don't agree with him on a lot of issues -- abortion and immigration foremost -- but he's a wonderful guy. I would vote for him.

How could you vote for him if you disagree on key issues?
Because sometimes honor is more important and he is a very honorable guy. I consider myself an Obama Republican. I'm liberal to moderate on most issues.

Who has been your favorite guest?
My wife would say Barbra Streisand. My wife is Jewish and she's of the school that Barbra Streisand is part of the divine constellation but right now General John F. Campbell, the commanding officer of the 101st Airborne who has become quite a regular on the show. I met him when he was only a lieutenant colonel in Afghanistan and the war was in its infancy. I call him America's Spartan, our best fighting general ever. My role now is to make sure the U.S. doesn't forget all the good news that's coming out of an admittingly difficult situation and it's just like the surge time; my job is to keep Americans engaged, including our President, until we can make a difference.

So you think we should stay?
It will be like Korea, Germany and Japan. We will never, ever leave for very good strategic reasons. I think we will always have a presence there as I think we should because the alternative to yield what was so costly to obtain is to lose its sphere of influence there to people who don't have America's best interests at heart. We will be there in 100 years. Afghanistan will be very similar.

Should we?
Yes, South Asia is a critical place in the geo-political reality of life. Our interests are vital in continuing to make sure that the most radical aspects of that society don't attack us again. What is relevant is that going forward we have to be the most important strategic component for the maintenance of world peace. We can't trust the U.N; it's totally ineffectual and watered down. The fact that that U.S. has the same voting rights as some of the Pacific Island nations with a 100,000 residents is absurd.

What do you think of the Tea Party movement?
I think they are the most potent political force in the country today. It's totally sapped the energy of the political dialogue in that the liberals have nothing to say except whine and complain and I think it bodes very ill for the mid-term elections for the democrats. I think they're going to get routed. If the other side, the so called left doesn't have a more articulate message then people are going to walk.

And on a lighter note: you were quite the ladies man back in the day. Want to give me a ball park figure?
No I can't! The worst mistake I made when I wrote my book was naming names and it continues to haunt me but I've been married five times and you've never heard a bad word about me from any of my ex-wives.

Tags: Geraldo Rivera

Comments

(121)

Wednesday 08 September

By Laughing Lady

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I remember the night Geraldo did the show about Al Capone's secret vault. I was disappointed. I used to enjoy his talk shows. Those were the days, when stories of real life oddballs kept us entertained.

By markoxp

Geraldo seems like a good guy,but gravely misguided like most libs.I didn't see a lot of credibility there as a journalist and now since he supports President Pinnochio, Geraldo has no credibility with me.

By smastro1

His Al Capone caper wasn't his only screw up,If I remember correctly right after the war with Iraq started Geraldo got into details so greatly that he was televising what he thought our troops next move would be,which means he was telling the enemy what we were up to.The military had to tell him to knock it off.To those of you who don't remember Geraldo was drawing a map in the dirt on national television.

By Murl Ming

Rivera is a vainglorious and opinionated piece of crap who will do anything to get attention. Being an educated lawyer notwithstanding.

By Jim

He was carnival act like Obama, Pelosi and Reid are today ..totally ignorant of the facts..Kimda like the liberal he is..lol

By bill mc grath

This mental (and physical) midget, known as the 44 IQ reporter in NYC, tried to make phony news his entire career. Is, was, and will be an insult to professional news people!

Thursday 09 September

By Steve

Long story short - I was a teacher of the handicapped for 20 yrs. I got my start, however, working as a volunteer aide for the mentally retarded while visiting the Willowbrook State School with Geraldo in 1972. So,I want to express my gratitude to him since he was instrumental in helping me choose my vocation and I have no regrets in doing so. I had to resign in 1998,however,since I had surgery that put ME on disability. The "lesson" : always explore avenues that help you narrow down your vocational choices 'cause you're "married" to that vocation for the rest of whatever.

By smyrtle5902

He is most definitely not a reporter. He is an entertainer.

By Clint Eastwood

Geeezzzzzzzzzzzzz...I remember that "Geraldo" dude,back in "94" when "OJ" murder his wife (I forgot her name) I was watching the news and in the news they have the wife (Nicole ??)sister holding hands with "Geraldo" in the "consoling way"...consoling way ??...that's bullsh*t...Geraldo's (sp*c/j*w) mind in getting the sister between legs...

Great.... the video stops when they start to open the vault.

By Tippi Watson

Geraldo started out as an excellent reporter. His first major story was on Willow Brook. He exposed the horrible conditions that Developmentally Disabled people were force to live in at these large institutions. This expose started the de-institutionalization movement, and brought humanity back to thousands of people who were being denied human dignity right here in the USA.

By desperadoooo

His brain is like the vault....empty.

By Arthur ,liquid m

hes ann coulter best friend that says it all...he is a con artist has no soul..sold himself to fox news he couldnt find work, has five kids..needed a job so he sold out to fox hate news...good luck charlie""

By arvie1959

AGAIN,I REMIND YOU HE CUT HIS TEETH ON WILLOWBROOK WHAT HE DIDN'T EXPOSE WAS THE UTTER DISDAIN & LACK OF FUNDS TO MANAGE THIS INSTITUTION I WOULD LIKE TO SEA HIM WORK FOR 8-10 HOURS WITH THE SEVERLY MENTALLLY HANDICAPPED HAVE YOU BEEN THERE?HAVE YOU SEEN THEM? DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS ENTAILED IN THEIR CARE?? I APPLAUD THE AIDES WHO CARE FOR tHESE PATIENTS THEY R TO BE REWARDED & VALUED VISIT YOUR STATE SCHOOLS/HOSPITALS!! TELLING ONE SIDE DID A GRAVE DISSERVICE TO tHE RETARDED IN GENERAL SENSATIONALISM DOESN'T SOVE PROBLEMS!!!

By nick

Geraldo and Larry King would make great lovers, two of the biggest slime bags on TV. Geraldo would make a good Monica for Obama.

By rocco

AFLAK

By PJ

I thought Geraldo was in his 70s. He sure looks like it. What a fool he has been.

Hear he sleeps with a rubber doll looking like Obama and Bill Clinton, what a dush bag this sucker is.

When Geraldo is around Ms. Huffington he has his knee pads on and always carrys a hanky to clean his mouth, the guy sucks to high heaven, just another dush bag like Jerry Springer.

By kalola912

TWO words liberal, progressives say to those who disagree with them ignorance and must not leave out RACIST LMAO!!!! they are SO sophisticated, bright and well spoken. ROFLMAO!!!!

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