Behind the Scenes: My Exclusive Interview with Vice President Biden at the Joplin High School Dedication

After the Joplin tornado, many people visited the city, both to witness the devastation and to attend various dedications and memorials. One significant event took place on October 3, 2014, when Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited for the dedication of Joplin High School’s new building. I knew it was going to be a big day for our coverage. I was up by 3 a.m. to prepare the live truck, as we were live-streaming Biden’s speech. We had to arrive early so security could inspect our equipment and the truck.

Our team was honored with an exclusive interview with Biden. In the room, there were probably over ten people, including Secret Service agents who kept a close eye on me as I put the mic on Biden. We were given just ten minutes for the interview, but we went over time, and his press team eventually had to tell us to stop recording. A funny moment occurred when the press team stressed out over a bicycle that was visible outside the room. During the shoot, you can see a Joplin police officer moving the bike.

After the interview, both Biden and Duncan were incredibly friendly. I’ve been around many politicians, but I could tell Biden genuinely cared during our conversation. When he asked if I was from Joplin, I jokingly replied, "No sir, I’m a Jayhawk." Duncan, who played basketball at Harvard, loved that comment. Afterward, the White House press team asked for a group photo, and I was trying to stand off to the side. But Biden grabbed my shoulder, called me by name, and insisted I stand next to him. The fact that he remembered my name really meant a lot.

When I look at that photo, I can’t help but laugh because I’m wearing jeans while everyone else is dressed in suits and slacks. But considering I worked nearly 20 hours that day, running cables and handling equipment on the concrete, I think I earned a pass! This moment is one of the top ten highlights of my TV career. I have that photo displayed on my office bookshelf, and it’s definitely a conversation starter. I’ve shared this story with many colleagues and friends, and it’s something I proudly include on my resume. I’m grateful to Darren Dishman, who helped as a second camera operator that day, and I thought Dowe Quick did a fantastic job interviewing both Biden and Duncan. Dowe’s body of work and the list of stories and people he’s interviewed during his time at KOAM-TV is truly remarkable.