You seem to be asking two separate questions, but I wil ltry to answer.
I recently have become a big fan of Katie Couric. I respect her as a person, as a mother (although it is bard to know really how someone parents) and most of all as someone who has incredible compassion, willing to expose her difficulties, and I think in a time when race relations is in the news a lot, she has demonstrated on her show to be blind to race and ethnicity and truly taken people as individuals and on their own merits. Not just race, but people who might be judged by many she seems to have empathy for. I feel like she understands and generally wants to know how different life is for people in various parts of the country. I often criticize people of not being able to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, not bothering to even try, and she for me does it every day. It makes me feel good that she is an example of that out in the media.
Danny Thomas did an amazing thing starting St. Jude’s Childrens research and hospital. It has to be one of the most amazing medical places on earth. His dream to help children who are gravely ill by having free access to the finest and most innovative health care is truly inspired and has changed many lives. Very important research comes out of that hospital that not only helps children, but adults also. His daughter Marlo Thomas continues his dream.
Marlo’s husband Phil Donahue I think is amazing. He brought issues and awareness forward to the American public, risking personal criticism back in a time when no one else was taking somen of the risks he did. His show changed America I believe. Sure some of it was just his producers deciding what would be discussed, but I think he has proven to be personally concerned with current events also. Especially coming to the support of women’s issues consistently