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Dennis Swanson

Jan 19, 2004  •  Post A Comment

Executive VP and chief operating officer, Viacom Station Group
“I was having lunch with Roger King and another guy at Gallagher’s in New York. This was not long after I’d moved to being head of the ABC stations. Now, a year or so earlier I had introduced Roger to Oprah Winfrey, but here’s Roger telling the Oprah story in a way I don’t like. I’m exasperated, and even before lunch is served I walk out. Roger and I had a deal to do, but I’m heading up Broadway to my office and there’s a jackhammer going full blast. Over the din I hear Roger’s voice. He’s across the street and with the jackhammer blasting he’s screaming terms for our deal. Screaming louder than the noise on the busiest street in the city. I scream back. This goes on for blocks. It took another week before it thawed out between us and we made the deal, but that’s Roger. He can be a tough dude in a deal, but he’s a great dude.”