Scott W. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Scott W. Johnson is an American
lawyer
, executive and a blog
ger at Power Line.
in 1973 and subsequently undertook a degree at the University of Minnesota Law School
At one stage, he was a partner of John Hinderaker
at Faegre and Benson. He is now Senior Vice President of the TCF National Bank in Minneapolis.
and a wide range of newspapers. Both Johnson and Hinderaker became involved with the Claremont Institute along with Paul Mirengoff
, who was Hinderaker's roommate at Dartmouth.
used on a 60 Minutes Wednesday
story on the George W. Bush military service controversy
.
The story quickly spread to other blogs and then to the mainstream media. After defending the veracity of the documents for two weeks, CBS reversed its position and admitted that the documents had not been properly authenticated. After an internal investigation, producer Mary Mapes
was fired by CBS, several other executives resigned and CBS apologised to viewers. In 2005, Mapes published a book Truth and Duty claiming that Karl Rove
was the mastermind behind the attacks. The CBS public eye stated in a review "there's no evidence brought forth - just assertion."
As a result of the 61st Minute Power Line became even more popular obtaining half a million hits on US Election Day in November 2004. The site was named as the first Time Blog of the Year with Lev Grossman writing in the article "Before this year, blogs were a curiosity, a cult phenomenon, a faintly embarrassing hobby on the order of ham radio and stamp collecting. But in 2004 blogs unexpectedly vaulted into the pantheon of major media, alongside TV, radio and, yes, magazines, and it was Power Line, more than any other blog, that got them there." As a result of the increased profile, Johnson was asked to appear on television political shows on networks such as CNN
.
Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2005. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, executive and a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger at Power Line.
Legal and business career
Johnson was born in Fargo, North Dakota to a Jewish family. He received a Bachelor's Degree from Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1973 and subsequently undertook a degree at the University of Minnesota Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a Juris Doctor , Masters of Law for Foreign Lawyers, and joint degrees with J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A, J.D./M.A., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D.,...
At one stage, he was a partner of John Hinderaker
John H. Hinderaker
John H. Hinderaker is a conservative American lawyer and a blogger at the Power Line weblog, as well as a fellow at the Claremont Institute. He is a 1971 graduate of Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and received a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1974...
at Faegre and Benson. He is now Senior Vice President of the TCF National Bank in Minneapolis.
Public policy
Johnson started working with Hinderaker on opinion pieces on tax, welfare reform and other public policy issues. The articles were run in conservative publications such as National ReviewNational Review
National Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
and a wide range of newspapers. Both Johnson and Hinderaker became involved with the Claremont Institute along with Paul Mirengoff
Paul Mirengoff
Paul Mirengoff is an attorney and former blogger at the Power Line weblog.Mirengoff graduated from Dartmouth College in 1971, and from Stanford Law School in 1974. He is currently practicing law in Washington D.C. as a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. For several years, he worked for...
, who was Hinderaker's roommate at Dartmouth.
Power Line
Hinderaker, Johnson and Mirengoff founded the Power Line Blog in 2002. It quickly became a popular site for conservatives as blogging became more important in politics. On September 9, 2004 Johnson posted the "61st Minute" on flaws in the Killian documentsKillian documents
The Killian documents controversy involved six documents critical of President George W. Bush's service in the Air National Guard in 1972–73...
used on a 60 Minutes Wednesday
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
story on the George W. Bush military service controversy
George W. Bush military service controversy
George W. Bush's National Guard service was an issue in the 2000 presidential campaign and in the 2004 presidential campaign. A controversy centered on questions of how George W...
.
The story quickly spread to other blogs and then to the mainstream media. After defending the veracity of the documents for two weeks, CBS reversed its position and admitted that the documents had not been properly authenticated. After an internal investigation, producer Mary Mapes
Mary Mapes
Mary Mapes is an American journalist and former television news producer. She was a Peabody Award-winning producer for the American television show 60 Minutes , from which she was fired for her part in the Killian documents scandal....
was fired by CBS, several other executives resigned and CBS apologised to viewers. In 2005, Mapes published a book Truth and Duty claiming that Karl Rove
Karl Rove
Karl Christian Rove was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush until Rove's resignation on August 31, 2007. He has headed the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives...
was the mastermind behind the attacks. The CBS public eye stated in a review "there's no evidence brought forth - just assertion."
As a result of the 61st Minute Power Line became even more popular obtaining half a million hits on US Election Day in November 2004. The site was named as the first Time Blog of the Year with Lev Grossman writing in the article "Before this year, blogs were a curiosity, a cult phenomenon, a faintly embarrassing hobby on the order of ham radio and stamp collecting. But in 2004 blogs unexpectedly vaulted into the pantheon of major media, alongside TV, radio and, yes, magazines, and it was Power Line, more than any other blog, that got them there." As a result of the increased profile, Johnson was asked to appear on television political shows on networks such as CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
.
External links
Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2005. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC