we decided it must go to abc radio's vic ratner. to present this award, ann comp ton.plause] beneath the-- the capitol dome, there are national treasures, and for 40 years one of those has been your colleague, of abc news. you know him as a classic example to dedication of fairness. he has an uncommon ability to extend kindness and generosity. he is tireless. cokie roberts, one of his greatest fans tells me when she had keys to the radio tv gallery he was already there on the , air. it was vic who invited -- this is vick ratner. ♪ >> coming to washington in 1973. >> there was a time when watergate was a place to live and work. >> i was sent to cover the trial of guys who were caught breaking into the watergate building. a month later, one of the conspirators started talking about coverups and pay ups. i had an incredible time covering the news. family members say carter broke a promise. clinton and his family will be on vacation in south carolina. the opportunity to see how americans are affected by what we do. >> nancy pelosi is the first woman elected to the speakers

>> please welcome, a lifetime achievement, vic ratner. [applause] >> thank you. thank you. am overwhelmed. i am blown away. my heart is very full. you and members of the board, to my colleagues at abc news, and my colleagues i have worked with and learn so much from covering washington, thank you very much. the former senate majority leader howard baker wants likened to running the senate as herding cats. his line was under will encourage anarchy, after what has happened the last week or so, for the new folks in the room, talk about news. what a time to be here. thank you very much. [applause] >> our final award of tonight is one of the most prestigious for political and congressional reporting in the country. the joan s. barone award. [applause]esent >> thank you, lisa. you look at your program and you see this name. you don't know her. you don't know much about her. unless you are a certain age. you say, why do i care? here is why. this is a woman who at a time when women had a hard time breaking the glass ceiling in the news business, went from researcher doing watergate