This year’s Wonk of the Year is the one and only Anderson Cooper. Everyone on campus is trying to get a ticket to this event. Why? What other handsome man can talk about his experience in post-earthquake Haiti and then complain about Teresa from “Real Housewives of New Jersey?” No one, because Anderson Cooper is one-of-a-kind. To get you even more excited about his arrival on October 19th, here are a few facts that not many know about him.
1. He’s a Vanderbilt
Anderson Cooper is the son of writer,Wyatt Emory Cooper, and Gloria Vanderbilt. 89-year-old Vanderbilt is an artist, fashion designer, author, heiress, socialite, and oh yeah-best friend Truman Capote based some of Holly Golightly’s character off her.
2. He was an intern for the CIA-Twice
After his sophomore and junior year at Yale University (oh yeah, he’s an ivy leaguer too), Cooper interned at the Central Intelligence Agency as a summer intern in Langley, Virginia. He first saw a flyer in his college career counseling office and then decided to apply for the job. After those two summers he realized he wanted to pursue a career in journalism instead.
3. He was in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying… Kind of
Cooper narrates the musical revival that Daniel Radcliffe opened in 2011. This is an honor not many would know because in the original 1995 show, How to Succeed had Walter Cronkite as the narrator. He was former host of The Mole as well. Go Andy!
4. He was a Model
Not surprised, right? At age 10, Cooper was a model for Ford Model where he posed for Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Macy’s. He made $75 an hour to model “big boys’ spring jackets” and other spreads.
5. He’s the ultimate badass
While working as a fact-checker for a small channel, Channel One, Cooper forged a press pass. He used that pass to get into Myanmar where he talked to students fighting the Burmese government. After his risky trip, he sold those segments to Channel One.
Have any other suprising facts about Anderson Cooper we didn’t include? Comment below or tweet at us! And be sure to see him on campus, October 19th at 8:15pm in Bender Arena, presented by the Kennedy Political Union.
(Photo Credit: Tumblr.com, Snakkle.com, Micahjesse.com)