Geraldo Rivera Quotes

Powerful Geraldo Rivera for Daily Growth

About Geraldo Rivera

Geraldo Rivera, born on July 4, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, is an American journalist, attorney, and author who has made significant contributions to broadcast journalism throughout his illustrious career spanning over five decades. His parentage combines Puerto Rican, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Norwegian roots, reflecting the multicultural tapestry of America. Rivera graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1970 while simultaneously pursuing a career in journalism. In the early 1970s, he joined WABC-TV as a reporter, eventually becoming one of the station's most prominent anchors. His breakthrough moment came in 1974 when he led an on-air investigation into the death of President John F. Kennedy, uncovering evidence that was previously concealed from the public. In 1986, Rivera moved to Chicago and took over NBC's nightly news program, becoming one of the youngest network anchors in television history. He returned to New York in 1987 to host a talk show on WABC-AM, which he continued until 2013. Rivera is perhaps best known for his iconic live broadcast from Al Capone's vault beneath Chicago's Atlantic Gulf Storage warehouse in 1986, a stunt that set new standards for live television events. In 2001, he anchored the historic coverage of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, earning widespread acclaim for his reporting. As an author, Rivera has penned numerous books, including "The Geraldo Rivera Show Book: The First Year" (1987), "Excuse Me, Mayor, How Do I Get to Saddam?" (2003), and "The Great American Heroes" (2015). His work has been marked by a unique blend of investigative journalism, social commentary, and entertainment. Today, Rivera continues to be a prominent figure in media as a Fox News correspondent and a regular guest on numerous television shows. His life and career encapsulate the spirit of American journalism, marked by resilience, curiosity, and an unwavering pursuit of truth.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm a straight shooter, I call it as I see it."

Geraldo Rivera's quote suggests that he is straightforward, honest, and impartial in his communication or actions. He makes judgments based on his own observations without any attempt to mislead or deceive. In simpler terms, it means he speaks truthfully and openly about things as they appear to him.


"Fear is not just the beginning of hate; it is the source of all conflict in the world."

Geraldo Rivera's quote suggests that fear lies at the root of most conflicts in the world, and this fear often evolves into hatred. Fear can cause individuals or groups to perceive differences as threats rather than opportunities for understanding and cooperation. This perception fosters intolerance, prejudice, and ultimately, hate. The key is recognizing fear's influence on our actions and making a conscious effort to address it with empathy, open-mindedness, and compassion. Only then can we foster peace, tolerance, and unity in the world.


"The worst thing you can do to a man is to let him feel he's worthless and can't do anything right."

This quote highlights the profound impact that feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy can have on an individual. When someone feels they are incapable or unworthy, it can lead to a sense of despair and lack of motivation. Such sentiments can hinder personal growth, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. Empowering people by showing them their value and helping them believe in their abilities is essential for fostering resilience, promoting positive change, and encouraging personal success.


"The truth is the first casualty when one side is lying and the other is telling it like it is."

This quote by Geraldo Rivera emphasizes that in a conflict where one party is dishonest while the other is truthful, it's the truth that often suffers first. It suggests that when distortion or deception is intentionally employed to advance an argument, the essence of factuality and honesty can be obscured, making it challenging for the truth to prevail. This statement serves as a reminder of the need for integrity and transparency in communication and discourse.


"I don't have heroes, I have people who did things that were heroic."

Geraldo Rivera's quote signifies a distinction between individuals and their actions. He does not idolize or deify people as heroes in the traditional sense, but rather recognizes and appreciates instances of heroism, regardless of who performed them. This perspective encourages an emphasis on actions and values over personalities, promoting a focus on inspiring deeds instead of individual greatness.


Mother Nature may be forgiving this year, or next year, but eventually she's going to come around and whack you. You've got to be prepared.

- Geraldo Rivera

Nature, Next, May, Whack

The elite media has been caught in so many lies because of false statements that its whole reputation has eroded, their circulation is down, and their profits are down.

- Geraldo Rivera

Caught, Been, Profits, Eroded

Rich people who own mansions on the beach shouldn't get federal subsidies. If you want to stay there, take the risk.

- Geraldo Rivera

Want, Own, Rich People, Subsidies

To see those babies with no food for three of four days, old people sitting in the hot sun, when you see these poor people, you cannot help but being compassionate or affected.

- Geraldo Rivera

Old, Poor People, Babies, Old People

There's no way New Orleans will ever be the city it was. I think it will have half the population. They may create a sort of Disneyland at the French Quarter for tourists. The rest I don't know.

- Geraldo Rivera

Rest, Think, New, Orleans

The courage in journalism is sticking up for the unpopular, not the popular.

- Geraldo Rivera

Popular, Up, Unpopular, Journalism

One thing about these storms, we know how disruptive things can be when we depend on the system to keep working. What would happen if the terrorists do it? Knock down the power, destroy bridges, cut the water supply?

- Geraldo Rivera

Depend, Knock, Cut, Storms

With years of experience doing whatever it takes to get to the bottom of each story, I am looking forward to covering the stories in the human dimension and impart the passion and visceral reactions the audience seeks.

- Geraldo Rivera

Doing, Visceral, Covering, Reactions

Never take a job where winter winds can blow up your pants.

- Geraldo Rivera

Never, Pants, Take, Blow

It's a great pleasure having survived six generations of TV critics.

- Geraldo Rivera

Critics, TV, Having, Great Pleasure

The real Michael Jackson that has not been seen... with children, one in diapers, the other two toddlers.

- Geraldo Rivera

Been, Michael, Toddlers, None

Saturday Night Live is hitting me on a regular basis again. This is my fourth decade that I've been lampooned on Saturday Night Live.

- Geraldo Rivera

Decade, Saturday, Been, Regular

This is the year of Katrina and Iraq. How the war ends is more important than how it began. However you feel about the war, you have to be compassionate and loving towards our troops.

- Geraldo Rivera

Year, However, Began, Compassionate

I'd work to make it hip again to spend time in our fabled and fabulous land. But with a Puerto Rican father and a Jewish mother, I would probably be better suited as mayor of New York.

- Geraldo Rivera

Father, Jewish, Puerto Rican, Suited

Reject racial or religious hate. Embrace moderate Islam.

- Geraldo Rivera

Embrace, Islam, Religious, Moderate

I'd like to give divorce a good name.

- Geraldo Rivera

Name, Give, Like, Divorce

Give Hamas 90 days to pick a lane, then react.

- Geraldo Rivera

Give, Pick, Hamas, Lane

Perhaps areas of Israel where current large Palestinian populations and demographic realities exist could be exchanged for Israeli expansion into the West Bank to include most of East Jerusalem.

- Geraldo Rivera

Could, Include, Large, West Bank

I think of myself as Special Forces, clearing the path for the infantry.

- Geraldo Rivera

Path, Think, Special, Infantry

I've made a connection with the television audience by being a proud Latino man. I am passionate for what I do, courageous in the face of peril, honest and straightforward.

- Geraldo Rivera

Audience, Straightforward, Peril

Extol Jewish virtue, modern Zionism and the Israeli Defense Forces.

- Geraldo Rivera

Modern, Defense, Zionism, Forces

I am enduring. You can disagree with me.

- Geraldo Rivera

I Am, Me, Disagree, Enduring

When a Spanish man cries it's not a sign of weakness.

- Geraldo Rivera

Weakness, Sign, Spanish, Cries

Your performance gets you promoted. It doesn't matter if you're brown, back or white.

- Geraldo Rivera

Performance, White, Back, Promoted

The biggest stories in 2005 were the national disasters.

- Geraldo Rivera

Stories, Biggest, Were, Disasters

I'm old, but I'm still cute and strong. And very butch.

- Geraldo Rivera

Strong, Very, Still, Butch

Jackson and I spent the day together, just me and him and his children. Little underlings came and went. The PR person came and went. It was just Michael and me and the kids. And it was very interesting.

- Geraldo Rivera

Interesting, Very, Spent, Jackson

I'm in my 10th generation of TV critic now.

- Geraldo Rivera

Generation, Now, TV, Critic

I speak Spanish to my children and they speak it better than me.

- Geraldo Rivera

Children, Better, Than, Spanish

I'm tired of getting made fun of.

- Geraldo Rivera

Fun, Made, Getting, Tired

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.