Notable Personalities

Background

The following is a partial listing of famous persons who Firpo has crossed paths with. Regarding radio interviews and television appearances, he was invited to be a guest in every case, never having solicited to be interviewed.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton accepts Germany's Black Holocaust: 1890-1945 from Firpo Carr after which a lively discussion between the two ensued. Famed photographer Howard Bingham captured the moment on film as Clinton and Carr discussed the book at the President's own signing of his book, My Life. Bingham has been Muhammad Ali's personal photographer for decades, and was the executive producer of the feature film, Ali, the movie that chronicled the life and times of Muhammad Ali, starring famed actor Will Smith and wife Jada. ~~ On both ends of the sociopolitical spectrum Carr's works have been widely accepted and admired. Legacy, "Africa's leading magazine on social issues," the original Black Panther Party, the New Black Panther Party, and many others have recognized and published Carr. And while visiting Cuba the Cuban government, with the blessings of Fidel Castro himself, aired Carr's 45-minute lecture nationwide on racism in the dictionary and in American culture. ~~ White House spokesman and former Fox News commentator Tony Snow (now deceased) did a feature on Firpo Carr in his capacity as Jackson Family spokesman (complete with video of Carr at a news conference), but elected not to debate Carr one-on-one. Snow later took the job at the White House. Snow was substituting for Bill O'Reilly of the "No Spin Zone" at the time. Previously on "The O'Reilly Factor," O'Reilly, too, referenced Carr, but declined to debate him. ~~ Firpo Carr and celebrity attorney Gloria Allred squared off numerous times during the trial of Michael Jackson, but later came to have a professional respect for each other. ~~ During the trial, Firpo also debated Allred's daughter, attorney Lisa Bloom (a former national debating champion and CourtTV specialist, now CNN and cable news legal analyst), as well as a host of current and former city, county, and district attorneys. Coincidentally, shortly after the Simpson trial he also appeared before Simpson Judge Lance Ito, testifying as a crime specialist for the LAPD, which was his employer at the time. He also took on defense attorneys and current and former federal prosecutors during the Jackson trial. (In connection with the O.J. Simpson trial retired Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti, who prosecuted Simpson, appeared in the Clear Channel radio studio to do The Dr. Firpo Carr Show. Later his son Eric Garcetti, who served as the Los Angeles City Council President, and who is now mayor of Los Angeles, also was a telephone guest on the show. ~~ Firpo also appeared as a guest panelist opposite famed O.J. Simpson attorney Robert Shapiro, who felt Michael Jackson would be found guilty on at least some of the charges leveled against him. And in what was nearly a heated exchange on the FOX network, Firpo Carr and former Los Angeles Police Department Detective Mark Furhman faced off. ~~ Firpo worked under Los Angeles Police Department Chief of Police Bernard C. Parks, Sr., the Department's first African American chief, when employed by the LAPD. Parks later became a Los Angeles City Councilmember. ~~ While the Jackson trial was in full swing, former heavyweight champion of the world and knockout artist Mike Tyson approached Firpo at a media event held in West Hollywood and said: "Sir, it's an honor to meet you. Man, they [the media] be tryin' to get you. They throw their best people at you, but you knock 'em out intellectually like I do physically. I honor you sir, I bow to you sir." Tyson's wife Lakiha, who was with him at the time, offered the following to Firpo: "Please excuse him if he seems a little too forward. He's really impressed with you. He talks about you all the time!" ~~ In January 2006, the eldest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, four children, Yolanda King, invited Firpo to team with her in fulfilling her father's dream. She appeared on his radio show, The Dr. Firpo Carr Show. Firpo was then asked to moderate a panel at a King event. One of the notables at that event was actor LeVar Burton of Roots and Star Trek: The Next Generation fame. Firpo was also featured more than once on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! as he and Jimmy Kimmel feuded publicly on national television during the trial of Michael Jackson. Jimmy made fun of Firpo on ABC while Firpo, when appearing on other networks, criticized Jimmy. It has been described as a 'running gun battle' between the two. Firpo was declared the victor when Michael was found not guilty on all ten counts. Former California assemblyman and state senator Tom Hayden praised Firpo for his work and book, Germany's Black Holocaust: 1890-1945. ~~ And Charles Gibson of ABC's World News Tonight and Good Morning America fame twice interviewed Firpo during the trial of Michael Jackson. ~~ Geraldo Rivera also interviewed Firpo several times during the trial, as well as shortly after Michael's death. ~~ He also battled wits on the Nancy Grace show on more than one occasion. ~~ His appearance numerous times on Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell often got testy, as was the case when he appeared on the Joy Behar (of ABC's The View fame) show. ~~ Lester Holt and Campbell Brown of NBC's Today, Weekend Edition, interviewed Firpo. ~~ Greta Van Susteren questioned Firpo for the Fox News show On the Record. ~~ Dan Abrams of MSNBC, had Firpo on The Abrams Report several times. ~~ Firpo also made a special appearance on a special edition of ABC's 20/20, which show included Barbara Walters.