Fox journalist’s greatest challenge was son’s medical ordeal
PA L M B E AC H — E v e r y o n e a t Wednesday’s YMCA of the Palm Beaches annual prayer breakfast wanted to hear what Fox News Channel’s chief political anchor, Bret Baier, thought of the guy who has digs down the road; the one who will be sworn in next month as president.
The anchor did talk a little about part-time Palm Beacher Donald Trump’s election night victory. But in his address to about 450 people at The Breakers, Baier mostly discussed an outcome on which everyone could agree.
Baier’s son, Paul, was born with heart defects that already in his 9½ years have led to three heart surgeries and a series of other procedures. What Baier calls “remarkable medical advances” have helped Paul lead a healthy life.
Baier turned his experience into a bestselling book, “Special Heart: One Family’s Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage and Love.” He said all proceeds from the book — and from talks such as Wednesday’s — go to nonprofit pediatric heart causes.
The 46-year-old journalist has anchored Fox News Channel’s 6 p.m. report for eight years.
Election night was surreal, he said.
“We had a meeting at 5 (p.m.) with the exit polls. We were determined that we were calling that election at 11 p.m. for Hillary Clinton. In fact, we thought it might be earlier,” Baier said. Around 8:30 that night, he told Wednesday morning’s crowd, “the whole dynamic changed.”
As he recalled Fox eventually announcing Trump would be the next president, many in the audience Wednesday applauded.
“That’s not something anybody expected,” Baier said. “Ever.”
He then told the story of Paul, oldest of his two sons; Daniel is 6.
The day Paul was born, he said, “I’m thinking Masters champion;