Herring: Lufkin should be proud of Charlie Wilson

Charlie Wilson's covert-operation partner and former on-again, off-again love interest says Wilson's reputation as a party-er is undeserved and he "did a brilliant job in Washington."

Andy Adams/The Lufkin Daily News (enlarge photo) Joanne Herring at the world premiere of 'Charlie Wilson's War,' held last Monday night at CityWalk Cinemas in Universal City, Calif.

Joanne Herring is a former talk show host, current Houston socialite and ex-fiancee of former East Texas congressman Charlie Wilson. They are the subjects of the new major motion picture "Charlie Wilson's War."

Herring held a special interest in the Afghan freedom fighters in their war against Soviet Russia. Herring convinced Wilson to use his congressional power to oversee a covert war.

She said the people of Lufkin have a "right to be proud" of Wilson and his wife, Barbara.

"I always thought of Charlie as a great patriot," Herring said in a voice-mail message. "I never saw Charlie drunk but once. I never saw him with drugs. I was sorry that this was said about him because I thought there was very definitely a very serious side to Charlie and people made too much of the side that liked to have fun.

"After all he was an Annapolis graduate," Herring continued. "He was a very intensely interesting and intelligent man."

Herring said she and her late husband, Bob Herring, were friends of Wilson for many years. After Bob Herring died, she and Wilson dated and later were engaged to be married.

"There was a romance but I think more than anything Charlie and I were in love with the war," Herring said. "Of course his wife, Barbara, is the love of his life and I was just one of those interesting moments. But I always admired Charlie for his intellect and I felt like he did a great job for his country and that's why I went to him. I saw the need to find the leader to help us develop this aid for the Afghans because we needed to work together as a country and we needed to defeat the Soviet Union."

"Charlie Wilson's War" received a good review from Herring after she viewed it at the Los Angeles premiere.

"I thought the movie was great," Herring said.

"Charlie looked wonderful. Everyone commented on how healthy and strong he looked. We're so happy to see him doing so well. Barbara was gorgeous and everybody commented on how she was and how happy they seemed to be.

"Everyone seemed so thrilled with the movie," Herring continued, "and I think it will be a highly sophisticated movie that will appeal to people who think as well as people who like to laugh because it has some very humorous moments in it. It was well-written and well-directed."

Tom Hanks plays the part of Wilson while Julia Roberts plays the part of Herring. The film opens Dec. 21 and is rated R. It's been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards.

"I think Tom Hanks did a brilliant job of playing Charlie and of course I couldn't be more thrilled that Julia Roberts is playing me. It's a great compliment to us both," Herring said.