Remembering Mike Wallace 1918-2012

So when "60 Minutes" was born in 1968, Wallace brought with him his "Nightbeat" persona, and contributed 40 years' worth of nosiness, impertinence, and, of course, drama.

Mike loved to mix it up. With producers, editors, even his fellow correspondents.

"I mean, we were colleagues and competitors at the same time," Wallace recalled with Morley Safer. "And so, when I wanted to do a story, and you wanted to do a story, and it's the same story . . . "

"And I come into the office the next day," added Safer, "and you're out of town doing the story!"

But beneath the confident, even cocky exterior, Mike had his demons. Three times over the years, he was treated for severe depression, and revealed a few years back that he once tried to end it all with an

overdose of sleeping pills.

"Did you try to commit suicide at one point?" Safer asked.

"I've never said this before. Yeah. I tried," he replied.

There are those who think that, thanks to his wife Mary, Mike mellowed a bit in recent years. But as the specter of retirement bore down, Mike fought it with customary defiance.

When asked whether it was time for him to "pack it in" and reflect, he replied, "Reflect about what? Give me a break. Reflect. What am I going to reflect about?"

It was 65 years from Mike's first appearance on camera - a World War II film for the Navy - to his last television appearance, a "60 Minutes" interview with Roger Clemens, the baseball star trying to fight off accusations of steroid use.

65 years!

It's strange, but for such a tough guy, Mike's all-time favorite interview was the one with another legend, pianist Vladimir Horowitz. The two of them, forces of nature both: Sly, manic, egos rampant. For Mike - a red, white and blue kind of guy - Horowitz played "The Stars and Stripes Forever."

It almost brought tears to the toughest guy on television.

"It's astonishing what you learn and feel and see along the way," Wallace said. "That's why a reporter's job, as you know, is such a joy.

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[yarn101]

The orginal 60 minute man I remeber when 60 minutes begain in the year of 1968 it was also the year when the movie night of living dead was shown. Did'nt know what to make of it at first quickly latched onto the show when it was aired every Sunday night finally left the Wonderful world of Disney. "So long Mickey Mouse"! When growing up in Northern California I recall a local CBS affilate KPIX San Fransico would run the Muppuet show right before 60 minutes. Strange thing is it? But for some strange reason I would picture Mike Wallace, Morely Safer, and Dan Rather as Muppuets doing 60 minutes come to think of it I wonder what would happen if Mike Wallace would have interviewd Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, Cookie monster, Big bird, and Oscar the grouch? would they all fall under the Mike Wallace treatment?

[kaytothe2nd]

Mike Wallace, or anyone else, who cares more about getting the story than about the lives of American solders is neither a journalist nor a reporter; just a narcissistic glory seeker!

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=wallace+%27reporter+first%27+video&mid=286620158A20DC585781286620158A20DC585781&view=detail&FORM=VIRE2

[JohnHinAZ]

What I remember about Mike Wallace is an old joke: How do you know it's going to be a really bad day? When you open your front door and Mike Wallace is standing there. He was irreplaceable.

[ianhsutton]

This man, as with Murrow, Cronkite, Hewitt and the other giants of CBS News, will forever be irreplaceable. As said of Ceasar (per Shakespeare...and justifiably or not): this was a man: when comes such another.

[calchick82]

We need more journalists out there like Mike Wallace who are unafraid and will not kiss up to their interview subjects. He had balls! RIP Mike, and thank you for never conducting the standard, boring, safe interviews with people, but for CHALLENGING them.

[Saumyazone]

http://liveoncampus.com/wire/show/3364540
Here's one of Wallace's greatest conversations with the Emperor of Iran. One of his best ever.
It is indeed the passing of a journalistic generation.
A towering figure in journalism, Mike Wallace also should be remembered for courageously shining a light on the illness of depression.
RIP Mike Wallace.

[gcblues1]

not just wallace is dead. little by little the entire left wing kool aid machine masquerading as news is dying. fox is leading the way by airing all sides by reporting news instead of making news like wallace did. trevon is the latest example of bilge the people are sick of being fed. wallace, good riddance.

[tibiaornottibia]

There goes the country. When morons believe the Goebbels-esque BS Faux News and Limbaugh have been spewing out the past twenty years, it's no wonder we're on the downhill slide.

[kakienlevie]

http://bewarehalaustin.wordpress.com/about/

[greenlantern1]

Mike Wallace passed away.
Before him, Walter Cronkite passed away.
Andy Rooney passed away.
Dan Rather was fired.
Not to worry.
We still have the likes of Rush Limbaugh!

[Jphilmlee]

We still have Bill Plant

[tibiaornottibia]

Rush is in a scategory all his own.

[shadowplay13]

Rather knows more than he is telling:

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/black-box/

[Khoshteep]

Are you saying you didn't set up men kind for failure? Then why the forbidden fruit? (Mike Wallace interviewing God upon arrival to after life) Rest In Peace Mr. Wallace.