Don Hewitt: His Life and Career

A look at the life and career of the pioneering television journalist best known as the creator of "60 Minutes."

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Don Hewitt is born in New York City.

Hewitt begins his journalism career as head copyboy for the New York Herald Tribune, after attending New York University for one year.

Joins Merchant Marines.

Works for Stars and Stripes and becomes youngest war correspondent assigned to Eisenhower's Headquarters. Covers European and then Pacific theaters.

Becomes night editor for the Associated Press in Memphis. Returns to New York to be editor of the Pelham Sun and then photo editor for ACME News Pictures (then-photo division of UPI).

Well into a successful print journalism career, Hewitt joins CBS News to bring his craft to the new medium of television. He starts as associate director of "Douglas Edwards with the News," then serves as producer-director of the broadcast for 14 years.

Covers first political convention - the first to be televised - and becomes pioneer in methods of covering conventions, remaining a key player in CBS News coverage of all conventions and elections through 1980.

"See It Now," CBS' first news documentary series, debuts with Edward R. Murrow as host and Hewitt in the director's chair. The program becomes the first live coast-to-coast commercial television broadcast and runs through July 7, 1958.

His use of two film projectors cutting back and forth breaks up monotony of talking head, improves editing and shapes future of news broadcasts.

Uses "lower third" of television screen for the display of graphic information that becomes known as "supers."

Directs-produces coverage of political conventions and helps shape Walter Cronkite's news role as "anchor."

Directs-produces coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.

Flying over the Atlantic, gets the only footage of the sinking Andrea Doria as it disappears into the sea.

Hewitt produces the Kennedy/Nixon presidential debate, at which both men turn down his offer of TV makeup, to the lasting regret of the ashen, sweating Nixon. The broadcast has an impact far beyond helping Kennedy to victory: It proves the power of television over the electoral process.

Directs the history-making "A Conversation with the President" with John F. Kennedy, which airs on three networks.

The "CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite" expands from 15 minutes to 30, Monday through Friday. Hewitt is the executive producer.

Becomes head of CBS News documentary unit and directs-produces first in-depth news special on Frank Sinatra.

"CBS Reports: Hunger in America" explores the shortcomings of government food programs; Hewitt serves as executive producer. So great is the program's impact that more than $200 million in additional funds are voted for food programs, and a U.S. Senate inquiry begins.

"60 Minutes," Hewitt's idea for a TV version of Life magazine's weekly words-and-photos recipe, debuts as a biweekly program on Tuesday evenings.

Pits journalist Nicholas von Hoffman against columnist and grammarian James J. Kilpatrick in first "Point-Counterpoint" segment.

Now settled into its Sunday-at-7 timeslot, "60 Minutes" becomes a Top 20 prime-time series. A year later, it cracks the Top 10, and stays there for the next 13 seasons.

Gives Andy Rooney a "Few Minutes" during summer broadcasts - the segment becomes part of the program, alternating with "Point-Counterpoint."

Hewitt is named Broadcaster of the Year by the International Radio and Television Society.

Hewitt publishes "Minute By Minute," his autobiographical book about television news and his creation of "60 Minutes."

Elected to the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Elected to the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Hewitt is awarded the Founders Emmy by the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He has won a total of eight Emmys for his work with CBS News.

Video shot by Dr. Jack Kevorkian showing him lethally injecting a terminally ill man is broadcast on "60 Minutes." The controversial tape leads to Kevorkian's conviction for second degree murder.

The Committee to Protect Journalists honors Hewitt with the Burton Benjamin Memorial Award for "a lifetime of distinguished achievement in the cause of press freedom."

Hewitt chronicles his life as a newsman in his second book "Tell Me a Story: Fifty Years and 60 Minutes in Television."

CBS announces that Hewitt will relinquish his "60 Minutes" executive producer post in June 2004. Under the terms of a new multi-year agreement, Hewitt will assume new editorial responsibilities as executive producer for CBS News.

Executive produces the first-ever network television special coverage of Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Show - on NBC.

Hewitt is honored with Washington State University's Edward R. Murrow Award for Lifetime Achievement in Broadcast Journalism.

Hewitt is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Don Hewitt dies at the age of 86, after battling pancreatic cancer.

Photos: Hewitt's Life and Career

Photos: Friends and Colleagues Remember Hewitt

Read More: Don Hewitt Dies At 86