Reliving The Legacy Of Edward R. Murrow

On The Iconic Newsman's 100th Birthday, A Look Back At Some Of His Most Memorable Reports

(CBS)  By CBSNews.com's Stephen Smith.

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Forty-three years after Edward R. Murrow's death, there is still a plaque of the legendary newsman in the lobby of the CBS Broadcast Center in New York. Beneath his earnest stare and trademark cigarette is an inscription: "His imprint on broadcasting will be felt for all time to come."

Today, Murrow would have celebrated his 100th birthday. The correspondent's storied career still evokes some of the most unforgettable moments in American journalism. From heroically chronicling the reality of World War II to fearlessly exposing Sen. Joseph McCarthy, Murrow reinvented the scope and power of broadcast reporting.

Starting his career at CBS in 1935, Murrow emerged as a seminal radio voice in the early days of the war. In 1938, he reported on the growing tensions in Europe (listen) on World News Roundup, the first modern newscast. Eventually, millions of Americans would listen to Murrow's radio dispatches from London, including a report on the Allies' invasion of Normandy (listen) to liberate Europe from the Nazis. Earlier this month, his war correspondent uniform was put on display at the newly opened Newseum in Washington, D.C.

By the 1950s, Murrow established himself as the most distinguished and respected figure in television journalism. His show "See It Now" never shied away from controversial issues. Most notably, Murrow's broadcast launched an attack on Sen. Joseph McCarthy's anti-communism crusade - reporting that ultimately toppled the senator's political career. In 2005, the film "Good Night, and Good Luck" brought the famous episode - and the newsman - back in the spotlight.

In 1964, a year before Murrow died, the legendary reporter and CBS News anchor Robert Trout sat down to reminisce about their shared experiences (listen). As they listened, it became apparent that Murrow had never heard some of the reports for which he was the most famous.

Murrow created new standards of integrity and bravery in broadcast reporting. Today, his legacy remains as strong as ever. As David Halberstam wrote in his 2000 book "The Powers That Be," Murrow was "one of those rare legendary figures who was as good as his myth."

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Reporting from the flight deck of a plane landing in Berlin in 1958, Murrow took CBS News viewers to the German capital during one episode of "See It Now."

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Murrow talks to U.S. servicemen in Korea on Christmas Day, 1953.

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On January 22, 1954, former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt is a guest on Murrow's show "Person to Person."

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On March 9, 1954, Murrow introduces a rebuttal by Sen. Joseph McCarthy after CBS reports revealed the excesses of hearings into alleged Communists infiltration of the U.S.

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Quotes About Legendary CBS Newsman Edward R. Murrow

"Edward R. Murrow was my last hero. When this nation was drowning in cowardice and demagoguery, it was Murrow who hurled the spear at the terror. The spear was his 'See It Now' television broadcast on Senator Joe McCarthy."
- From an essay by CBS News veteran Joseph Wershba

"If you ask what does Murrow mean to me, I’ll tell you. Whenever I’m not sure about something, the ethics of something, the question I ask myself is what would Murrow have done? What would Murrow say? It seems strange after all these years that I still have him as a kind of symbol and an emblem to live by, but I do."
- Journalist Daniel Schorr, the last of Murrow's colleagues who is still a working journalist. (He's a senior news analyst for National Public Radio)

"It was like Moses and the parting of the Red Sea when (Murrow) walked through the office. We all stepped aside. He walked slowly, with his head down. He was deep in thought."
- Former CBS News correspondent Marvin Kalb in the Orlando Sentinel



By Stephen Smith
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Add a Comment See all 15 Comments

by jn122736 April 25, 2008 9:42 PM EDT

Re. Post by studio41 at 11:43 AM : Apr 25, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today%u2019s monopolized economy (including the media), accomplished mainly through mergers and/or hostile buyouts/takeovers, affects and/or controls every aspect of our lives.

There no longer is anything %u201C%u201Dfree%u201D%u201D or %u201C%u201Dcompetitive%u201D%u201D about our market system. Prices are controlled by major companies, which allow them to charge whatever they wish for their products an/or services.

The same thing applies to the news media and what the general public is allowed to see or hear.

After the great depression, monopolies were broken up and anti-monopoly laws and regulations, including the use of our airwaves, were instituted to guard against another such occurrence. And they worked pretty well until, beginning with the Reagan administration, these laws have steadily been ignored or changed or simply eliminated.

Is it any wonder we are almost back where we started in the 1930%u2019s?

Reply to this comment

by cheroke3 April 25, 2008 8:00 PM EDT

Dan Rather is the last of the really great investigative news reporters.

A shame CBS didn''t attack the White House "proof" typewritten documents with the same veracity when discovering the -same- typewriter was used to -disprove- Rather''s.

If CBS returned Rather they''d find a return of the more literate audience.

Reply to this comment

by harrydoghiny April 25, 2008 7:59 PM EDT

So when is CBS going to honor the legacy of Edward R. Murrow, by reporting the real news again? When will you stop being an arm of the George W. Bush Propaganda machine and start reporting the true picture of what is going on in America and around the world. I weep for what has become of our American News media, I weep for the future of our county. If Edward R. Murrow were alive today I wonder what he would say about his beloved network, and the state of journalism in our country.

Posted by AtlantaDave3

Couldn''t have said it any better myself. Shame on you CBS, Murrow is spinning in his grave. How dare you tarnish the memory of a REAL journalist.

Reply to this comment

by cheroke3 April 25, 2008 7:57 PM EDT

Dan Rather is the last of the really great investigative news reporters.

A shame CBS didn''t attack the White House "proof" typewritten documents with the same veracity when discovering the -same- typewriter was used to -disprove- Rather''s.

If CBS returned Rather they''d find a return of the more literate audience.

Reply to this comment

by rushlimpdrug April 25, 2008 7:26 PM EDT

"No matter how much you hate George Bush you can''''t concone a "news organization" using blantantly fake documents."
Posted by mjvw2 at 03:57 PM

Sure little boy.
Whatever you say.

Reply to this comment

by mjvw2 April 25, 2008 6:57 PM EDT

"...the forced retirement of Dan Rather.... These decisions were not made by the leadership of CBS News"

No matter how much you hate George Bush you can''t concone a "news organization" using blantantly fake documents.

Reply to this comment

by hbevis April 25, 2008 6:19 PM EDT

TO: ObamasLady

That is what we do also.

Reply to this comment

by obamaslady April 25, 2008 6:13 PM EDT

When Murrow and Cronkite died, so did JOURNALISM. There is only ILLUSION, PROPOGANDA, TRASH and PERSONAL OPINION spouted in today''s world of so called news. The talking SNAKES only want to spoon feed the public what they want us to know or hear so they can CONTROL us. In our home, we don''t watch tv news of any description and we don''t purchase any newspapers - they are simply not worth the time or money. We either find our news of TRUTH AND FACT on-line, or we can live without being robots to the MSM. If the entire public would do the same, perhaps these SNAKES would be put out of business and go back to their respective caves. We refuse to support them!

Reply to this comment

by hbevis April 25, 2008 6:06 PM EDT

I still remember Edward R. Murrow just like it was yesterday. In about 1951 or 1952 he came to my high school and gave a talk to our entire school. He talked about Communism and I have never forgotten what he said. That was at least 55 years ago. We were really lucky that he came to our school there in North Florida. Our Band director was a friend of his and so he came to our school when was on a trip and stopped off at our school. I agree with other Post about Mr. Murrow, CBS nor any other news group don''t even come close to doing the kind of reporting he did. You could compare it to maybe an Airplane and a grain of sand. That is the difference that I feel about him and the news people of today.

Reply to this comment

by rushlimpdrug April 25, 2008 5:36 PM EDT

". . . there is still a plaque of the legendary newsman in the lobby of the CBS Broadcast Center in New York. "


You can take the plaque down now.

CBS and the other "news" media is fooling no one.

What we get today is watered down censored news.

Please do the honorable thing and take the plaque to
a museum so the public can see what once was.

Reply to this comment

by aldon61 April 25, 2008 4:31 PM EDT

I was just a teenager when Murrow went after McCarthy; but I can remember it just like it was last week. Murrow had integrity, guts and smarts, he will always be missed by those of us who saw him. It''s ironic though, if he were alive today, not one major news broadcaster, including CBS would hire him. He would be too controversial for any off you to handle. Politically incorrect would be the term.

Reply to this comment

by CBSTV April 25, 2008 2:43 PM EDT

A key difference between the Edward R. Murrow era and today is that CBS News does not operate with the autonomy it once enjoyed. It is viewed by the corporation as just another profit center. To make matters worse, the company''s CEO tinkers with the News Division''s affairs. A good example is the forced retirement of Dan Rather and the hiring of Katie Couric. These decisions were not made by the leadership of CBS News -- external forces were in charge.

A first step in the return to greatness would be to reestablish a firewall between CBS Corporation and the News Division. Also, CBS News ought to have a person with solid journalistic credentials as its president. Mr. McManus may be an excellent TV sports manager; but it''s apparent that he was installed at CBS News largely to do the bidding of CEO Les Moonves.

Reply to this comment

by atlantadave3 April 25, 2008 1:33 PM EDT

So when is CBS going to honor the legacy of Edward R. Murrow, by reporting the real news again? When will you stop being an arm of the George W. Bush Propaganda machine and start reporting the true picture of what is going on in America and around the world. I weep for what has become of our American News media, I weep for the future of our county. If Edward R. Murrow were alive today I wonder what he would say about his beloved network, and the state of journalism in our country.

Reply to this comment

by mcvet April 25, 2008 1:09 PM EDT

The courage this man showed in the face of McCarthy and the Fascist was something EVERY American Child should be taught. When McCarthy and his fascist followers determined what and how American''s heard when it came to news... when they would have anyone who dared oppose THEIR views black balled out of the business, this man stood up and called them what they are. He stood up and told all of us that Fascism and ONE PARTY RULE was NOT what this nation should be about. To bad so many today did NOT learn from that experience. Sieg Heil Bush

Reply to this comment

by alomarsmom April 25, 2008 12:09 PM EDT

Admittedly Edward R. Murrow is a tought act to follow, but how sad it is that there is no one at CBS today who can come close. Sadder yet is that if the current CBS leadership been in charge in those days, even Mr. Murrow would not have been able to do what he did.

Reply to this comment

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[jn122736]

Re. Post by studio41 at 11:43 AM : Apr 25, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today%u2019s monopolized economy (including the media), accomplished mainly through mergers and/or hostile buyouts/takeovers, affects and/or controls every aspect of our lives.

There no longer is anything %u201C%u201Dfree%u201D%u201D or %u201C%u201Dcompetitive%u201D%u201D about our market system. Prices are controlled by major companies, which allow them to charge whatever they wish for their products an/or services.

The same thing applies to the news media and what the general public is allowed to see or hear.

After the great depression, monopolies were broken up and anti-monopoly laws and regulations, including the use of our airwaves, were instituted to guard against another such occurrence. And they worked pretty well until, beginning with the Reagan administration, these laws have steadily been ignored or changed or simply eliminated.

Is it any wonder we are almost back where we started in the 1930%u2019s?

[cheroke3]

Dan Rather is the last of the really great investigative news reporters.

A shame CBS didn''t attack the White House "proof" typewritten documents with the same veracity when discovering the -same- typewriter was used to -disprove- Rather''s.

If CBS returned Rather they''d find a return of the more literate audience.

[harrydoghiny]

So when is CBS going to honor the legacy of Edward R. Murrow, by reporting the real news again? When will you stop being an arm of the George W. Bush Propaganda machine and start reporting the true picture of what is going on in America and around the world. I weep for what has become of our American News media, I weep for the future of our county. If Edward R. Murrow were alive today I wonder what he would say about his beloved network, and the state of journalism in our country.

Posted by AtlantaDave3

Couldn''t have said it any better myself. Shame on you CBS, Murrow is spinning in his grave. How dare you tarnish the memory of a REAL journalist.

[cheroke3]

Dan Rather is the last of the really great investigative news reporters.

A shame CBS didn''t attack the White House "proof" typewritten documents with the same veracity when discovering the -same- typewriter was used to -disprove- Rather''s.

If CBS returned Rather they''d find a return of the more literate audience.

[rushlimpdrug]

"No matter how much you hate George Bush you can''''t concone a "news organization" using blantantly fake documents."
Posted by mjvw2 at 03:57 PM

Sure little boy.
Whatever you say.

[mjvw2]

"...the forced retirement of Dan Rather.... These decisions were not made by the leadership of CBS News"

No matter how much you hate George Bush you can''t concone a "news organization" using blantantly fake documents.

[hbevis]

TO: ObamasLady

That is what we do also.

[obamaslady]

When Murrow and Cronkite died, so did JOURNALISM. There is only ILLUSION, PROPOGANDA, TRASH and PERSONAL OPINION spouted in today''s world of so called news. The talking SNAKES only want to spoon feed the public what they want us to know or hear so they can CONTROL us. In our home, we don''t watch tv news of any description and we don''t purchase any newspapers - they are simply not worth the time or money. We either find our news of TRUTH AND FACT on-line, or we can live without being robots to the MSM. If the entire public would do the same, perhaps these SNAKES would be put out of business and go back to their respective caves. We refuse to support them!

[hbevis]

I still remember Edward R. Murrow just like it was yesterday. In about 1951 or 1952 he came to my high school and gave a talk to our entire school. He talked about Communism and I have never forgotten what he said. That was at least 55 years ago. We were really lucky that he came to our school there in North Florida. Our Band director was a friend of his and so he came to our school when was on a trip and stopped off at our school. I agree with other Post about Mr. Murrow, CBS nor any other news group don''t even come close to doing the kind of reporting he did. You could compare it to maybe an Airplane and a grain of sand. That is the difference that I feel about him and the news people of today.

[rushlimpdrug]

". . . there is still a plaque of the legendary newsman in the lobby of the CBS Broadcast Center in New York. "


You can take the plaque down now.

CBS and the other "news" media is fooling no one.

What we get today is watered down censored news.

Please do the honorable thing and take the plaque to
a museum so the public can see what once was.

[aldon61]

I was just a teenager when Murrow went after McCarthy; but I can remember it just like it was last week. Murrow had integrity, guts and smarts, he will always be missed by those of us who saw him. It''s ironic though, if he were alive today, not one major news broadcaster, including CBS would hire him. He would be too controversial for any off you to handle. Politically incorrect would be the term.

[CBSTV]

A key difference between the Edward R. Murrow era and today is that CBS News does not operate with the autonomy it once enjoyed. It is viewed by the corporation as just another profit center. To make matters worse, the company''s CEO tinkers with the News Division''s affairs. A good example is the forced retirement of Dan Rather and the hiring of Katie Couric. These decisions were not made by the leadership of CBS News -- external forces were in charge.

A first step in the return to greatness would be to reestablish a firewall between CBS Corporation and the News Division. Also, CBS News ought to have a person with solid journalistic credentials as its president. Mr. McManus may be an excellent TV sports manager; but it''s apparent that he was installed at CBS News largely to do the bidding of CEO Les Moonves.

[atlantadave3]

So when is CBS going to honor the legacy of Edward R. Murrow, by reporting the real news again? When will you stop being an arm of the George W. Bush Propaganda machine and start reporting the true picture of what is going on in America and around the world. I weep for what has become of our American News media, I weep for the future of our county. If Edward R. Murrow were alive today I wonder what he would say about his beloved network, and the state of journalism in our country.

[mcvet]

The courage this man showed in the face of McCarthy and the Fascist was something EVERY American Child should be taught. When McCarthy and his fascist followers determined what and how American''s heard when it came to news... when they would have anyone who dared oppose THEIR views black balled out of the business, this man stood up and called them what they are. He stood up and told all of us that Fascism and ONE PARTY RULE was NOT what this nation should be about. To bad so many today did NOT learn from that experience. Sieg Heil Bush

[alomarsmom]

Admittedly Edward R. Murrow is a tought act to follow, but how sad it is that there is no one at CBS today who can come close. Sadder yet is that if the current CBS leadership been in charge in those days, even Mr. Murrow would not have been able to do what he did.