Don Hewitt, creator of "60 Minutes," dead at 86

Reuters ^ | 8-19-09

[Justaham]

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Don Hewitt, creator of CBS News' groundbreaking "60 Minutes" program and one of the most influential behind-the-scenes figures in U.S. television journalism, died of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday, CBS News said.

He was 86.

Hewitt worked as producer or director for CBS legends Edward R. Murrow, Douglas Edwards and Walter Cronkite, but his greatest legacy was the television news magazine format on "60 Minutes" starting in 1968

[Mandingo Conservative]

60 minutes is a very biased institution.

[princess leah]

Bob Novak died just a few days ago as well - wish we could replace these journalists with some conservatives, but I already know THAT’s not going to happen!

[Robwin]

Hewitt also produced the first Kennedy/Nixon debate. He, perhaps more than anyone,got Kennedy elected as those who listened only to the debate thought Nixon had won, while those who watched on TV thought Kennedy had won due to their relative personal appearances. Nixon had a 5 o’clock shadow and looked shifty, Kennedy looked young and energetic. Hewitt was the media savvy individual behind that.

[Welcome2thejungle]

And the irony behind all that was that JFK was one of our sickliest presidents who was plagued by a plethora of illnesses including a disease in his adrenal glands, a perpetually bad back (he wore a back brace)and a wide assortmant of other chronic illnesses as well.

All this crap about vigah and youth was largely a bunch of hooey propagated by Joe Sr.

[relictele]

I suppose you have to respect those who got to the mountaintop but like Bill Paley, Henry Luce, the Sulzbergers, the Grahams et al Hewitt let his absolute media power corrupt him absolutely and 60 Minutes turned into the perennial (and painful) post-football hangover featuring the bad old GOP, jailed filth who still maintained their innocence, and general cheerleading for commies large and small throughout the world.

Mike Wallace loved to apply the thumbscrews to corporate types but somehow legislators and lobbyists avoided the treatment for the most part.

[floozy22]

I suppose you have to respect those who got to the mountaintop but like Bill Paley, Henry Luce, the Sulzbergers, the Grahams et al Hewitt let his absolute media power corrupt him absolutely and 60 Minutes turned into the perennial (and painful) post-football hangover featuring the bad old GOP, jailed filth who still maintained their innocence, and general cheerleading for commies large and small throughout the world.

Mike Wallace loved to apply the thumbscrews to corporate types but somehow legislators and lobbyists avoided the treatment for the most part.

I concur. And I vaguely remember the 60 Minutes interview with the Clintons, before Slick was elected. Some say it turned the tide and helped cement the election victory. Hewitt purposely portrayed the dastardly duo in a much more positive light than reality ever called for. Maybe some other freepers would remember the details.

[Robwin]

True, welcome. Even JFK’s vaunted rocking chair, presented as being so darling, so in touch with the people, was actually there to relieve his chronic back pain.

[Welcome2thejungle]

JFK did have a LOT of vigah in another department, but I’m not going there today. So did the much sainted MARRIED REVEREND MLK Jr, but I’m not going there today either.

[relictele]

I'm afraid I can't forget it.

Hillary was still semi-believable as a governor's First Lady and a heterosexual. Longer hair, frosted highlights, a skirt (!) and that legendary headband.

She played the loyal wife as best she could given her husband's track record up until that point but still committed her famous gaffe by stating she refused to play the part of Tammy Wynette and stand by her man. She also bristled at the role of a traditional first lady by pointing out she wasn't there to bake cookies. In short, her temper was nearly impossible to control and it flared up several times despite CBS' desperate bid to edit and soften her image.

Bill Clinton was...Bill Clinton. Economical with the truth and spouting the kind of elliptical nonsense that marked his terms in office. He admitted having 'caused pain in his marriage' (how? stepping on Hillary's foot?). Hillary cuddled up close while Bill mugged for the cameras, squinted, bit his lip, made his voice raspy and generally did a parody of himself.

Steve Kroft was the new kid on the 60 Minutes block back then and apparently made a stop at the Parker Brothers toy factory to stock up on Nerf balls which he then lobbed to the Clintons in the form of questions. Kroft was as star-struck in 1992 as Chris Matthews was in 2008.

Of course, at that time the three networks still dominated the airwaves and used/abused their power without regard for the truth or the consequences.

Along with all their other baggage the Clintons pulled one James Carville from his swampy native habitat and foisted him on the rest of the nation. Unfortunately he, like his paymasters, has failed to return to obscurity 17 long torturous years later.

[floozy22]

Ahhh...those memories.

[JayNorth]

Hewitt also produced the first Kennedy/Nixon debate. He, perhaps more than anyone,got Kennedy elected...

Was he the one that told Nixon's people they would use a dark blue background so Nixon wore that lame suit, making JFK look much more 'presidential' in a dark suit?

[Robwin]

I have never heard about that but it wouldn't surprise me.

What I really had in mind was Hewitt's use of lighting that night and the fact JFK looked young, fresh, and vigorous, while Nixon had that horrid 5 o'clock shadow and looked shifty. Makeup played a role in that and Hewitt was the expert in both areas.