Creator of 60 minutes, Don Hewitt passes away
August 20th, 2009 - 6:27 pm ICT by IBNS
Aug 20 (IBNS) Don Hewitt, the famous CBS News executive who created “60 Minutes,’’ passed away after fighting with pancreatic cancer in Bridgehampton, New York.
Don was 86 and during his career with CBS he transformed television journalism by showing that news programs could generate money, and produced and directed the first televised presidential debate, it was reported by Boston.com.
The 1960 televised debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon was watched by 70 million Americans. The debate turned out to be a turning point in the presidential race, in large part because an ailing Nixon rejected Mr. Hewitt’s advice to use professional makeup instead of a cheaper product.
Nixon’s sickly appearance while recuperating from a staph infection, in contrast to the tan and vigorous Kennedy, was credited with helping to turn the election in Kennedy’s favor.
“From that day on you can’t even think of running for office in the greatest democracy on earth unless you’ve got the money to buy television time,” Don had said about the program.
Hewitt, who spent his career at CBS News, also directed programs of news giants Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow. He led coverage of political conventions, royal weddings and coronations, papal installations, and national days of mourning for assassinated leaders including Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
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