Mike Wallace retires from "60 Minutes"

from broadcasting and cable

Mike Wallace To Retire
By John Eggerton

CBS News veteran Mike Wallace is retiring after 37 years at 60
Minutes. No word from the network, but details are expected shortly.

trotsky...

The makeup covering up his age spots only goes so far.

Wallace, 87, has been a correspondent for the show since its premiere
Sept. 24, 1968.

He has been with CBS continuously as a correspondent since 1963, and
was also with the network as an entertainment reporter from 1951 to
1955.

"Mike Wallace is 60 Minutes," show founder Don Hewitt once told B&C.

When Hewitt founded the show, he had already tapped Harry Reasoner,
but it was decided the show could also use the harder edged Wallace.
He had proven himself a skillful and tough interviewer as far back as
the old Night Beat show on Dumont station WABD-TV New York in the
mid-1950's.

Wallace called himself "the guy in the black hat," chosen by Hewitt
to counter the kindly demeanor of Reasoner. It worked.

After years doing entertainment shows, game shows, and announcing,
Wallace sent a letter to CBS News management in 1963 saying he had
"sanitized" himself of his non-news interests, including game shows
like Guess Again and I'll Buy That and even acting roles in such shows
as Studio One and Stand By For Crime.

"Back then you could do--and I did--acting, announcing, narrating, and
news," said Wallace. "Somehow back then it seemed there was nothing
wrong with it."

Wallace was hired, beginning with a five-minute radio show and a local
TV series, Eye on New York. That led to the CBS Morning News With Mike
Wallace and other assignments, including covering Viet Nam, until 60
Minutes came along and made him into a household name and elevated his
tough, in-your-face, interview style to iconic status.

Wallace conducted hundreds of interviews, but he arguably made the
most impact with his February 1996 interview with tobacco company
whistleblower Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, which contributed to the revealing
of industry secrets that ultimately led to billions in settlements.

Wallace's shelf includes 19 Emmy, three duPont-Columbia University
Awards, and three Peabodys, and the veritable host of others.