Don Hewitt, 60 Minutes creator, dies
August 19th, 2009 Posted in UncategorizedAward-winning CBS television executive Don Hewitt, who was executive producer of “60 Minutes” for some 36 years, has died. He was 86 and had pancreatic cancer.
Hewitt started his career in newspapers but spent most of his journalism life working for CBS television, according to the CBS News obituary. He directed the first television network newscast on May 3, 1948, and produced and directed CBS luminaries such as Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite. Hewitt also directed coverage for the three networks (ABC, NBC and CBS) of the first televised presidential debate in 1960.
Hewitt was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1990. Visit this link for some fascinating video (including a clip of the debut of “60 Minutes” in 1968), photos and a timeline.