Harry Reasoner

Walter Cronkite was the undisputed king of network news coverage, but Iowa native Harry Reasoner possessed a degree of charisma and expertise that consistently placed him a close second in polls with viewers. Like many television newsmen from the early years of the medium, he had his start in print and on radio before gradually working his way up to the position of correspondent on CBS, the network where he stayed for the majority of his career. Reasoner spent more than 35 years in the TV news profession and was widely respected on several fronts. As a host, he was personable enough to seem genuine and was clearly intelligent enough to be trustworthy. However, he was also able to impart an important Everyman perspective and sensibility to his coverage that helped make it relevant and vital to all areas of the country. He was also capable of writing reports that delivered facts in an erudite manner that remained easily digestible. As one of the founders of "60 Minutes" (CBS, 1968- ), Reasoner carried over to that program the qualities he had gained on earlier duties for the network. When ABC offered him the coveted co-anchor spot on its nightly newscast, he proved more than up to the task. Winner of numerous awards during his career, including four Emmys, Reasoner embodied the finest attributes of his profession and was one of the most prominent and respected television journalists of the 20th century.