Julian Goodman

Executive
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In his nearly three-and-a-half-hour interview, Julian Goodman (1922-2012) discusses his years as president of NBC (from 1966 to 1974). In addition, he talks about his start at NBC News, when he was a news writer for David Brinkley in 1945. Goodman recalls producing the coverage of important news events including President John F. Kennedy's assassination and funeral, the moon landing, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War. He also describes his rise within NBC management, eventually serving as president and then chairman of the network. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on December 12, 1998 in Jupiter, FL.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I've made in speeches a reference to the fact that as each new day begins, the pages of a newspaper are totally blank. The screen on television is blank. And all day long, there are people fighting to change and shape and arrange to their benefit, what goes on there. It is the purpose and the challenge of the newsperson responsible to make sure that what goes on is fair and not just what others want us to say."

People Talking About ...
Julian Goodman
Highlights
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of JFK's assassination and his opinion on TV's best shot ever
01:10
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of Lee Harvey Oswald's death - TV's first live murder
02:48
Julian Goodman on the second Kennedy-Nixon debate in Washington, D.C.
06:21
Julian Goodman on meeting a young Jim Henson at WRC NBC in Washington, D.C.
01:05
Julian Goodman on working on the first episode of Today
01:41
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his early childhood in Kentucky; on hobbies; on thinking he'd be a newspaper-man
On working for his local newspaper; on how the Depression affected his family; on his college years
On serving in World War II; on moving to Washington, D.C. and his first exposure to broadcasting; on working for a subsidiary of the War Protection Bureau and writing precis

Chapter 2
On becoming a radio news writer for WRC, NBC in Washington, D.C.; on his first supervisor at NBC, David Brinkley; on meeting a young Jim Henson at the station; on writing for radio
On the NBC News Bureau in Washington, D.C.; on NBC being challenged by CBS News and Edward R. Murrow; on a rivalry between New York and Washington; on Pat Weaver
On attending George Washington University; on working the 1948 political convention in Philadelphia and radio's dominance over television
On becoming manager of news and special events for NBC Radio in D.C.; on watching Meet the Press when it debuted

Chapter 3
On covering the 1952 Presidential Convention and CBS dominating the coverage; on equipment used
On producing the public affairs shows Window on Washington and Comment; on NBC studios in the mid 1950s; on his duties as a news producer/director
On McCarthyism and the Hollywood Blacklist; on broadcasting Congressional Committee Hearings on radio
On Edward R. Murrow's See it Now episode on Senator McCarthy; on the debut of The Huntley-Brinkley Report; on the expansion of television news; on working on the first episode of Today

Chapter 4
On the first Presidential News Conference in 1955; on Robert Kintner joining NBC; on NBC being the first network to broadcast in color
On becoming Director of News and Public Affairs; on working with David Sarnoff; on documentary filmmaker Irving Gitlin joining NBC
On television news documentaries
On producing the second of the Kennedy-Nixon debates

Chapter 5
On observing the first Kennedy-Nixon debate in Chicago and prepping to produce the second debate; on the second debate in Washington, D.C.
On becoming VP of NBC News in 1961; on Instant News Specials
On NBC's electronic news service; on covering Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis; on expanding NBC Nightly News to 30 minutes
On on NBC's coverage of JFK's assassination; on CBS' Walter Cronkite announcing JFK's death, and on NBC's announcement of the same

Chapter 6
On coverage of JFK's assassination and Lee Harvey Oswald's death; on the 1964 California primary and the '64 Republican convention
On becoming President of NBC
On NBC interrupting a 1968 Jets football game to broadcast "Heidi"; on the death of NBC's Bill McAndrew and Reuven Frank becoming President of NBC News
On news coverage of the 1968 Democratic Convention; on NBC news coverage of the Vietnam War

Chapter 7
On NBC's coverage of the moon landing; on becoming Chairman of NBC; on leaving NBC in 1979 and serving on the boards of several companies, including Gannett and Gulf Oil
On the most important decisions he made at NBC - pairing Huntley and Brinkley, and getting the AFL contract for NBC; on significant events on television; on news integrity; on 24 hour news networks
On the future of networks and ratings; on his thoughts on colleagues from throughout the years
Shows

Heidi

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Julian Goodman on NBC interrupting a 1968 Jets football game to broadcast "Heidi"
02:58

Huntley-Brinkley Report, The

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Julian Goodman on the debut of The Huntley-Brinkley Report and the expansion of television news
01:57

Meet the Press

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Julian Goodman on watching Meet the Press when it debuted
02:46

NBC News

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Julian Goodman on meeting his first supervisor at NBC News (radio), David Brinkley; on writing for NBC News (radio)
08:35
Julian Goodman on Instant News Specials for NBC News
04:31

NBC Nightly News

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Julian Goodman on expanding NBC Nightly News to 30 minutes
00:53

See It Now

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Julian Goodman on Edward R. Murrow's See it Now episode, "Senator McCarthy"
00:57

See It Now: "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

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Julian Goodman on Edward R. Murrow's See it Now episode, "Senator McCarthy"
00:57

Today

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Julian Goodman on working on the first episode of Today
01:41

Twenty One

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Julian Goodman on Charles Van Doren's appearance on the public affairs show Comment
01:21
Topics

Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Julian Goodman on Walter Cronkite dominating coverage of the 1952 Presidential Convention; on the primitive state of TV at the time
04:44
Julian Goodman on the first Presidential News Conference in 1955 and NBC News covering Eisenhower
05:04

Harry S. Truman

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Julian Goodman on NBC News during the 1948 Convention
02:08
Julian Goodman on working the 1948 political convention in Philadelphia, PA and radio's dominance over television
04:37

Historic Events and Social Change

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Julian Goodman on serving in World War II for a short time and contracting pneumonia
02:51
Julian Goodman on NBC news coverage of the Vietnam War
02:15
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of Lee Harvey Oswald's death - TV's first live murder
02:48
Julian Goodman on the significance of space coverage
00:11
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of the moon landing
01:12

Hollywood Blacklist

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Julian Goodman on the Hollywood Blacklist and McCarthyism and Herbert Hoover telling him a Communist was working on one of his shows
03:21
Julian Goodman on Edward R. Murrow's See it Now episode, "Senator McCarthy"
00:57

Industry Crossroads

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Julian Goodman on Charles Van Doren's appearance on the public affairs show Comment
01:21
Julian Goodman on the Hollywood Blacklist and McCarthyism and J. Edgar Hoover telling him a Communist was working on one of his shows, and on HUAC
03:21
Julian Goodman on Edward R. Murrow's See it Now episode, "Senator McCarthy"
00:57

JFK Assassination and Funeral

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Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of JFK's assassination
08:17
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of Lee Harvey Oswald's death - TV's first live murder
02:48

John F. Kennedy

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Julian Goodman on producing the second of The Great Debates
02:54
Julian Goodman on observing the first Kennedy-Nixon debate in Chicago and prepping to produce the second debate
02:50
Julian Goodman on the second Kennedy-Nixon debate in Washington, D.C.
06:21
Julian Goodman on covering Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis
01:16
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of JFK's assassination
08:17
Julian Goodman on the significance of the Great Debates
01:09

Memorable Moments on Television

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Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of JFK's assassination
08:17
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of Lee Harvey Oswald's death - TV's first live murder
02:48
Julian Goodman on news coverage of the 1968 Democratic Convention
03:06

Moon Landing

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Julian Goodman on the significance of space coverage
00:11
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of the moon landing
01:12

Quiz Show Scandals

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Julian Goodman on Charles Van Doren's appearance on the public affairs show Comment
01:21

Sports

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Julian Goodman on NBC interrupting a Jets football game to broadcast "Heidi"
02:58
Julian Goodman on getting the AFL contract for NBC
01:51

Technological Innovation

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Julian Goodman on NBC being the first network to broadcast in color
01:49

Television and the Presidency

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Julian Goodman on NBC News during the 1948 Convention
02:08
Julian Goodman on working the 1948 political convention in Philadelphia, PA and radio's dominance over television
04:37
Julian Goodman on Walter Cronkite dominating coverage of the 1952 Presidential Convention; on the primitive state of TV at the time
04:44
Julian Goodman on the first Presidential News Conference in 1955 and NBC News covering Eisenhower
05:04
Julian Goodman on producing the second of The Great Debates
02:54
Julian Goodman on observing the first Kennedy-Nixon debate in Chicago and prepping to produce the second debate
02:50
Julian Goodman on the second Kennedy-Nixon debate in Washington, D.C.
06:21
Julian Goodman on covering Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis
01:16
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of JFK's assassination
08:17
Julian Goodman on the significance of the Great Debates
01:09

Vietnam War

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Julian Goodman on NBC news coverage of the Vietnam War
02:15

War

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Julian Goodman on serving in World War II for a short time and contracting pneumonia
02:51
Julian Goodman on NBC news coverage of the Vietnam War
02:15

We Cried

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Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of JFK's assassination
08:17

World War II

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Julian Goodman on serving in World War II for a short time and contracting pneumonia
02:51
Professions

Executives

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Julian Goodman on becoming manager of news and special events for NBC Radio in D.C.; on why he liked being a manager and Executive
03:12

Television Executive

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Julian Goodman on becoming VP of NBC News in 1961
00:36
Julian Goodman on serving as Sr. Executive Vice President and then President of NBC
03:31
Julian Goodman on how he became Chairman of NBC
03:08
Genres

News and Documentary

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Julian Goodman on working the 1948 political convention in Philadelphia, PA and radio's dominance over television
04:37
Julian Goodman on David Brinkley and Brinkley's early radio broadcasts
08:35
Julian Goodman on Walter Cronkite dominating coverage of the 1952 Presidential Convention; on the primitive state of TV at the time; on HUAC
04:44
Julian Goodman on the expansion of television news in the mid 1950s
01:57
Julian Goodman on Edward R. Murrow's See it Now episode, "Senator McCarthy"
00:57
Julian Goodman on the first Presidential News Conference in 1955
05:04
Julian Goodman on television news documentaries
05:27
Julian Goodman on producing the second of The Great Debates
02:54
Julian Goodman on the first and second Kennedy-Nixon debates
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of JFK's assassination
08:17
Julian Goodman on NBC news coverage of the Vietnam War
02:15
Julian Goodman on news coverage of the 1968 Democratic Convention
03:06
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of Lee Harvey Oswald's death - TV's first live murder
02:48
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of the moon landing
01:12
People

Anthony Conrad

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Julian Goodman on Anthony Conrad succeeding Robert Sarnoff at NBC
02:14

Bob Doyle

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Julian Goodman on Bob Doyle
00:19

Charles Van Doren

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Julian Goodman on Charles Van Doren's appearance on the public affairs show Comment
01:21

Chet Huntley

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Julian Goodman on Eisenhower's speech during the nomination of Barry Goldwater at the '64 Republican convention
02:19
Julian Goodman on one of the most important decisions he made at NBC - pairing Huntley and Brinkley
00:35

David Brinkley

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Julian Goodman on his first supervisor at NBC, David Brinkley
01:44
Julian Goodman on David Brinkley editing his copy and Brinkley's early radio broadcasts
05:25
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of JFK's assassination
00:29
Julian Goodman on CBS' Walter Cronkite announcing JFK's death, and NBC's announcement
00:51
Julian Goodman on the '64 Republican convention
02:27
Julian Goodman on Eisenhower's speech during the nomination of Barry Goldwater at the '64 Republican convention
02:19
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of the moon landing
01:12
Julian Goodman on one of the most important decisions he made at NBC - pairing Huntley and Brinkley
00:35

David Sarnoff

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Julian Goodman on working with David Sarnoff
02:01

Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Julian Goodman on the first Presidential News Conference in 1955
05:04
Julian Goodman on Eisenhower's speech during the nomination of Barry Goldwater at the '64 Republican convention
02:19

Edward R. Murrow

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Julian Goodman on NBC being challenged by CBS News and Edward R. Murrow
01:15
Julian Goodman on Edward R. Murrow's See it Now episode, "Senator McCarthy"
00:57

Fred Silverman

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Julian Goodman on Fred Silverman
01:02

Harry S. Truman

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Julian Goodman on Governor Dewey's arrival at the 1948 political convention in Philadelphia, PA
00:47
Julian Goodman on convincing Harry Truman to do broadcasts from the Rose Garden
00:44

Herbert Hoover

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Julian Goodman on the Hollywood Blacklist and McCarthyism and Herbert Hoover telling him a Communist was working on one of his shows
01:36

Herbert S. Schlosser

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Julian Goodman on how he became Chairman of NBC and Herb Schlosser became President
01:05

Jim Henson

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Julian Goodman on meeting a young Jim Henson at WRC NBC in Washington, D.C.
01:05

John Chancellor

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Julian Goodman on the '64 Republican convention
02:27

John F. Kennedy

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Julian Goodman on JFK appearing on the public affairs show Window on Washington
00:31
Julian Goodman on producing the second of The Great Debates
02:54
Julian Goodman on observing the first Kennedy-Nixon debate in Chicago and prepping to produce the second debate; on the second debate
07:07
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of JFK's assassination
08:17
Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of Lee Harvey Oswald's death - TV's first live murder
02:48
Julian Goodman on NBC news coverage of the Vietnam War
02:15

Joseph McCarthy

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Julian Goodman on Edward R. Murrow's See it Now episode, "Senator McCarthy"
00:57
Julian Goodman on the significance of the McCarthy hearings
00:19

Lucy Jarvis

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Julian Goodman on Lucy Jarvis' TV documentaries
01:22

Reuven Frank

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Julian Goodman on the death of NBC News Executive Bill McAndrew and Reuven Frank becoming President of NBC News
02:05

Richard M. Nixon

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Julian Goodman on producing the second of The Great Debates
02:54
Julian Goodman on observing the first Kennedy-Nixon debate in Chicago and prepping to produce the second debate; on the second debate
07:07
Julian Goodman on changes Nixon made in the second of The Great Debates
01:47
Julian Goodman on Nixon refusing makeup for the first of The Great Debates
00:39
Julian Goodman on the '64 Republican convention
02:27

Robert E. Kintner

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Julian Goodman on Robert Kintner joining NBC
00:52
Julian Goodman on Robert Kintner's roles as VP and President of NBC; on his management style and focus on news
02:49
Julian Goodman on discussions with Robert Kintner at NBC
02:16
Julian Goodman on Robert Kintner getting fired and Goodman getting his job as President of NBC
04:59

Roone Arledge

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Julian Goodman on Roone Arledge
00:56

Spiro T. Agnew

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Julian Goodman on the '64 Republican convention
02:27

Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver

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Julian Goodman on Pat Weaver as President of NBC
01:07
Julian Goodman on working on the first episode of Today
01:41

Ted Yates

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Julian Goodman on Ted Yates
00:24

Walter Cronkite

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Julian Goodman on Walter Cronkite dominating coverage of the 1952 Presidential Convention
02:11
Julian Goodman on CBS' Walter Cronkite announcing JFK's death, and NBC's announcement
00:51
Julian Goodman on news coverage of the moon landing
01:12

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