"I don't see that kind of leadership putting aside the impact it would have had on the stock prices in favor of a principle like the First Amendment. Newspapers are still standing their ground on the First Amendment. I don't know what's going to happen in broadcasting."

    About This Interview

    In his six-hour interview, Frank Stanton (1908-2006) discusses his early years at CBS and his eventual rise to the network's presidency. He recalls the founding and formation of CBS News, and his relationships with the major players including Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, and Fred Friendly. He recounts many of the other CBS executives he worked with, including James T. Aubrey, Robert D. Wood, and John A. Schneider. He chronicles the many technical developments he oversaw in his years at CBS including the invention of television itself, and the advent of color. He speaks candidly about CBS chairman William S. Paley and the rise of CBS network television. Don West conducted the interview in two sessions on May 22, 2000 in New York, NY and on May 14, 2001 in Boston, MA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Frank Stanton

    Frank Stanton on broadcasting and the first amendment, and how it related to CBS Reports: "The Selling of the Pentagon"

    06:55
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on his early interest in radio

    18:26

    On going to work for CBS doing market research in 1935, and on his day-to-day activities in that 10 year era; on CBS radio's programming in the '30s and '40s; on the CBS radio network in the '30s and '40s, and on CBS' profitability in that era

    10:06

    Chapter 2

    On Orson Welles "War of the Worlds" broadcast; on CBS getting into television, and the CBS network coverage in the early days

    12:19

    On the FCC issuing the original licenses to television stations around the country, and CBS' failed color system; on CBS' early programming, including the talent raids on NBC, and The Ed Sullivan Show; Stanton on where CBS stood in relation to NBC in the earliest days of television, and on eventually surpassing them with I Love Lucy

    16:41

    Chapter 3

    On the creation of CBS News for television, and Edward R. Murrow's reluctance to do television; on the early CBS News correspondents including Eric Sevareid and Paul White; on Edward R. Murrow's commentary on Senator Joseph McCarthy

    14:04

    On the policies invoked at CBS during the blacklist period, and on the loyalty oath; on the CBS News interview with Nikita Khrushchev, and on government's relationship with the news media

    08:31

    On advocating the repeal of section 315 of the Communications Act, and on Presidential debates; on CBS Reports: The Selling of the Pentagon

    06:27

    Chapter 4

    On the controversial CBS Reports: The Selling of the Pentagon in which he personally faced contempt charges; on his relationship with Senator John O. Pastore, and dealing with censorship

    13:11

    On the Quiz Show Scandals; on CBS' involvement with the home video recorder, and with inventor Peter Goldmark; on his relationship with William S. Paley

    15:40

    Chapter 5

    On how the networks have changed since he started; on CBS spinning off Viacom for syndication purposes; on the rise of cable television, and the then-future of new media

    12:25

    On the impact of media consolidation on programming; on his interests outside of broadcasting; on his favorite architects and artists

    11:45

    Chapter 6

    On his fondness for dogs and interest in cars; on his association of Harvard University; on avoiding public office

    12:02

    On his association with Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, and on the Kennedy-Nixon debate; on CBS News' coverage of Vietnam; on CBS President James T. Aubrey

    18:12

    Chapter 7

    On the firing of CBS President James T. Aubrey; on the departure of Fred Friendly from CBS News; on the then-future of television

    10:22

    Chapter 8

    On broadcasting and the first amendment, and how it related to CBS Reports: "The Selling of the Pentagon"; on the downside of media consolidation; on the then-current state of broadcasting, and on what he felt was most important in broadcasting at the time

    10:44

    On the creation on the CBS television network, alongside the CBS radio network; on the news on public television, and on the then-current state of network news

    07:08

    On the design and construction of CBS Television City in Los Angeles; on the design and construction of CBS Black Rock in New York City

    10:21

    Chapter 9

    On the design and construction of CBS Black Rock; on the design and creation of the CBS eye logo; on what he feels is the lack of adequate maintenance of CBS Black Rock

    13:46

    On what CBS Black Rock meant to CBS; on the creation of CBS News; on CBS News' initial roster of correspondents

    13:16

    Chapter 10

    on CBS and the Hollywood Blacklist; on the quiz show scandals; on his day-to-day duties as the President of CBS

    14:03

    on his relationship with William S. Paley; on the people who followed him as CBS President; on Ted Turner and Adrian Murphy

    14:48

    Chapter 11

    On David Sarnoff; on CBS getting into the recording business with Columbia Records; on Peter Goldmark and the invention of the long playing record

    16:06

    On the creative aspects of being an executive; on CBS News President Richard S. Salant; on Newton N. Minow

    12:32

    Chapter 12

    On Newton N. Minow; on CBS executive Joseph H. Ream; on CBS News President Bill Leonard

    10:52

    On Arthur Godfrey; on art director Louis Dorfsman; on CBS President John A. Schneider

    11:02

    On William S. Paley's management style; on Walter Cronkite

    06:03

    Chapter 13

    On CBS President Robert D. Wood; on J. Leonard Reinsch and George Gallup; on his relationship with Lyndon B. Johnson

    13:23

    On designers he admired; on his most important decision at CBS, and on the then-future of broadcasting; on how he feels looking back over his time at CBS, and his hopes for the then-future of the network

    13:03

    CBS Reports

    Frank Stanton on CBS Reports: The Selling of the Pentagon

    02:51

    Frank Stanton on the controversial CBS Reports: The Selling of the Pentagon in which he personally faced contempt charges

    08:13

    Frank Stanton on broadcasting and the first amendment, and how it related to CBS Reports: "The Selling of the Pentagon"

    06:55

    CBS Reports: "The Selling of the Pentagon"

    Frank Stanton on CBS Reports: The Selling of the Pentagon

    02:51

    Frank Stanton on the controversial CBS Reports: The Selling of the Pentagon in which he personally faced contempt charges

    08:13

    Frank Stanton on broadcasting and the first amendment, and how it related to CBS Reports: "The Selling of the Pentagon"

    06:55

    Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town

    Frank Stanton on CBS' early programming, including the talent raids on NBC, and The Ed Sullivan Show

    06:21

    I Love Lucy

    Frank Stanton on where CBS stood in relation to NBC in the earliest days of television, and on eventually surpassing them with I Love Lucy

    04:23

    See It Now

    Frank Stanton on Edward R. Murrow's commentary on Senator Joseph McCarthy on See it Now

    04:51

    1939-40 World's Fair

    Frank Stanton on his early awareness of television, and the introduction of television at the 1939 Worlds Fair

    01:44

    Censorship / Standards & Practices

    Frank Stanton on his relationship with Senator John O. Pastore, and dealing with censorship

    04:58

    Harry S. Truman

    Frank Stanton on his association with Harry S. Truman

    08:11

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Frank Stanton on his early awareness of television, and the introduction of television at the 1939 Worlds Fair

    01:44

    Frank Stanton on his associations with John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, and on the Kennedy-Nixon debate

    04:32

    Frank Stanton on CBS News' coverage of Vietnam

    01:07

    Hollywood Blacklist

    Frank Stanton on Edward R. Murrow's commentary on Senator Joseph McCarthy

    04:51

    Frank Stanton on the policies invoked at CBS during the blacklist period, and on the loyalty oath

    04:33

    Frank Stanton on CBS and the Hollywood Blacklist

    07:44

    Industry Crossroads

    Frank Stanton on Edward R. Murrow's commentary on Senator Joseph McCarthy

    04:51

    Frank Stanton on the policies invoked at CBS during the blacklist period, and on the loyalty oath

    04:33

    Frank Stanton on the Quiz Show Scandals

    01:35

    Frank Stanton on CBS and the Hollywood Blacklist

    07:44

    Frank Stanton on the quiz show scandals

    03:10

    John F. Kennedy

    Frank Stanton on his associations with John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, and on the Kennedy-Nixon debate

    04:32

    Kennedy-Nixon Debates

    Frank Stanton on his associations with John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, and on the Kennedy-Nixon debate

    04:32

    Lyndon B. Johnson

    Frank Stanton on his relationship with Lyndon B. Johnson

    08:00

    Media Consolidation

    Frank Stanton on the impact of media consolidation on programming

    02:02

    Frank Stanton on the downside of media consolidation

    01:42

    Network Creation

    Frank Stanton on CBS getting into television, and the CBS network coverage in the early days

    03:44

    Frank Stanton on the FCC issuing the original licenses to television stations around the country, and CBS' failed color system

    05:57

    Frank Stanton on where CBS stood in relation to NBC in the earliest days of television, and on eventually surpassing them with I Love Lucy

    04:23

    Frank Stanton on the creation of CBS News for television, and Edward R. Murrow's reluctance to do television

    05:48

    Frank Stanton on the design and construction of CBS Television City in Los Angeles

    04:30

    Frank Stanton on the design and construction of CBS Black Rock in New York City

    05:51

    Frank Stanton on the design and construction of CBS Black Rock

    02:07

    Frank Stanton on the design and creation of the CBS eye logo

    04:17

    Frank Stanton on what he feels is the lack of adequate maintenance of CBS Black Rock

    07:22

    Frank Stanton on what CBS Black Rock meant to CBS

    03:12

    Frank Stanton on the creation of CBS News

    04:42

    Frank Stanton on CBS News' initial roster of correspondents

    05:22

    Quiz Show Scandals

    Frank Stanton on the Quiz Show Scandals

    01:35

    Frank Stanton on the quiz show scandals

    03:10

    Richard M. Nixon

    Frank Stanton on his associations with John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, and on the Kennedy-Nixon debate

    04:32

    Technological Innovation

    Frank Stanton on the FCC issuing the original licenses to television stations around the country, and CBS' failed color system

    16:41

    Frank Stanton on CBS' involvement with the home video recorder, and with inventor Peter Goldmark

    06:28

    Television and the Presidency

    Frank Stanton on his association with Harry S. Truman

    08:11

    Frank Stanton on his associations with John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, and on the Kennedy-Nixon debate

    04:32

    Frank Stanton on his associations with John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, and on the Kennedy-Nixon debate

    04:32

    Frank Stanton on his relationship with Lyndon B. Johnson

    08:00

    Television Industry

    Frank Stanton on CBS getting into television, and the CBS network coverage in the early days

    03:44

    Frank Stanton on the FCC issuing the original licenses to television stations around the country, and CBS' failed color system

    05:57

    Frank Stanton on where CBS stood in relation to NBC in the earliest days of television, and on eventually surpassing them with I Love Lucy

    04:23

    Frank Stanton on the creation of CBS News for television, and Edward R. Murrow's reluctance to do television

    05:48

    Frank Stanton on Edward R. Murrow's commentary on Senator Joe McCarthy

    50:46

    Frank Stanton on the policies invoked at CBS during the blacklist period

    04:33

    Frank Stanton on the Quiz Show Scandals

    01:35

    Frank Stanton on his relationship with Senator John O. Pastore, and dealing with censorship

    04:58

    Frank Stanton on how the networks have changed since he started

    01:45

    Frank Stanton on CBS spinning off Viacom for syndication purposes

    02:53

    Frank Stanton on the rise of cable television, and the then-future of new media

    07:38

    Frank Stanton on the impact of media consolidation on programming

    02:02

    Frank Stanton on the then-current state of television

    01:51

    Frank Stanton on broadcasting and the first amendment, and how it related to CBS Reports: "The Selling of the Pentagon"

    06:55

    Frank Stanton on the downside of media consolidation

    01:42

    Frank Stanton on the then-current state of broadcasting, and on what he felt was most important in broadcasting at the time

    01:54

    Frank Stanton on the creation on the CBS television network, alongside the CBS radio network

    04:15

    Frank Stanton on the news on public television, and on the then-current state of network news

    02:53

    Frank Stanton on the design and construction of CBS Television City in Los Angeles

    04:30

    Frank Stanton on the design and construction of Black Rock in New York City

    05:51

    Frank Stanton on the design and construction of CBS Black Rock

    02:07

    Frank Stanton on the design and creation of the CBS eye logo

    04:17

    Frank Stanton on what he feels is the lack of adequate maintenance of CBS Black Rock, and on what the building meant for CBS

    07:22

    Frank Stanton on what CBS Black Rock meant to CBS

    03:12

    Frank Stanton on the creation of CBS News

    04:42

    Frank Stanton on CBS News' initial roster of correspondents

    05:22

    Frank Stanton on CBS and the Hollywood Blacklist

    07:44

    Frank Stanton on the quiz show scandals

    03:10

    Vietnam War

    Frank Stanton on CBS News' coverage of Vietnam

    01:07

    War

    Frank Stanton on CBS News' coverage of Vietnam

    01:07

    Executives

    Frank Stanton on his day-to-day duties as the President of CBS

    03:09

    Frank Stanton on the people who followed him as CBS President

    02:30

    Frank Stanton on the creative aspects of being an executive

    01:42

    Frank Stanton on his most important decision at CBS, and on the then-future of broadcasting

    04:25

    Frank Stanton on how he feels looking back over his time at CBS, and his hopes for the then-future of the network

    38:06

    Television Executive

    Frank Stanton on his day-to-day duties as the President of CBS

    03:09

    Frank Stanton on the people who followed him as CBS President

    02:30

    Frank Stanton on the creative aspects of being an executive

    01:42

    Frank Stanton on his most important decisions at CBS, and on the then-future of broadcasting

    04:25

    Frank Stanton on how he feels looking back over his time at CBS, and his hopes for the then-future of the network

    04:33

    Game Shows

    Frank Stanton on the Quiz Show Scandals

    01:35

    News and Documentary

    Frank Stanton on the founding and history of CBS News

    29:02

    Frank Stanton on the controversial CBS Reports: The Selling of the Pentagon in which he personally faced contempt charges

    08:13

    Frank Stanton on the creation of CBS News

    43:01

    James T. Aubrey

    Frank Stanton on CBS President James T. Aubrey

    04:22

    Frank Stanton on the firing of CBS President James T. Aubrey

    05:26

    Walter Cronkite

    Frank Stanton on Walter Cronkite

    03:25

    Louis Dorfsman

    Frank Stanton on art director Louis Dorfsman

    02:06

    Fred Friendly

    Frank Stanton on the departure of Fred Friendly from CBS News

    03:05

    Arthur Godfrey

    Frank Stanton on Arthur Godfrey

    03:07

    Nikita Khrushchev

    Frank Stanton on the CBS News interview with Nikita Khrushchev, and on government's relationship with the news media

    03:58

    Bill Leonard

    Frank Stanton on CBS News President Bill Leonard

    03:27

    Joseph McCarthy

    Frank Stanton on Edward R. Murrow's commentary on Senator Joseph McCarthy

    04:51

    Newton N. Minow

    Frank Stanton on Newton N. Minow

    01:37

    Frank Stanton on Newton N. Minow

    04:29

    Edward R. Murrow

    Frank Stanton on the creation of CBS News for television, and Edward R. Murrow's reluctance to do television

    05:48

    William S. Paley

    Frank Stanton on his relationship with William S. Paley

    07:37

    Frank Stanton on his relationship with William S. Paley

    08:49

    Frank Stanton on William S. Paley's management style

    02:38

    Richard S. Salant

    Frank Stanton on CBS News President Richard S. Salant

    09:13

    David Sarnoff

    Frank Stanton on David Sarnoff

    04:33

    Eric Sevareid

    Frank Stanton on the early CBS News correspondents including Eric Sevareid and Paul White

    03:25

    Ted Turner

    Frank Stanton on Ted Turner and Adrian Murphy

    03:29

    Orson Welles

    Frank Stanton on Orson Welles "War of the Worlds" broadcast

    06:51

    Robert D. Wood

    Frank Stanton on CBS President Robert D. Wood

    02:09

    All Interviews

    Loading Interviews...