Frank Stanton

Executive

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About

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. A previous two-hour audio-only interview was conducted on November 16, 1999.

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

"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."

People Talking About ...

Frank Stanton

Highlights

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

06:55

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

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

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

Chapter 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 10

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

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

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

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

Chapter 12

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

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

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

Chapter 13

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

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

Shows

CBS Reports

View Show Page

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"

View Show Page

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"