Joseph Wershba

News Producer / Journalist

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About

About this interview

In his six-hour interview, news producer Joseph Wershba (1920-2011) speaks about his early years with CBS Radio, and making the transition to television. He recalls working with Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow on See it Now on several important stories, including the Murrow takedown of Senator Joseph McCarthy. He talks about Murrow's later career, and his eventual death from lung cancer in 1965. He details the creation of 60 Minutes by producer Don Hewitt, and recounts working with all of the original correspondents including Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, and Harry Reasoner. He outlines several memorable 60 Minutes pieces he produced, including on the Gulf of Tonkin incident, on Japanese internment camps during World War II, and on the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. He concludes by remembering some of the most important people he encountered and worked with during his long career. Jeff Kisseloff conducted the interview on October 14, 1997 in Manhasset Hills, NY.

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

"I remember when Walter [Cronkite] said the Nixon White House was in a conspiracy to destroy the news media and I said, 'Walter, I wouldn't use the word conspiracy.' When you saw the documentation, I went back years later and apologized to him. There was a conspiracy."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Joseph Wershba on being hired as a writer for CBS News on radio in 1944

05:39

Joseph Wershba on producing 60 Minutes story on Japanese Internment during World War II

06:02

Joseph Wershba on the staff of CBS News on radio in 1944 including Paul White and Edward R. Murrow

04:14

Joseph Wershba on the last time he saw Edward R. Murrow

02:24

Joseph Wershba on 60 Minutes being an investigative show, and on Mike Wallace covering Northern Ireland

09:12

Joseph Wershba on Alcoa, the sponsor of See It Now

03:10

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on deciding he wanted to be a journalist, and on early favorite writers of his; on the politics of his family when he was growing up, and on getting involved with politics as he got older

On radio newscasts he listened to while growing up; on his experience with World War II; on being hired as a writer for CBS News on radio in 1944

Chapter 2

On the staff of CBS News on radio in 1944 including Paul White and Edward R. Murrow; on the format of CBS News on radio in 1944, and the kinds of stories covered; on starting to write for CBS News on television for the 1948 political conventions

On reporter Douglas Edwards making the transition, and on the technological aspects of working in radio; on working on the radio program "CBS Views the Press" with Edward R. Murrow; on CBS reporter Don Hollenbeck committing suicide after having been accused of Communist sympathy

Chapter 3

On CBS reporter Don Hollenbeck committing suicide after having been accused of Communist sympathies; on the start of his professional association with Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly, and on "Hear it Now"; on working with Walter Cronkite

On the relationship between Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow, and on Friendly's importance to CBS News in the '50s; on what it was like to work for Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow at CBS News; on a contentious meeting with William S. Paley and Edward R. Murrow

Chapter 4

On Edward R. Murrow's relationships with William S. Paley and Walter Cronkite; on writing for See It Now, produced by Fred Friendly and anchored by Edward R. Murrow; on Alcoa, the sponsor of See It Now

On the staff of See It Now; on See It Now being apart from CBS News, and on Edward R. Murrow's later relationship with Walter Cronkite and management at CBS; on working on the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

Chapter 5

On working on the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich; on gauging reaction the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich; on the logistics of piecing together and editing the Milo Radulovich See It Now piece

On writing and recording the narration for the Milo Radulovich piece on See It Now, and on rehearsing the show; on the technical aspects of See It Now airing live; on the kinds of stories that were done by See It Now during its first few years

On the public reaction of the See It Now piece on Milo Radulovich, and on the anti-Communist crowd reaction; on the importance and the legacy of the Milo Radulovich story on See It Now

Chapter 6

On collecting information for the classic See It Now broadcast "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"; on how Senator Joseph R. McCarthy used television; on his relationship with Senator Joseph McCarthy

On Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow putting together See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"; on Dr. Frank Stanton and William S. Paley's reaction to See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

Chapter 7

On the impact the McCarthy See It Now story had on Edward R. Murrow's career and standing at CBS, and Murrow's interview with Robert Oppenheimer; on doing a See It Now story about suspected Communist Annie Lee Moss; on the See It Now report "The Argument in Indianapolis," and on the then-growing power of television

On being made to sign a "loyalty oath" by CBS; on the legacy of See It Now, anchored by Edward R. Murrow and produced by Fred Friendly, and on 60 Minutes; on the last time he saw Edward R. Murrow

Chapter 8

On Edward R. Murrow's feelings about CBS toward the end of his life; on the See It Now "Christmas in Korea" report in 1952 with Edward R. Murrow

On the creation of 60 Minutes by Don Hewitt, and on early stories; on 60 Minutes being an investigative show, and on Mike Wallace covering Northern Ireland

Chapter 9

On the differences between Fred Friendly and Don Hewitt as producers; on coming up with, or being assigned stories for 60 Minutes, and on stories he was not allowed to do; on 60 Minutes story on The Gulf of Tonkin incident

On dealing with advertisers on 60 Minutes; on the confrontational style of 60 Minutes; on some of the most important stories during his time at the show and on budgeting his stories

Chapter 10

On producing the H.L. Hunt story for Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes; on producing the James Michener story for 60 Minutes; on producing 60 Minutes story on Japanese Internment during World War II

On producing the Jimmy Hoffa story for 60 Minutes (Morley Safer reported); on producing the Henry Durham story for 60 Minutes

Chapter 11

On how the industry has changed since he started, and on the then-future of news on television

On various people he's worked with in his career

Chapter 12

On some of the people he worked with in his career

On B-roll pictures from his career- with a Senator at the 1948 Philadelphia Convention; print ad for The Top of the News ; Edward R. Murrow broadcasting on CBS Radio; with the CBS Views The Press team; election night, 1960

Chapter 13

On B-roll pictures from his career- with the CBS News team circa 1952; New York City Police Academy; with Cardinal Cushing; Mike Wallace on the West Bank; with Carl Sandberg and Wershba's son Don; with author James Michener; with his wife and Walter Cronkite; dancing with his wife; with the CBS News crew in Korea 1952

Shows

60 Minutes

Joseph Wershba on the legacy of See It Now, anchored by Edward R. Murrow and produced by Fred Friendly, and on 60 Minutes

03:07

Joseph Wershba on the creation of 60 Minutes by Don Hewitt, and on early stories

05:34

Joseph Wershba on 60 Minutes being an investigative show, and on Mike Wallace covering Northern Ireland

09:12

Joseph Wershba on the differences between Fred Friendly and Don Hewitt of 60 Minutes as producers

02:38

Joseph Wershba on coming up with, or being assigned stories for 60 Minutes, and on stories he was not allowed to do

08:19

Joseph Wershba on 60 Minutes story on The Gulf of Tonkin incident

04:14

Joseph Wershba on dealing with advertisers on 60 Minutes

01:17

Joseph Wershba on the confrontational style of 60 Minutes

07:13

Joseph Wershba on the "macho" attitude that pervaded 60 Minutes

01:43

Joseph Wershba on some of the most important stories during his time at 60 Minutes, and on budgeting his stories

02:12

Joseph Wershba on producing the H.L. Hunt story for Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes

05:53

Joseph Wershba on producing the James Michener story for 60 Minutes

02:51

Joseph Wershba on producing 60 Minutes story on Japanese Internment during World War II

05:42

Joseph Wershba on producing the Jimmy Hoffa story for 60 Minutes, reported by Morley Safer

10:17

Joseph Wershba on producing the Henry Durham story for 60 Minutes

02:51

See It Now

Joseph Wershba on writing for See It Now, produced by Fred Friendly and anchored by Edward R. Murrow

05:16

Joseph Wershba on Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow's original plans for See It Now

02:38

Joseph Wershba on Alcoa, the sponsor of See It Now

03:10

Joseph Wershba on the staff of See It Now

06:18

Joseph Wershba on See It Now being apart from CBS News, and on Edward R. Murrow's later relationship with Walter Cronkite and management at CBS

03:38

Joseph Wershba on working on the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

04:16

Joseph Wershba on working on the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

02:35

Joseph Wershba on gauging reaction the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

04:42

Joseph Wershba on the logistics of piecing together and editing the Milo Radulovich See It Now piece

06:45

Joseph Wershba on writing and recording the narration for the Milo Radulovich piece on See It Now, and on rehearsing the show

03:28

Joseph Wershba on the technical aspects of See It Now airing live

03:00

Joseph Wershba on the kinds of stories that were done by See It Now during its first few years

01:24

Joseph Wershba on the public reaction of the See It Now piece on Milo Radulovich, and on the anti-Communist crowd reaction

05:04

Joseph Wershba on the importance and the legacy of the Milo Radulovich story on See It Now

02:20

Joseph Wershba on collecting information for the classic See It Now broadcast "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

05:22

Joseph Wershba on how Senator Joseph R. McCarthy used television

05:34

Joseph Wershba on his relationship with Senator Joseph McCarthy

03:05

Joseph Wershba on Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow putting together See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

08:58

Joseph Wershba on Dr. Frank Stanton and William S. Paley's reaction to See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

04:30

Joseph Wershba on the impact the McCarthy See It Now story had on Edward R. Murrow's career and standing at CBS, and Murrow's interview with Robert Oppenheimer

03:02

Joseph Wershba on doing a See It Now story about suspected Communist Annie Lee Moss

05:25

Joseph Wershba on the See It Now report "The Argument in Indianapolis," and on the then-growing power of television

06:52

Joseph Wershba on being made to sign a "loyalty oath" by CBS

06:54

Joseph Wershba on the legacy of See It Now, anchored by Edward R. Murrow and produced by Fred Friendly, and on 60 Minutes

03:07

Joseph Wershba on the See It Now "Christmas in Korea" report in 1952 with Edward R. Murrow

12:07

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

Joseph Wershba on collecting information for the classic See It Now broadcast "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

05:22

Joseph Wershba on how Senator Joseph R. McCarthy used television

05:34

Joseph Wershba on his relationship with Senator Joseph McCarthy

03:05

Joseph Wershba on Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow putting together See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

08:58

Joseph Wershba on Dr. Frank Stanton and William S. Paley's reaction to See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

04:30

Topics

Historic Events and Social Change

Joseph Wershba on his experience with World War II

03:03

Joseph Wershba on the See It Now "Christmas in Korea" report in 1952 with Edward R. Murrow

12:07

Joseph Wershba on 60 Minutes story on The Gulf of Tonkin incident

04:14

Hollywood Blacklist

Joseph Wershba on CBS reporter Don Hollenbeck committing suicide after having been accused of Communist sympathy

01:37

Joseph Wershba on CBS reporter Don Hollenbeck committing suicide after having been accused of Communist sympathies

02:49

Joseph Wershba on working on the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

04:16

Joseph Wershba on working on the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

29:18

Joseph Wershba on Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now

27:29

Industry Crossroads

Joseph Wershba on CBS reporter Don Hollenbeck committing suicide after having been accused of Communist sympathy

01:37

Joseph Wershba on CBS reporter Don Hollenbeck committing suicide after having been accused of Communist sympathies

02:49

Joseph Wershba on working on the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

04:16

Joseph Wershba on working on the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

29:18

Joseph Wershba on Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now

27:29

Joseph Wershba on being made to sign a "loyalty oath" by CBS

06:54

Korean War

Joseph Wershba on the See It Now "Christmas in Korea" report in 1952 with Edward R. Murrow

12:07

Television Industry

Joseph Wershba on CBS reporter Don Hollenbeck committing suicide after having been accused of Communist sympathy

01:37

Joseph Wershba on CBS reporter Don Hollenbeck committing suicide after having been accused of Communist sympathies

02:49

Joseph Wershba on working on the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

04:16

Joseph Wershba on working on the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

29:18

Joseph Wershba on Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now

27:29

Joseph Wershba on being made to sign a "loyalty oath" by CBS

06:54

Joseph Wershba on how the industry has changed since he started, and on the then-future of news on television

07:11

Vietnam War

Joseph Wershba on 60 Minutes story on The Gulf of Tonkin incident

04:14

War

Joseph Wershba on his experience with World War II

03:03

Joseph Wershba on the See It Now "Christmas in Korea" report in 1952 with Edward R. Murrow

12:07

Joseph Wershba on 60 Minutes story on The Gulf of Tonkin incident

04:14

World War II

Joseph Wershba on his experience with World War II

03:03

Genres

News and Documentary

Joseph Wershba on writing for See It Now

25:16

Joseph Wershba on working on the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

29:18

Joseph Wershba on Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now

27:29

Jospeh Wershba on writing for 60 Minutes

27:36

Joseph Wershba on producing stories for 60 Minutes

27:34

People

Alger Hiss

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Joseph Wershba on Alger Hiss

01:20

Andy Rooney

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Joseph Wershba on Andy Rooney

00:24

Bill Leonard

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Joseph Wershba on Bill Leonard

01:05

Charles Collingwood

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Joseph Wershba on Charles Collingwood

00:43

Dan Rather

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Joseph Wershba on Dan Rather

01:07

Diane Sawyer

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Joseph Wershba on Diane Sawyer

01:06

Don Hewitt

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Joseph Wershba on the creation of 60 Minutes by Don Hewitt, and on early stories

05:34

Joseph Wershba on the differences between Fred Friendly and Don Hewitt as producers

02:38

Joseph Wershba on Don Hewitt

00:45

Douglas Edwards

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Joseph Wershba on reporter Douglas Edwards making the transition, and on the technological aspects of working in radio

05:18

Ed Bradley

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Joseph Wershba on Ed Bradley

00:34

Edward R. Murrow

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Joseph Wershba on the staff of CBS News on radio in 1944 including Paul White and Edward R. Murrow

04:14

Joseph Wershba on working on the radio program "CBS Views the Press" with Edward R. Murrow

06:34

Joseph Wershba on the start of his professional association with Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly, and on "Hear it Now"

06:41

Joseph Wershba on the relationship between Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow

02:46

Joseph Wershba on the relationship between Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow, and on Friendly's importance to CBS News in the '50s

02:47

Joseph Wershba on what it was like to work for Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow at CBS News

06:03

Joseph Wershba on a contentious meeting with William S. Paley and Edward R. Murrow

02:28

Joseph Wershba on Edward R. Murrow's relationships with William S. Paley and Walter Cronkite

03:05

Joseph Wershba on writing for See It Now, produced by Fred Friendly and anchored by Edward R. Murrow

25:16

Joseph Wershba on Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow putting together See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

08:58

Joseph Wershba on the last time he saw Edward R. Murrow

02:24

Joseph Wershba on the impact the McCarthy See It Now story had on Edward R. Murrow's career and standing at CBS, and Murrow's interview with Robert Oppenheimer

03:02

Joseph Wershba on the legacy of See It Now, anchored by Edward R. Murrow and produced by Fred Friendly, and on 60 Minutes

03:07

Joseph Wershba on Edward R. Murrow's feelings about CBS toward the end of his life

01:26

Joseph Wershba on the See It Now "Christmas in Korea" report in 1952 with Edward R. Murrow

12:07

Joseph Wershba on Edward R. Murrow

02:01

Eric Sevareid

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Joseph Wershba on Eric Sevareid

00:42

Frank Stanton

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Joseph Wershba on Dr. Frank Stanton and William S. Paley's reaction to See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

04:30

Joseph Wershba on Frank Stanton

01:23

Fred Friendly

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Joseph Wershba on the start of his professional association with Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly, and on "Hear it Now"

06:41

Joseph Wershba on the relationship between Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow, and on Friendly's importance to CBS News in the '50s

02:47

Joseph Wershba on what it was like to work for Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow at CBS News

06:03

Joseph Wershba on writing for See It Now, produced by Fred Friendly and anchored by Edward R. Murrow

25:16

Joseph Wershba on Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow putting together See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

08:58

Joseph Wershba on the legacy of See It Now, anchored by Edward R. Murrow and produced by Fred Friendly, and on 60 Minutes

03:07

Joseph Wershba on the differences between Fred Friendly and Don Hewitt as producers

02:38

Joseph Wershba on Fred Friendly

00:24

Harry Reasoner

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Joseph Wershba on Harry Reasoner

00:59

Howard K. Smith

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Joseph Wershba on Howard K. Smith

01:46

Joseph McCarthy

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Joseph Wershba on collecting information for the classic See It Now broadcast "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

05:22

Joseph Wershba on how Senator Joseph R. McCarthy used television

05:34

Joseph Wershba on his relationship with Senator Joseph McCarthy

03:05

Joseph Wershba on Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow putting together See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

08:58

Joseph Wershba on Dr. Frank Stanton and William S. Paley's reaction to See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

04:30

Laurence A. Tisch

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Joseph Wershba on Larry Tisch

01:37

Michael Eisner

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Joseph Wershba on Michael Eisner

01:17

Mike Wallace

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Joseph Wershba on 60 Minutes being an investigative show, and on Mike Wallace covering Northern Ireland

09:12

Joseph Wershba on producing the H.L. Hunt story for Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes

05:53

Joseph Wershba on Mike Wallace

01:29

Mili Lerner Bonsignori

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Joseph Wershba on Mili Lerner Bonsignori

00:56

Milo Radulovich

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Joseph Wershba on working on the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

02:35

Joseph Wershba on gauging reaction the See It Now story about reserve Air Force lieutenant Milo Radulovich

04:42

Joseph Wershba on the logistics of piecing together and editing the Milo Radulovich See It Now piece

06:45

Joseph Wershba on the public reaction of the See It Now piece on Milo Radulovich, and on the anti-Communist crowd reaction

05:04

Joseph Wershba on the importance and the legacy of the Milo Radulovich story on See It Now

02:20

Morley Safer

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Joseph Wershba on producing the Jimmy Hoffa story for 60 Minutes (Morley Safer reported)

10:17

Joseph Wershba on Morley Safer

00:50

Sig Mickelson

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Joseph Wershba on Sig Mickelson

01:13

Spiro T. Agnew

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Joseph Wershba on Spiro T. Agnew

00:52

Walter Cronkite

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Joseph Wershba on working with Walter Cronkite

05:21

Joseph Wershba on the relationship between Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow

02:46

Joseph Wershba on Edward R. Murrow's relationships with William S. Paley and Walter Cronkite

03:05

Joseph Wershba on Walter Cronkite

01:24

William S. Paley

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Joseph Wershba on a contentious meeting with William S. Paley and Edward R. Murrow

02:28

Joseph Wershba on Edward R. Murrow's relationships with William S. Paley and Walter Cronkite

03:05

Joseph Wershba on Dr. Frank Stanton and William S. Paley's reaction to See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

04:30

Joseph Wershba on William S. Paley

01:36