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 Archive interview, television executive 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 in Jupiter, FL on December 12, 1998.

"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."

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

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

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

02:58

Huntley-Brinkley Report, The

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

01:57

Meet the Press

Julian Goodman on watching Meet the Press when it debuted

02:46

NBC News

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

Julian Goodman on expanding NBC Nightly News to 30 minutes

00:53

See It Now

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"

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

00:57

Today

Julian Goodman on working on the first episode of Today

01:41

Twenty One

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

01:21

Topics

Dwight D. Eisenhower

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

01:21

Sports

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

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

01:49

Television and the Presidency

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

Julian Goodman on NBC news coverage of the Vietnam War

02:15

War

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

Julian Goodman on NBC's coverage of JFK's assassination

08:17

World War II

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

View Profession

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

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

Spiro T. Agnew

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Julian Goodman on the '64 Republican convention

02:27

Roone Arledge

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Julian Goodman on Roone Arledge

00:56

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

John Chancellor

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Julian Goodman on the '64 Republican convention

02:27

Anthony Conrad

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Julian Goodman on Anthony Conrad succeeding Robert Sarnoff at NBC

02:14

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

Charles Van Doren

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

01:21

Bob Doyle

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Julian Goodman on Bob Doyle

00:19

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

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

Jim Henson

View Person Page

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

01:05

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

Chet Huntley

View Person Page

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

Lucy Jarvis

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Julian Goodman on Lucy Jarvis' TV documentaries

01:22

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

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

Paul L. Klein

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Julian Goodman on Paul Klein

00:25

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

Edward R. Murrow

View Person Page

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

Richard M. Nixon

View Person Page

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

David Sarnoff

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Julian Goodman on working with David Sarnoff

02:01

Herbert S. Schlosser

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

01:05

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

Sylvester L. Weaver

View Person Page

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

View Person Page

Julian Goodman on Ted Yates

00:24