About
"My advice to aspiring television news producers? Make sure you're not telling any lies, and that your sources are correct. Don't let vanity get in the way of your reporting. And try to find another career. How about fashion?"
In his two-hour interview, Perry Wolff (1921-2019) talks about his early life and experiences, including his service during World War II and the novel he wrote about it. He describes his early career, first on WBBM radio and later as a writer on Guiding Light. He chronicles his early days at CBS News where he worked on the 1952 political conventions and met President Dwight Eisenhower. Wolff recounts working on two news documentary series in the 1950s: Adventure and Air Power hosted by Walter Cronkite. He details producing the groundbreaking A Tour of the White House, led by Jacqueline Kennedy, which was the first time television cameras were allowed inside the White House. He discusses his time as a producer of CBS Reports, which aired the controversial "The Selling of the Pentagon" episode. He outlines being ousted from CBS News at the behest of William S. Paley and transitioning to PBS, where he produced documentaries, including The Vanishing Family. He concludes by giving his thoughts on the then-current state of television news and documentaries. Jenni Matz conducted the interview on February 27, 2015 in Westwood, CA.
Highlights
Perry Wolff on producing A Tour of the White House for CBS News featuring Jacqueline Kennedy, First Lady to President John F. Kennedy
Perry Wolff on executive producing "The Selling of the Pentagon" for CBS Reports
Perry Wolff on working with Walter Cronkite on Air Power
Perry Wolff on covering the 1952 political convention for CBS and meeting President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Perry Wolff on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist
Perry Wolff on how he'd like to be remembered
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his interests growing up; on his experience in World War II and writing a novel about it; on going to work for WBBM radio
On going to write for Guiding Light; on going to work for CBS making documentaries; on his friendship with Lady Bird Johnson; on covering the 1952 political convention for CBS and meeting President Dwight D. Eisenhower
On producing the CBS documentary series Adventure; on producing Air Power for CBS; on working with Walter Cronkite on Air Power
On dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist; on being fired from CBS by William S. Paley; on producing A Tour of the White House for CBS News
Chapter 2
On being hired to executive produce CBS Reports and choosing stories for that show; on executive producing "The Selling of the Pentagon" for CBS Reports
On the then-current state of investigative journalism and television documentaries; on working with Eric Sevareid and his strained relationship with Walter Cronkite
On working with various luminaries during his career; on producing The Vanishing Family for PBS
On writing and producing The Moon Above, the Earth Below; on the then-current state of the news media and its biggest challenges; on his greatest achievement, his advice to aspiring television documentary filmmakers, and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Adventure
Perry Wolff on producing the CBS documentary series Adventure with host Charles Collingwood
Perry Wolff on working with noted cultural anthropoligist Margaret Mead on the series Adventure
Perry Wolff on mishaps during the production of Adventure
Air Power
Perry Wolff on producing Air Power for CBS
Perry Wolff on working with Walter Cronkite on Air Power
CBS Reports
Perry Wolff on being hired to executive produce CBS Reports and choosing stories for that show
Perry Wolff on executive producing "The Selling of the Pentagon" for CBS Reports
CBS Reports: "The Selling of the Pentagon"
Perry Wolff on executive producing "The Selling of the Pentagon" for CBS Reports
Guiding Light
Perry Wolff on going to write for Guiding Light
Topics
Advice
Perry Wolff on his greatest achievement and his advice to aspiring television documentary filmmakers
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Perry Wolff on covering the 1952 political convention for CBS and meeting President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Historic Events and Social Change
Perry Wolff on his experience in World War II and writing a novel about it
Hollywood Blacklist
Perry Wolff on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Perry Wolff on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist
John F. Kennedy
Perry Wolff on producing > A Tour of the White House for CBS News featuring Jacqueline Kennedy, First Lady to President John F. Kennedy>
Lyndon B. Johnson
Perry Wolff on going to work for CBS making documentaries and his friendship with Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson
Television and the Presidency
Perry Wolff on going to work for CBS making documentaries and his friendship with Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson
Perry Wolff on producing > A Tour of the White House for CBS News featuring Jacqueline Kennedy, First Lady to President John F. Kennedy>
Perry Wolff on covering the 1952 political convention for CBS and meeting President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Television Industry
Perry Wolff on the then-current state of investigative journalism and television documentaries
Perry Wolff on the then-current state of the news media and its biggest challenges
Perry Wolff on the the role of the broadcaster in the then-current climate of television news
Perry Wolff on his greatest achievement and his advice to aspiring television documentary filmmakers
Perry Wolff on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist
War
Perry Wolff on his experience in World War II and writing a novel about it
World War II
Perry Wolff on his experience in World War II and writing a novel about it
Professions
Journalists & News Producers
Perry Wolff on Standards and Practices he applies to television documentaries
Perry Wolff on his greatest achievement and his advice to aspiring television documentary filmmakers
News Producer
Perry Wolff on Standards and Practices he applies to television documentaries
Perry Wolff on his greatest achievement and his advice to aspiring television documentary filmmakers
Producers
Perry Wolff on Standards and Practices he applies to television documentaries
Perry Wolff on his greatest achievement and his advice to aspiring television documentary filmmakers
Genres
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Perry Wolff on going to write for Guiding Light
News and Documentary
Perry Wolff on producing CBS Reports including "The Selling of the Pentagon" segment
Perry Wolff on producing The Vanishing Family for PBS
Perry Wolff on writing and producing The Moon Above, the Earth Below
Perry Wolff on his role as producer of the CBS documentary series Adventure
Perry Wolff on producing A Tour of the White House for CBS News featuring Jacqueline Kennedy, First Lady to President John F. Kennedy
Perry Wolff on producing Air Power for CBS
People
Charles Collingwood
Perry Wolff on his role as producer of the CBS documentary series Adventure with host Charles Collingwood
Walter Cronkite
Perry Wolff on working with Eric Sevareid and his strained relationship with Walter Cronkite
Perry Wolff on working with Walter Cronkite on Air Power
Fred Friendly
Perry Wolff on working with Fred Friendly
Don Hewitt
Perry Wolff on 60 Minutes producer Don Hewitt
Lyndon B. Johnson
Perry Wolff on going to work for CBS making documentaries and his friendship with Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson
John F. Kennedy
Perry Wolff on producing A Tour of the White House for CBS News featuring Jacqueline Kennedy, First Lady to President John F. Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy
Perry Wolff on producing A Tour of the White House for CBS News featuring Jacqueline Kennedy, First Lady to President John F. Kennedy
Sig Mickelson
Perry Wolff on Sig Mickelson
Edward R. Murrow
Perry Wolff on working with Edward R. Murrow
William S. Paley
Perry Wolff on working for William S. Paley
Perry Wolff on being fired from CBS by William S. Paley
Richard S. Salant
Perry Wolff on working with Richard S. Salant
Eric Sevareid
Perry Wolff on working with Eric Sevareid and his strained relationship with Walter Cronkite
Frank Stanton
Perry Wolff on working for Frank Stanton