Robert MacNeil

Journalist


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his seven-hour interview, Robert MacNeil (1931-2024) speaks about his long and illustrious career in journalism, starting in London with Independent Television (ITV) and later with Reuters. He recalls being hired at the NBC bureau in London, covering the Berlin crisis (when the Berlin Wall was erected) and reporting on the Cuban Missile Crisis from inside Cuba. He details his move to Washington D.C., where he covered the Kennedy assassination in Dallas (unknowingly meeting Lee Harvey Oswald) and the Civil Rights Movement in the South. He recounts covering Lyndon Johnson, as well as the presidential campaign of Barry Goldwater in 1964 and reporting on the downfall of Richard Nixon. MacNeil outlines his work on NBC's The Huntley-Brinkley Report, where he acted as a "roving reporter" and talks about leaving NBC and his work with the BBC. He discusses the beginnings of his partnership with Jim Lehrer and recounts stories from The MacNeil Lehrer Report (later the MacNeil Lehrer Newshour). He speaks of his more then-recent work as a novelist and finally comments on the then-current and future state of network news. Don Carleton conducted the interview on November 18, 2000 and May 15, 2001 in New York, NY.

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

"Television has changed journalism utterly, as it's changed the whole culture. To have been able for a few years to hold the line against a tide that's going to engulf us all in the end has been a source of gratification to me."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Robert MacNeil on covering Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and the Civil Rights Movement
05:38
Robert MacNeil on interviewing Rose Kennedy
05:30
Robert MacNeil on covering Watergate
10:01
Robert MacNeil on starting The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
06:02
Robert MacNeil on naming The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
03:21
Robert MacNeil on being on a bus directly following John F. Kennedy's Presidential motorcade in Dallas to cover the story for NBC news; witnessing the assassination; inadvertently running into the Texas Book Depository to call the newsroom where he later learned the shots were believed to be fired from; and how he managed to continue to call the story in from a payphone at the hospital where Kennedy had been pronounced dead after all the reporters were kicked out.
10:41
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on radio he listened to growing up
On his experiences during World War II; on his education and his first job in broadcasting at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Chapter 2

On becoming a writer; on his first experience with television 
On working for the BBC; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on going to work for NBC News

Chapter 3

On working with John Chancellor at NBC; on covering the Belgian Congo uprising
On covering the rise of the Berlin Wall; on covering the Cuban Missile Crisis

Chapter 4

On covering the Cuban Missile Crisis; on covering the Cold War in East Berlin
On covering Algeria; on covering the Civil Rights Movement; on covering the Kennedy White House and the Barry Goldwater campaign

Chapter 5

On covering Barry Goldwater's 1964 campaign
On covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas for NBC News

Chapter 6

On covering the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination for NBC News
On covering the 1964 campaign for The Huntley-Brinkley Report; on acting as a roving reporter and covering the death of Winston Churchill

Chapter 7

On covering the death of Winston Churchill; on anchoring news on NBC and leaving for the BBC
On his critique of The Huntley-Brinkley Report and of network news in general

Chapter 8

On his experience working for the BBC; on the differences between British and US news; on covering Richard Nixon
On going to work at PBS and being teamed with Jim Lehrer; on leaving the BBC; on the Public Broadcasting Laboratory

Chapter 9

On how the Kennedy and Johnson administrations dealt with the press; on the press' treatment of American Presidents
On covering the Civil Rights Movement; on television's role in the major news events of the 20th century

Chapter 10

On the special The World is Watching; on editing news stories
On covering Watergate; on the birth of his partnership with Jim Lehrer

Chapter 11

On the internal politics at PBS; on stories he covered for the BBC
On interviewing Rose Kennedy; on Washington Week in Review; on starting The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour

Chapter 12

On establishing The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour; on naming The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour; on the format of the show
On critical reaction to The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour; on expanding The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour  to an hour; on the logistics of the show and hiring staff

Chapter 13

On the production and distribution of The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour; on writing for The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour; on his on-air chemistry with Jim Lehrer
On researching a story and his interview technique; on his favorite interviews that he's done; on almost interviewing the Ayatollah Khomeini

Chapter 14

On attempting to interview the Ayatollah Khomeini; on various side-broadcasting jobs; on producing and hosting The Story of English
On the then-current state of the media; on ethics in journalism; on summing up his career and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

Huntley-Brinkley Report, The

View Show Page
Robert MacNeil on working on The Huntley-Brinkley Report and covering the 1964 campaign
07:13
Robert MacNeil on acting as roving reporter for The Huntley-Brinkley Report
07:44
Robert MacNeil on his critique of The Huntley-Brinkley Report and of network news in general
13:07

NBC News

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Robert MacNeil on working with John Chancellor at NBC
05:09
Robert MacNeil on covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas for NBC News
22:06

PBS NewsHour

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Robert MacNeil on The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour and how the show developed
07:10
Robert MacNeil on starting The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
06:02
Robert MacNeil on establishing The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
04:30
Robert MacNeil on naming The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
03:21
Robert MacNeil on the early format and the set of The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour and being courted by ABC
06:04
Robert MacNeil on critical reaction to The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour and various stories they covered
05:59
Robert MacNeil on choosing what stories to cover on The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour and expanding the show to an hour
04:51
Robert MacNeil on the logistics of The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour and hiring staff for the show
02:03
Robert MacNeil on the production of The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour and how the show is distributed to PBS stations
06:24
Robert MacNeil on doing the assignments for The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour and writing his scripts
02:21
Robert MacNeil on his chemistry with Jim Lehrer on The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
06:44
Robert MacNeil on leaving The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
00:52
Robert MacNeil on Charlayne Hunter-Gault joining The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
02:02

Washington Week

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Robert MacNeil on Washington Week in Review
04:46
Topics

Civil Rights Movement

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on covering Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and the Civil Rights Movement
05:34
Robert MacNeil on covering the Civil Rights Movement
05:33
Robert MacNeil on The Whole World is Watching
09:23

Cold War

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on covering the Belgian Congo Crisis
08:57
Robert MacNeil on covering the rise of The Berlin Wall
05:31
Robert MacNeil on covering the Cuban Missile Crisis
08:35
Robert MacNeil on covering the Cuban Missile Crisis
06:28
Robert MacNeil on covering the Cold War in East Berlin
07:05

Creative Influences and Inspiration

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on his mentors
01:03

Criticism of TV

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Robert MacNeil on critical reaction to The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour  and various stories they covered
05:59

First Big Break

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Robert MacNeil on how he came to work for NBC
03:13

Hollywood Blacklist

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Robert MacNeil on the Hollywood Blacklist
06:20

Industry Crossroads

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Robert MacNeil on the Hollywood Blacklist
06:20

Iran Hostage Crisis

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on almost interviewing the Ayatollah Khomeini
04:17
Robert MacNeil on attempting to interview the Ayatollah Khomeini
02:11

JFK Assassination and Funeral

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas for NBC News
22:06
Robert MacNeil on being on a bus directly following John F. Kennedy's Presidential motorcade in Dallas to cover the story for NBC news; witnessing the assassination; inadvertently running into the Texas Book Depository to call the newsroom where he later learned the shots were believed to be fired from; and how he managed to continue to call the story in from a payphone at the hospital where Kennedy had been pronounced dead after all the reporters were kicked out.
10:42
Robert MacNeil on covering the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination in Dallas for NBC News
14:19

John F. Kennedy

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on covering the Cuban Missile Crisis
08:35
Robert MacNeil on covering the Cuban Missile Crisis
06:28
Robert MacNeil on covering the Cold War in East Berlin
07:05
Robert MacNeil on covering the Kennedy White House and Barry Goldwater's 1964 campaign 
03:59
Robert MacNeil on covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas for NBC News
22:06
Robert MacNeil on covering the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination in Dallas for NBC News
14:19
Robert MacNeil on how Kennedy and Johnson dealt with the press
11:32
Robert MacNeil on interviewing Rose Kennedy
05:30

Lyndon B. Johnson

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on working on The Huntley-Brinkley Report and covering the 1964 campaign
07:13
Robert MacNeil on how Kennedy and Johnson dealt with the press
11:32

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on how he came to work for NBC
03:13
Robert MacNeil on his mentors
01:03

Richard M. Nixon

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on covering Vietnam and Richard Nixon
04:03
Robert MacNeil on going to work for PBS and covering the Watergate hearings with Jim Lehrer
06:02
Robert MacNeil on covering Watergate
10:01
Robert MacNeil on the inside politics at PBS of covering the Watergate hearings
02:55

Television Industry

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on critical reaction to The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour  and various stories they covered
05:59

Television and the Presidency

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on covering the Cuban Missile Crisis
08:35
Robert MacNeil on covering the Cuban Missile Crisis
06:28
Robert MacNeil on covering the Cold War in East Berlin
07:05
Robert MacNeil on covering the Kennedy White House and Barry Goldwater's 1964 campaign 
03:59
Robert MacNeil on covering the 1964 Barry Goldwater campaign 
07:53
Robert MacNeil on covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas for NBC News
22:06
Robert MacNeil on covering the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination in Dallas for NBC News
14:19
Robert MacNeil on working on The Huntley-Brinkley Report  and covering the 1964 campaign
07:13
Robert MacNeil on covering Vietnam and Richard Nixon
04:03
Robert MacNeil on going to work for PBS and covering the Watergate hearings with Jim Lehrer
06:02
Robert MacNeil on how Kennedy and Johnson dealt with the press
11:32
Robert MacNeil on how Kennedy and Johnson dealt with the press
11:32
Robert MacNeil on the way the press treats different presidents
05:58
Robert MacNeil on covering Watergate
10:01
Robert MacNeil on interviewing Rose Kennedy
05:30
Robert MacNeil on the inside politics at PBS of covering the Watergate hearings
02:55

Vietnam War

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on covering Vietnam and Richard Nixon
04:03

War

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on his experience of World War II
08:54
Robert MacNeil on covering the Belgian Congo Crisis
08:57
Robert MacNeil on covering the rise of The Berlin Wall
05:31
Robert MacNeil on covering the Cuban Missile Crisis
08:35
Robert MacNeil on covering the Cuban Missile Crisis
06:28
Robert MacNeil on covering the Cold War in East Berlin
07:05

World War II

View Topic
Robert MacNeil on his experience of World War II
08:54
Professions

Anchor

View Profession
Robert MacNeil on the logistics of The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour and hiring staff for the show
02:03

Journalists & News Producers

View Profession
Robert MacNeil on editing news stories 
03:37
Robert MacNeil on the logistics of The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour and hiring staff for the show
02:03
Robert MacNeil on doing the assignments for The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour  and writing his scripts
02:21
Robert MacNeil on how he goes about researching a story he's covering and his interview technique
06:17
Robert MacNeil on the difference between serious journalism and not serious journalism
02:20
Robert MacNeil on the journalist's code of ethics
02:32

News Producer

View Profession
Robert MacNeil on editing news stories 
03:37
Robert MacNeil on the logistics of The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour and hiring staff for the show
02:03
Robert MacNeil on doing the assignments for The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour and writing his scripts
02:21
Robert MacNeil on how he goes about researching a story he's covering and his interview technique
06:17
Robert MacNeil on the difference between serious journalism and not serious journalism
02:20
Robert MacNeil on the journalist's code of ethics
02:32
Genres

News and Documentary

View Genre
Robert MacNeil on covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas for NBC News
22:06
Robert MacNeil on covering the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination in Dallas for NBC News
14:19
Robert MacNeil on acting as roving reporter for NBC's Huntley-Brinkley Report
14:56
Robert MacNeil on his critique of The Huntley-Brinkley Report  and of network news in general
13:00
Robert MacNeil on going to work for PBS and covering the Watergate hearings with Jim Lehrer
06:02
Robert MacNeil on starting The MacNeil Lehrer  NewsHour
06:02
Robert MacNeil on The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour   and how the show developed
07:10
Robert MacNeil on creating and anchoring The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
26:48
Robert MacNeil on anchoring and producing The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
15:29
People

Jim Lehrer

View Interview Page
Robert MacNeil on going to work for PBS and covering the Watergate hearings with Jim Lehrer
06:02
Robert MacNeil on the birth of his partnership with Jim Lehrer
04:48
Robert MacNeil on starting The MacNeil Lehrer  NewsHour
06:02
Robert MacNeil on establishing The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
04:30
Robert MacNeil on naming The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
03:21
Robert MacNeil on his chemistry with Jim Lehrer on The MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour
06:44

John Chancellor

View Person Page
Robert MacNeil on working with John Chancellor at NBC
05:09

John F. Kennedy

View Person Page
Robert MacNeil on covering the Kennedy White House and Barry Goldwater's 1964 campaign 
03:59
Robert MacNeil on covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas for NBC News
22:06
Robert MacNeil on covering the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination in Dallas for NBC News
14:19
Robert MacNeil on how Kennedy and Johnson dealt with the press
11:32

Lyndon B. Johnson

View Person Page
Robert MacNeil on how Kennedy and Johnson dealt with the press
11:32

Martin Luther King, Jr.

View Person Page
Robert MacNeil on covering Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech and the Civil Rights Movement
05:34

Richard M. Nixon

View Person Page
Robert MacNeil on covering Vietnam and Richard Nixon
04:03
Robert MacNeil on covering Watergate
10:01

Winston Churchill

View Person Page
Robert MacNeil on on acting as roving reporter for The Huntley-Brinkley Report and covering the death of Winston Churchill
07:43
Robert MacNeil on covering the death of Winston Churchill
03:08

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