Robert Trout

Correspondent
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In his four-hour interview, Robert Trout (1909-2000) talks about his career as a reporter, starting in 1932 at WTOP-AM in Washington, D.C. He discusses introducing Franklin D. Roosevelt's now-famous fireside chats. He recalls leaving CBS for NBC in 1948 and moderating the quiz show Who Said That? He outlines returning to CBS in 1952 to cover the political conventions for radio, and moderating the public affairs show Presidential Timber. Trout speaks of teaming with Roger Mudd to cover the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Trout discusses covering several other news events, including the 1939 World's Fair, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War. Dr. Ralph Engelman conducted the interview on June 21, 1999 in New York, NY.

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

"Edward R. Murrow was in London broadcasting back to New York, and Paul White was talking privately to Ed between broadcasts. Paul didn't like something that day they'd done and he was remonstrating Murrow on the private line saying, 'Ed you should have done this or that,' and Ed broke out immediately and forgot himself so much as to use profanity. Murrow said, 'Hell, Paul, I'm no Bob Trout!' I think that was the high point of my career."

People Talking About ...
Robert Trout
Highlights
Robert Trout on his nickname "the iron man of radio"
00:52
Robert Trout on making the transition from radio to television
03:07
Robert Trout on covering President Roosevelt's Fireside Chats
11:51
Robert Trout on covering the 1964 Democratic Convention
07:15
Robert Trout on his greatest journalistic achievements 
02:21
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on early news programs he enjoyed; on how his family was impacted by World War I and attending the Presidential inauguration in 1916
On how the Depression impacted his family; on going to work at radio station WJSV

Chapter 2
On his responsibilities at radio station WJSV on Alexandria; on participating in a broadcast of President Herbert Hoover
On being an announcer at radio station WTLP; on his early ability to ad-lib, and working for the CBS Network; on covering the inauguration of President Roosevelt in 1933
On covering the presidency of Herbert Hoover; on President Roosevelt's Fireside Chats

Chapter 3
On covering press conferences by Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt; on the lack of news broadcasts on early radio
On covering President Roosevelt's Fireside Chats; on the format of Fireside Chats
On being transferred from Washington D.C. to New York City

Chapter 4
On the differences between CBS in Washington and New York; on covering the Republican and Democratic national conventions in 1936; on covering President Roosevelt's second inauguration in 1936
On his relationship with President Roosevelt when he was in office; on covering the coronation of King George VI; on his nickname "the iron man of radio"

Chapter 5
On signing a long-term contract with CBS and hosting "Robert Trout with the News Till Now" until Edward R. Murrow took it over; on hosting Who Said That?, produced by Fred Friendly, first on radio and later on television on NBC; on returning to CBS in 1952
On hosting the CBS News series Presidential Timber and working with Don Hewitt; on CBS News' coverage of the 1952 conventions; on the Communist blacklist of the 1950s

Chapter 6
On covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy; on covering the 1964 Democratic Convention; on comparing radio news to television news
On covering various political conventions; on CBS Reports; on the death of Edward R. Murrow
On moving to Europe for CBS News in 1965; on his role at CBS News in Europe; on covering the 1968 Democratic National Convention

Chapter 7
On covering historic events in the '60s; on leaving CBS for ABC in 1974 and stories he covered for ABC; on his greatest journalistic achievements 
On television news' relationship with the Presidency; on the public perception of integrity of news
On advice to aspiring broadcast journalists; on how he'd like to be remembered; on various people he encountered in his career

Chapter 8
On working with Dan Rather; on working with Charles Collingwood; on working with Howard K. Smith
On working with Arthur Godfrey; on working with Harry Reasoner and Douglas Edwards; on working with Eric Sevareid
Shows

CBS Reports

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Robert Trout on CBS Reports
03:47

Who Said That?

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Robert Trout on hosting Who Said That?, produced by Fred Friendly, first on radio and later on television
04:19
Topics

1939-40 World's Fair

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Robert Trout on covering the 1939 World's Fair
01:15

Advice

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Robert Trout on advice to aspiring broadcast journalists
04:04

Franklin D. Roosevelt

View Topic
Robert Trout on covering the inauguration of President Roosevelt in 1933
04:06
Robert Trout on President Roosevelt's Fireside Chats
01:56
Robert Trout on covering press conferences by Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt
04:07
Robert Trout on covering President Roosevelt's Fireside Chats
11:51
Robert Trout on covering the Republican and Democratic national conventions in 1936
06:23
Robert Trout on covering President Roosevelt's second inauguration in 1936
03:51

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
Robert Trout on how his family was impacted by World War I and attending the Presidential inauguration in 1916
06:28
Robert Trout on covering the 1939 World's Fair
01:15
Robert Trout on covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy
01:46

Hollywood Blacklist

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Robert Trout on the Communist blacklist of the 1950s
03:40

Industry Crossroads

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Robert Trout on the Communist blacklist of the 1950s
03:40

JFK Assassination and Funeral

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Robert Trout on covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy
01:46

John F. Kennedy

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Robert Trout on covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy
01:46

Lyndon B. Johnson

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Robert Trout on covering the 1964 Democratic Convention (Lyndon B. Johnson)
07:15

Pre-FDR

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Robert Trout on participating in a broadcast of President Herbert Hoover
06:44

Television Industry

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Robert Trout on the Communist blacklist of the 1950s
03:40
Robert Trout on the public perception of integrity of news
07:26
Robert Trout on advice to aspiring broadcast journalists
04:04
Robert Trout on the growth of CNN
01:16

Television and the Presidency

View Topic
Robert Trout on participating in a broadcast of President Herbert Hoover
06:44
Robert Trout on covering the inauguration of President Roosevelt in 1933
04:06
Robert Trout on President Roosevelt's Fireside Chats
01:56
Robert Trout on covering press conferences by Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt
04:07
Robert Trout on covering President Roosevelt's Fireside Chats
11:51
Robert Trout on covering the Republican and Democratic national conventions in 1936
06:23
Robert Trout on covering President Roosevelt's second inauguration in 1936
03:51
Robert Trout on covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy
01:46
Robert Trout on covering the 1964 Democratic Convention (Lyndon B. Johnson)
07:15
Robert Trout on covering various political conventions
05:07
Robert Trout on covering the 1968 Democratic National Convention
02:25
Robert Trout on television news' relationship with the Presidency 
02:06

War

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Robert Trout on how his family was impacted by World War I and attending the Presidential inauguration in 1916
06:28
Professions

Correspondent

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Robert Trout on advice to aspiring broadcast journalists
04:04

Journalists & News Producers

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Robert Trout on advice to aspiring broadcast journalists
04:04
Genres

Game Shows

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Robert Trout on hosting Who Said That?, produced by Fred Friendly, first on radio and later on television on NBC
04:20

News and Documentary

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Robert Trout on CBS Reports
03:47
People

Arthur Godfrey

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Robert Trout on working with Arthur Godfrey 
06:16

Charles Collingwood

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Robert Trout on working with Charles Collingwood
03:02

Dan Rather

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Robert Trout on working with Dan Rather
01:34

Don Hewitt

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Robert Trout on hosting the CBS News series Presidential Timber  and working with Don Hewitt
03:54

Douglas Edwards

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Robert Trout on working with Harry Reasoner and Douglas Edwards
01:16

Edward R. Murrow

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Robert Trout on working with Edward R. Murrow
04:42
Robert Trout on signing a long-term contract with CBS and hosting "Robert Trout with the News Till Now" until Edward R. Murrow took it over
03:09
Robert Trout on the death of Edward R. Murrow
01:20

Eric Sevareid

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Robert Trout on working with Eric Sevareid
02:08

Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Robert Trout on covering the inauguration of President Roosevelt in 1933
04:06
Robert Trout on President Roosevelt's Fireside Chats
01:56
Robert Trout on covering press conferences by Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt
04:07
Robert Trout on covering President Roosevelt's Fireside Chats
11:51
Robert Trout on covering President Roosevelt's second inauguration in 1936
03:51

Fred Friendly

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Robert Trout on working with Fred Friendly at CBS
02:58
Robert Trout on hosting Who Said That?, produced by Fred Friendly, first on radio and later on television on NBC
04:20

Harry Reasoner

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Robert Trout on working with Harry Reasoner and Douglas Edwards
01:16

Herbert Hoover

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Robert Trout on participating in a broadcast of President Herbert Hoover
06:44
Robert Trout on covering the presidency of Herbert Hoover
01:08
Robert Trout on covering press conferences by Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt
04:07

Howard K. Smith

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Robert Trout on working with Howard K. Smith
00:53

John F. Kennedy

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Robert Trout on covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy
01:46

Lyndon B. Johnson

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Robert Trout on covering the 1964 Democratic Convention (Lyndon B. Johnson)
07:15

Winston Churchill

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Robert Trout on covering Winston Churchill 
01:27

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