Edward R. Murrow
Born 1908 · Age 117
American broadcast journalist and war correspondent; pioneered radio and television news for CBS; led See It Now exposé of Senator Joseph McCarthy; later directed the U.S. Information Agency.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth
Born Egbert Roscoe Murrow at Polecat Creek, near Greensboro, North Carolina, youngest of three surviving sons of Roscoe and Ethel Murrow (Quaker family).
Family homesteads in Washington State
Murrow's family moved to Skagit County, western Washington, to homestead near Blanchard (about 30 miles south of the Canadian border).
High school graduation
Graduated from high school in Edison, Washington; president of the student body and debate team member; played on basketball team.
Enrolled Washington State College (Pullman)
Entered Washington State College (later Washington State University); initially majoring in business, later switched to speech under Ida Lou Anderson.
Changed name to Edward
While in his second year of college Murrow began going by 'Ed' and changed his given name from Egbert to Edward.
Elected president, National Student Federation of America
After a speech urging students to take interest in national and world affairs, Murrow was elected president of the NSFA (1929–31).
Graduated Washington State College (BA)
Earned bachelor's degree (majored in speech) and moved to New York to work on national student affairs and international education projects.
Assistant Director, Institute of International Education (IIE)
Became assistant director of IIE in New York; involved in programs to help displaced foreign (German) scholars in the early 1930s.
Assistant secretary, Emergency Committee for Displaced Scholars
Served as assistant secretary of the Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars, helping German scholars escape Nazi repression.
Marriage to Janet Huntington Brewster (engagement/marriage timeline)
Courtship intensified; married Janet Huntington Brewster on March 12, 1935 (see 1935 event).
Joined CBS as Director of Talks and Education
Hired by CBS to line up newsmakers and coordinate talks; began long career at Columbia Broadcasting System.
Marriage to Janet Brewster
Married Janet Huntington Brewster on March 12, 1935; partnership endured through his career and family life.
Sent to London as head of CBS European operations
CBS appointed Murrow director of its European bureau (one-man bureau initially) based in London; began frequent European reporting trips.
Hired William L. Shirer; began assembling 'Murrow Boys'
Recruited William L. Shirer and began building the team of war correspondents later dubbed the 'Murrow Boys'.
Coverage of Sudetenland crisis and Munich Agreement
Regular participant in CBS coverage of the Sudeten crisis and Munich Agreement; reporting heightened U.S. appetite for live radio news.
European News Roundup & Vienna on-the-scene broadcast (Anschluss)
Organized and participated in an innovative multipoint live broadcast reacting to the March 1938 Anschluss; Murrow reported live from Vienna—the breakthrough on-the-scene radio report.
Stayed in London as World War II began
Remained in London after the outbreak of WWII (Sept 1939) and continued live broadcasts to the U.S.; became best known for on-the-spot wartime reporting.
Adopted signature opening 'This is London' and sign-off phrase
During the Blitz Murrow began his famous opening 'This is London' (with emphasis/pause) and later popularized the sign-off 'Good night, and good luck.'
Flew on Allied combat missions (WWII reporting)
Over the course of WWII Murrow flew on 25 Allied combat missions in Europe, providing vivid reports from aircraft for later broadcast.
Pearl Harbor and U.S. entry into WWII
Less than a week after the CBS dinner (Dec 2), the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (Dec 7) brought the U.S. fully into WWII while Murrow was a prominent correspondent.
CBS return dinner in his honor
CBS hosted a broadcast dinner for Murrow at the Waldorf-Astoria after his U.S. return; Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a telegram read at the event.
Offered joint Director-General position at BBC (declined)
Winston Churchill offered Murrow a joint Director-General of the BBC role in 1943; Murrow declined the post.
First reporters at Buchenwald concentration camp
Murrow (with Bill Shadel) was among the first reporters to enter Buchenwald and produced a powerful report on the camp's horrors (report aired April 15, 1945).
Birth of son Charles Casey Murrow
Murrow's only child, Charles 'Casey' Murrow, was born in the west of London on November 6, 1945.
Accepted CBS vice-presidency and head of CBS News
In December 1945 Murrow accepted William S. Paley's offer to become a vice president of CBS and head of CBS News; made last London report March 1946.
Received Alfred I. duPont Award
Murrow received the Alfred I. duPont Award in 1947 for excellence in broadcast journalism.
William Shirer fired; professional rift
In 1947 William L. Shirer was terminated by CBS, ending a personal/professional friendship and influencing Murrow's desire to return to newscasting.
Returned to on-air radio: nightly newscast
Returned to the air in September 1947 taking over a nightly 7:45 p.m. ET newscast (anchored with Bob Trout); focused on radio news and special presentations.
Peabody Award (repeated honors begin)
Murrow was repeatedly honored with Peabody Awards, including wins in 1943, 1949, 1951 and 1954 for excellence in broadcasting.
Narrated 'The Case of the Flying Saucer' radio documentary
Narrated a half-hour balanced radio documentary investigating UFO reports, interviewing Kenneth Arnold and Donald Menzel.
I Can Hear It Now / Hear It Now partnership with Fred W. Friendly
Recorded 'I Can Hear It Now' historical albums for Columbia Records; in 1950 the records evolved into the weekly CBS Radio show 'Hear It Now' co-produced with Fred W. Friendly.
Recorded 'I Can Hear It Now' historical albums
Produced narrated historical albums that chronicled modern events; launched his long partnership with Fred W. Friendly.
Film cameo: early screen presence
Murrow later appeared as himself in film projects (notably as narrator/prologue in mid-1950s and a cameo in 'Sink the Bismarck!' in 1960).
Host of This I Believe (radio series)
From 1951 to 1955 Murrow hosted 'This I Believe', a radio program featuring brief personal essays by ordinary people and notables.
George Polk Awards (Special) – 1951 & 1952
Murrow received 'Special' George Polk Awards in 1951 and 1952 (recognitions for journalistic achievement).
Hear It Now becomes See It Now (TV debut)
On November 18, 1951 Hear It Now moved to television as See It Now; Murrow introduced the transition to the new medium.
Narrated 'Alliance for Peace' documentary
Narrated a political documentary (SHAPE/Marshall Plan themes) produced by Samuel Goldwyn Jr. that explained postwar European recovery.
High earnings and lucrative sponsors reported
By 1952 Murrow reportedly earned over $210,000 in salary and sponsorship contracts—one of the highest-paid journalists at the time.
Launched 'Person to Person' (TV interview series)
In 1953 Murrow launched 'Person to Person', a weekly celebrity interview series he hosted (ran 1953–1959).
Career peak — high salary reported in career script
Murrow noted in a 1953 career script that he had earned over $210,000 in 1952 and enjoyed lucrative sponsor deals—peak commercial earning period.
Hosted The Ford 50th Anniversary Show
Hosted the star-studded Ford 50th Anniversary Show simulcast on NBC and CBS that reached ~60 million viewers; included commentary on nuclear dangers and civil liberties.
Founded Edward R. Murrow Foundation
Murrow established the Edward R. Murrow Foundation (reported start in 1954) which later contributed approximately $152,000 to educational and charitable causes (foundation disbanded 1981).
See It Now: 'A Report on Senator Joseph McCarthy'
Murrow and Fred Friendly produced the landmark half-hour See It Now broadcast criticizing Senator Joseph McCarthy's tactics—widely credited with beginning McCarthy's decline.
McCarthy appears on See It Now to rebut
Senator McCarthy accepted Murrow's invitation and appeared on See It Now on April 6, 1954; his rebuttal failed to regain public favor.
U.S. Senate censures Joseph McCarthy
The U.S. Senate formally censured Joseph McCarthy on Dec 2, 1954; Murrow's See It Now is widely cited as contributing to this outcome.
Alcoa withdraws sponsorship; See It Now moved from weekly slot
Sponsor Alcoa withdrew advertising; See It Now was removed from its weekly prime-time slot in 1955 and became an intermittent series of specials.
Narrated prologue for Around the World in 80 Days
Appeared as the on-screen narrator of a prologue for Michael Todd's film Around the World in 80 Days (prologue sometimes omitted on telecasts).
Launched 'Small World' talk show
Began hosting 'Small World', a talk show featuring one-to-one debates among political figures (ran circa 1958–1960).
Final weekly broadcast of See It Now
See It Now's final weekly broadcast, 'Watch on the Ruhr' (on postwar Germany), aired July 7, 1958 after long-running conflicts with CBS leadership.
RTNDA 'Wires and Lights' speech
Delivered a forceful speech to the Radio and Television News Directors Association in Chicago condemning TV's drift to entertainment and commercialism.
Sabbatical from CBS (summer 1959–mid-1960)
Took a sabbatical due to stress and conflicts at CBS though continued limited work on CBS Reports and other projects.
Considered and declined political candidacy
Murrow was invited by New York Democrats to run for the U.S. Senate in the 1950s; he declined following advice from Harry S. Truman comparing roles.
Harvest of Shame documentary (CBS Reports)
Reported and narrated 'Harvest of Shame' for CBS Reports (Nov 1960), a hard-hitting documentary on the plight of migrant farmworkers.
Resigned CBS to head United States Information Agency (USIA)
Accepted President John F. Kennedy's offer and resigned from CBS to become Director of the USIA (parent of the Voice of America).
Member of National Security Council (by virtue of USIA role)
As USIA director Murrow sat on the National Security Council and sought high presidential access for public diplomacy efforts.
Advised President Kennedy during Cuban Missile Crisis
Although ill, Murrow advised President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis (Oct 1962) as head of USIA and National Security Council member.
Introduced educational television station WNDT (later WNET) in NYC
On Sept 16, 1962 Murrow introduced educational television to New York City via the maiden broadcast of WNDT (later WNET).
Lung removal surgery (cancer)
Underwent surgery to remove his left lung after diagnosis of lung cancer; long-time heavy smoker (reported 60–65 cigarettes/day).
Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor, presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Paul White Award (RTNDA)
Received the Paul White Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association in 1964.
Resigned USIA citing illness
Resigned as Director of the USIA citing ill health; President Lyndon B. Johnson accepted his resignation in early 1964.
Murrow Center for Public Diplomacy established (Tufts)
Tufts University established the Edward R. Murrow Center of Public Diplomacy (posthumous institutional legacy / fellowships in his name).
Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II on March 5, 1965.
Death
Died at his home in Pawling, New York, on April 27, 1965, two days after his 57th birthday, following lung cancer complications.
Posthumous Grammy Award (Best Spoken Word Album)
Awarded the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for 'Edward R. Murrow – A Reporter Remembers, Vol. I The War Years' (posthumous honor).
Edward R. Murrow Awards established (RTNDA)
The Radio Television Digital News Association established the Edward R. Murrow Awards, honoring outstanding achievement in electronic journalism.
WSU dedicates Edward R. Murrow Communications Center
Washington State University dedicated expanded communications facilities as the Edward R. Murrow Communications Center (site of ongoing Murrow symposium).
Inducted into Television Hall of Fame (posthumous)
Murrow was posthumously inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1984.
HBO biopic 'Murrow' broadcast
HBO broadcast a made-for-cable biographical movie 'Murrow' starring Daniel J. Travanti (1986), dramatizing Murrow's life and career.
WSU Department renamed Edward R. Murrow School of Communication
Washington State University renamed its Department of Communications the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication.
TV Guide ranking
Murrow ranked No. 22 on TV Guide's '50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time' list (1996, posthumous recognition).
Legacy referenced in 'The Insider' (film)
The film 'The Insider' (1999) referenced Murrow's legacy in debates about broadcast journalism and network self-censorship.
Good Night, and Good Luck (feature film)
George Clooney's film 'Good Night, and Good Luck' (2005) dramatized Murrow's conflict with Senator McCarthy; David Strathairn portrayed Murrow (Oscar-nominated).
Broadway adaptation of 'Good Night, and Good Luck' performed
A stage adaptation of the film, co-written and starring George Clooney and directed by David Cromer, ran on Broadway from March 12 to June 8, 2025 (Murrow portrayed).
Key Achievement Ages
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