Mike Wallace of CBS Has Died
Mike Wallace Interviews William Westmoreland
Legendary broadcaster Mike Wallace died Saturday at age 93, just one month shy of turning 94. He died at a long-term care center in New Canaan, Connecticut. He was surrounded by family members. Mike Wallace was the father of Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, who hosts Fox News Sunday. Mike Wallace was married four times. He divorced Chris' mother when Chris was one. As a result, Mike and Chris Wallace never developed much of a relationship together until Chris was 14.
Wallace had been ill for a number of years. He hasn't been in good health since he had triple-bypass heart surgery in 2008. He wasn't even able to attend the January memorial service of Andy Rooney, another 60 Minutes legend who died last November at age 92. Chris Wallace said right before his father passed away that he was showing his age for the first time. He was slipping mentally. He remembered his children and grandchildren but never mentioned anything about working for 60 Minutes. It's just as if that part of his life never existed, according to Chris.
He was born Myron Leon Wallace on May 4, 1918. He was the son of an immigrant who was an insurance broker. His family had hoped he would become a doctor, but Wallace had a desire for journalism after working for the University of Michigan's college radio station. Wallace's career spanned seven decades. By 1941 he was the announcer for the popular radio program, the Green Hornet. During World War II he served as a Naval Communications Officer. In the early 1950's he joined the CBS Network. He eventually left CBS and made himself a name being known as a tough interviewer. It was the death of his son Peter, who was 19 in 1962 that prompted Wallace to go solely to news. Wallace rejoined CBS News in 1963. Prior to joining 60 Minutes in 1968, he was a Vietnam War correspondent. Over the years Wallace interviewed Hollywood legends such as Barbara Streisand, for example, seven U.S. presidents, foreign leaders, baseball legends, and the list continues.
To read the full article about the career of Mike Wallace, click on the above link from the Huffington Post.
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