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Hewitt worked in journalism for 60 years. The birth of television news saw Hewitt at the helm of Edward R. Murrow's first broadcast. Later he produced CBS Evening News with Douglas Edwards, then Walter Cronkite. Hewitt was director of the first network TV newscast in 1948. He was portrayed as a background figure in “The Insider” and “Good Night and Good Luck.”
Don Hewitt was responsible for a major event in a presidential campaign. Before the first television debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon in 1960, Hewitt asked the suntanned Kennedy whether he wanted makeup. When he declined, Nixon did too. Pivotal mistake for Nixon, who looked pale and haggard with an unflattering 5 o'clock shadow, in addition to his perspiring upper lip.
At the start of 60 Minutes, CBS executive Bill Leonard gave Don Hewitt one piece of advice: "Make us proud." Hewitt remembered that it wasn't "Make us money." They did both, which led to the unprecedented success of a "news magazine," the first of its kind. Every 60 Minutes story went "through Hewitt's typewriter." He decided which stories would go on the air. Hewitt had famous heated arguments with strong-willed Mike Wallace, the lead correspondent for 60 Minutes from 1968 until 2004. (Wallace is 91.)
The show 60 Minutes has gone through many changes in correspondents. Don Hewitt made it all happen.
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