Brinkley Was 82
Posted: 9:32 a.m. EDT June 12, 2003
Updated: 11:01 a.m. EDT June 12, 2003

Veteran newsman David Brinkley, a prominent figure in the news business for over half a century, has died.

Brinkley died Wednesday night at his home in Houston of complications from a fall, according to broadcast reports. He was 82.

Brinkley first gained fame as one-half of NBC's "The Huntley-Brinkley Report," with Chet Huntley, which ran from 1956 to 1970.

During his career, which in his later years took him to ABC-TV, Brinkley won 10 Emmy awards and three George Foster Peabody Awards. In 1992, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Brinkley was born on July 10, 1920, in Wilmington, N.C. Early news jobs included stints as a reporter at the Wilmington Star-News, and as a reporter and bureau manager for the United Press news service. He joined NBC radio after serving two years in the U.S. Army in 1943.

Brinkley joined NBC-TV in 1946, and served as a Washington correspondent for the network from 1951 to 1981.

In addition to "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" and his corresspondent work, Brinkley was a commentator and co-anchor for the "NBC Nightly News," and a commentator with ABC on "This Week With David Brinkley" and "ABC's World News Tonight."

He retired from "This Week" in 1996, but continued to do guest commentaries until 1998.

When Brinkley stepped down from the show in 1996, it was amid controversy over comment he made about President Bill Clinton during election night of that year. After a long evening, he had said unkind things about Clinton on the air, including calling him a "bore." Brinkley later apologized to Clinton in an interview for Brinkley's last show, to which Clinton responded, "I always believe you have to judge people on their whole work, and if you get judged based on your whole work, you come out way ahead."

Former President George H.W. Bush called Brinkley "the elder statesman of broadcast journalism," but Brinkley spoke of himself in more humble terms. "Most of my life I've simply been a reporter covering things, and writing and talking about it," Brinkley said in a 1992 interview.

Brinkley got divorced from his first wife, Ann, in the 1960s and married Susan Benfer in 1972. Among his four children is Alan, an American Book Award-winning historian and Joel, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.

http://www.clickondetroit...90635.html

Rest in peace, Mr. Brinkley

that's sad news...

i remember sitting and watching the evening news with the guy that wore glasses before dinner with my dad everynight...

R.I.P D. Brinkley

R.I.P. Mr. Brinley...

dunno who the cat is, but it's still sad...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

You might recognize him...

yes may he rest in peace...

ohhh! how sad! my condolences to the brinkley family!

applekisses said:

ohhh, o-tay! i recognize his face, but that's about all...

Damn I didn't think he was that old, RIP Brinkley

gregory peck too

suomynona said:

They say it always happens in three's wonder who's going to be next?