David Brinkley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Brinkley
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Brinkley in 1962
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| Born |
David McClure Brinkley
July 10, 1920 |
| Died | June 11, 2003 (aged 82) |
| Resting place | Oakdale Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Television news anchor |
| Years active | 1943–1997 |
| Spouse(s) |
Ann Fischer
(m. 1946; div. 1972)Susan Adolph
(m. 1972) |
| Children | 4 |
David McClure Brinkley (July 10, 1920 – June 11, 2003) was a famous American newscaster and reporter. He worked for major TV networks like NBC and ABC for over 50 years, from 1943 to 1997.
He was known for co-hosting The Huntley–Brinkley Report on NBC from 1956 to 1970. Later, he became a top commentator for NBC Nightly News. In the 1980s and 1990s, he hosted the popular Sunday show This Week with David Brinkley on ABC. David Brinkley won many awards, including ten Emmy Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also wrote three books, including a bestseller about how World War II changed Washington, D.C.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in News
David Brinkley was born in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was the youngest of five children. He started writing for a local newspaper, the Wilmington Morning Star, while he was still in high school.
He went to several universities before joining the United States Army in 1940. After leaving the army, he worked for United Press International, a news agency. In 1943, he moved to Washington, D.C., and got a job at NBC News. He became their reporter at the White House and soon started appearing on television.
A Star in Television News
In 1952, Brinkley began reporting from Washington for NBC Television's evening news program. In 1956, NBC decided to pair him with another reporter, Chet Huntley, to cover political events. This team worked so well that they started their own nightly news show on October 29, 1956, called The Huntley–Brinkley Report.
Brinkley was in Washington, D.C., and Huntley was in New York City. Brinkley was known for his clever and often funny way of reporting. His style was different from other serious news shows at the time. He was also a very talented writer, making complex news easy to understand. The Huntley–Brinkley Report became the most popular TV newscast in America for many years.
Their famous sign-off, "Good night, Chet," followed by "Good night, David," became very well-known. From 1961 to 1963, Brinkley also hosted a news magazine show called David Brinkley's Journal, which won awards.
Moving to New Roles
When Chet Huntley retired in 1970, the evening news show became NBC Nightly News. Brinkley co-anchored it with other reporters. Later, he became the program's commentator, sharing his thoughts on the news several times a week.
In 1981, David Brinkley left NBC and joined ABC. He was asked to host ABC's Sunday morning news program, This Week with David Brinkley. This show changed how Sunday news programs were done. It featured reporters interviewing guests and then a group discussion. This new format was very successful and was copied by other news channels.
Brinkley also hosted a special program for ABC in 1994 called The Battle of the Bulge: 50 Years On. It was about World War II and featured interviews with people who were part of the battle.
Retirement and Legacy
David Brinkley announced his retirement from regular news coverage in 1996. His last broadcast as host of This Week was on November 10, 1996. He continued to provide short comments for the show until September 1997, when he fully retired. He had been a journalist for over 50 years.
Throughout his career, David Brinkley received many honors. Besides his ten Emmys and three Peabodys, he also received the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award in 1958. In 1982, he received the Paul White Award for his lifetime achievements in journalism. In 1988, he was added to the Television Hall of Fame. In 1992, President George H. W. Bush gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest award a civilian can receive in the U.S.
Personal Life
David Brinkley married Flora Ann Fischer in 1946, and they had three sons. They later divorced in 1972. He then married Susan Melanie Benfer in the same year. Susan had a daughter from a previous marriage. Their marriage lasted until Brinkley's death.
Two of his sons also became well-known: Alan Brinkley was a historian and a professor, and Joel Brinkley was a journalism professor and a Pulitzer Prize–winning writer.
Death
David Brinkley passed away in 2003 at his home in Houston, Texas. He was 82 years old. He is buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Wilmington, North Carolina, his hometown.
Television Career
- 1951–1956 Camel News Caravan (correspondent)
- 1956–1970 NBC News/The Huntley–Brinkley Report
- 1961–1963 David Brinkley's Journal, Wednesday 10:30–11:00 p.m. EST
- 1971–1976 NBC Nightly News (commentator only)
- 1976–1979 NBC Nightly News (co-anchor)
- 1980–1981 NBC Magazine with David Brinkley
- 1981–1996 This Week with David Brinkley
- 1981–1997 ABC World News Tonight (commentator)
- 1991 Pearl Harbor: Two Hours That Changed The World with David Brinkley (50th anniversary)
- 1994 David Brinkley Reports: The Battle of the Bulge; 50 Years On
- 1996–1997 This Week (commentator)
