John Charles Daly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Charles Daly
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Daly as the host of It's News to Me in 1952
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| Born |
John Charles Patrick Croghan Daly
February 20, 1914 Johannesburg, South Africa
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| Died | February 24, 1991 (aged 77) |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Other names | John Daly |
| Alma mater | Boston College |
| Occupation | Reporter, newscaster Game show host |
| Years active | 1937-1987 |
| Spouse(s) |
Margaret Griswell Neal
(m. 1937; div. 1959)Virginia Warren
(m. 1960) |
| Children | 6 |
| Signature | |
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John Charles Patrick Croghan Daly (born February 20, 1914 – died February 24, 1991) was an American journalist and TV star. He was a host on radio and television. He also worked as an executive for ABC News. John Daly was most famous for hosting the game show What's My Line? on CBS.
Daly was the first reporter to share the news about the attack on Pearl Harbor. He also announced the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. During World War II, Daly reported from the front lines in Europe and North Africa.
Contents
Early Life: John Daly's Childhood
John Daly was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. His American father worked there as a geologist. John attended Marist Brothers College in Johannesburg.
When John was 11, his father died from a tropical fever. His mother then moved the family to Boston, Massachusetts. John went to the Tilton School. He later helped the school by serving on its board of directors. He also helped build or fix many buildings on campus.
After high school, he went to a junior college. He then graduated from Boston College. Before becoming a reporter, Daly worked in a wool factory. He also worked for a transit company in Washington, D.C..
Career: From Radio to TV Star
Radio: Daly's Start in Broadcasting
Daly began his career as a reporter for NBC Radio. He then worked for WJSV (now WTOP), a local CBS Radio station in Washington, D.C. He became CBS's White House correspondent. You can hear him on the famous "One Day in Radio" tapes from September 21, 1939.
While covering the Roosevelt White House, Daly became well-known. He was the network announcer for many of the President's speeches. In late 1941, Daly moved to New York City. There, he became the anchor of The World Today.
During World War II, he reported from London. He also covered the news from North Africa and Italy. Daly was a war correspondent in Italy in 1943. After the war, he was a lead reporter on CBS Is There. This show recreated historical events as if reporters were there.
Famous Broadcasts: Historic News Moments
As a reporter for CBS radio, Daly made two very important announcements. He was the first national reporter to share the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. This happened on Sunday, December 7, 1941.
He was also the first to report the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This news came on April 12, 1945. He interrupted a program to deliver the news. These broadcasts are saved in history.
In July 1959, Daly reported from Moscow. He was with Associated Press writer John Scali. They covered the famous Kitchen Debate. This was a discussion between Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and Vice President Richard Nixon.
Television: Hosting Game Shows and News
Daly first appeared on television as a panelist on Celebrity Time. This led to a big job in 1950. He became the host and moderator of What's My Line?. This show lasted for 17 years. Daly hosted almost every episode of the weekly series.
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From 1954 to 1955, Daly also hosted Who Said That? on NBC. On this game show, celebrities guessed who said famous quotes from the news.
On What's My Line?, each panelist introduced the next. After Fred Allen died in 1956, Bennett Cerf usually introduced Daly. Cerf often told a joke or pun about Daly. Daly would then often joke back. They had a friendly rivalry on the show.
The final mystery guest on the CBS show (September 3, 1967) was Daly himself. He had received many letters asking him to be the guest. He couldn't before because he was the "emergency mystery guest." This meant he would fill in if a scheduled celebrity didn't show up.
Daly was a vice president at ABC in the 1950s. He hosted other shows like Who Said That?, It's News to Me, and Open Hearing. He was also a narrator on The Voice of Firestone starting in 1958.
He also made guest appearances on TV and in movies. He had a small role in Bye Bye Birdie. He was also the narrator for the first episode of Green Acres. In 1949, he starred in the TV drama The Front Page.
During the 1950s, Daly became the vice president in charge of news at ABC. He won three Peabody Awards. From 1953 to 1960, he anchored ABC News broadcasts. He was the main face of ABC's news. This was even though What's My Line? was on CBS, a competing network.
He also voiced a radio announcer in a 1954 TV show called Atomic Attack. This was rare for a TV star to work on two different networks at the same time. Daly even filled in on NBC's The Today Show sometimes. This made him one of the few people to work on all three major networks.
One memorable day on Today Show was with Harpo Marx. Marx caused a lot of funny chaos on camera. Daly laughed so much he couldn't stop during the live show.
Most of Daly's live newscasts for ABC were lost. This happened because old tapes were erased to save money. His closing line on ABC newscasts was "Good night, and a good tomorrow."
He left ABC on November 16, 1960. This was after the network showed Bugs Bunny cartoons instead of election night coverage. CBS and NBC were covering the Kennedy–Nixon presidential election. Daly felt this was "the last straw."
Daly continued on What's My Line? until 1967. In May 1967, it was announced he would lead the Voice of America. He started this job on September 20, 1967. But he resigned on June 6, 1968. He said his boss was making changes behind his back.
From December 1968 to January 1969, Daly hosted "Critique" on NET. He resigned after only five shows. This was because the show refused to remove a remark he thought was inappropriate.
Daly did not host the later syndicated version of What's My Line?. However, he did co-host a 25th-anniversary show about it for ABC in 1975. Daly was a judge for the Peabody Awards from 1966 to 1982. In the 1980s, he often led discussions for the American Enterprise Institute. This is a group that studies public policy.
Tilton School: Honoring His Legacy
At his old school, the Tilton School, there is an award named after John Daly. This award is given to people who show great dedication to the school. It honors those whose support and actions inspire others.
Every year, during Alumni Weekend, Tilton School honors outstanding alumni. The John Charles Daly Award is one of the four awards given.
Personal Life: Family and Marriages
John Daly was married twice. His first marriage was to Margaret Griswell Neal in January 1937. They had two sons, John Neal Daly and John Charles Daly III, and a daughter, Helene Grant "Bunsy" Daly. This marriage ended in divorce in April 1959.
On December 22, 1960, Daly married Virginia Warren. She was the daughter of Chief Justice Earl Warren. They were married for over 30 years until Daly's death. They had three children: John Warren Daly, John Earl Jameson Daly, and Nina Elisabeth Daly.
Death: The End of a Career
John Daly died from a heart attack at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. This happened on February 24, 1991, just four days after his 77th birthday.
Awards and Nominations: Recognizing His Work
Emmy Awards
- 1955: Won, "Best News Reporter or Commentator"—ABC
- 1956: Nominated, "Best News Commentator or Reporter"—ABC
- 1956: Nominated, "Best MC or Program Host, Male or Female"—CBS
- 1957: Nominated, "Best News Commentator"—ABC
- 1958: Nominated, "Best News Commentator"—ABC
- 1959: Nominated, "Best News Commentator or Analyst"—ABC
Golden Globe Award
- 1962: Won, "Best TV Star—Male"
Peabody Award
- 1954: Won, Personal Award, Radio-Television News.
- 1956: Won, ABC Television, Television News for Coverage of the National Political Conventions.
- 1957: Won, ABC Television, "Prologue '58."
Honorary Degrees
- 1959: D.Litt., St. Bonaventure University
- 1963: D.H.L., American International College
- 1964: LL.D., Norwich University
Images for kids
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Nikita Khrushchev and Richard Nixon speak as the press looks on at the Kitchen Debate, July 24, 1959, with Daly at far left
