Original subtitles

Okay, you want to just lay this down?

Ready when you are. I'm ready.

Are you recording?

I am now.

This just might do nobody any good.

At the end of this discourse, a few people may accuse this reporter of

his own comfortable nest.

And you all may be accused of giving hospitality to heretical and even

thoughts.

It is my desire, if not my duty, to try to speak to you with some candor about

what is happening in our mass media.

You should know at the outset that I appear here voluntarily, by invitation,

that these remarks are strictly of a do -it -yourself nature.

If what I have to say is responsible, I alone am responsible for the saying of

it.

I've decided to express my concern on the manner in which we inform ourselves.

I am seized by an abiding fear of what these instruments are doing to our

society, our culture, our heritage.

Our history will be what we make of it.

And if any historians 50 to 100 years from now were to look, they would in

find evidence of decadent escapism and insulation from the realities of the

world in which we live.

And surely we will pay a price.

We are currently fat, comfortable, and complacent. We have a built -in allergy

to unpleasant...

or disturbing information, but unless we get up off our fat assets and recognize

that media in the main is being used to distract, delude, amuse

and insulate us, then those who finance it, those who profit from it, those

who work at it and those who consume it may see a totally different picture too

late.

Good evening.

Earlier tonight, Adlai E. Stevenson urged the United States to take the

initiative in peace talks with the Soviet Union.

The talks are aimed toward worldwide disarmament and assurances of non

-aggression for the Russians as well as for the free world.

In a broadcast from his globe -circling tour, Stevenson warned the Eisenhower

administration against shutting the door on conferences with the Soviet leaders

and putting too much pressure on an uncommitted bloc of nations not linked

without a deal.

Wait,

it's only two cans?

Yeah, that's all it is. But there's some notes with it that go for Fred. Oh,

Fred's in with the guys.

Okay, I'll give the film to Leo. You can go ahead and give the notes to Fred.

He's in the writer's room. Yeah.

Thank you, Palmer.

Hi,

Joe. Shirley, what's going on in here?

Hey, Palmer.

Hello, Palmer.

Making some copies.

Just making sure.

Two attractive people alone in a copy room.

Okay, Porter. I mean, I certainly won't say anything. Well, don't tell Fred.

He'll fire me. Well, I mean, both of us. Shirley, the nepotism rule.

The nepotism rule.

You know, I think Joe would get the ax.

Well,

rules would make to be broken.

You can afford to say that.

Actually, Shirley, I think he's right.

What do you say? You want to...

drink tonight.

Yeah, and you're just a couple of guys trying to help. The day I need dating

advice from you two knuckleheads is, uh... All right.

Let me see this.

I don't know.

It's simply a loyalty oath. I mean, there's nothing in there about... To

To America.

You promise to be a loyal American? All the reporters have it. Who are you

promising? Fred signed it.

CBS, Haley. And Murrow.

Murrow signed it?

Murrow signed it.

Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of these organizations that

appeared on the Attorney General's list of subversive groups? It's a lot of

pressure.

I don't know.

All right, let's think about this. What is it really saying? Is it a civil

liberties issue? Is it censorship?

I don't know.

I mean, is it simply...

stating to PBS that I'm not a communist?

Murrow signed it. He and Fred.

Maybe you should talk to Fred.

Well, I talked to Fred. He told me to sign it.

If you don't sign it, are you and I a target?

If I don't sign it, they will fire me.

Well, at least then we can tell everyone the truth.

Okay. All right.

Hey, they got the film?

Uh, yeah, it's all queued up and ready to go. Oh, uh, Eddie, you're right.

Went through that DP phone book.

More than one Annie Lee Moss in there, right? Oh, yeah, a lot more. See, I told

you. All right, here they are. Hey, Joe, we got it queued up. Hey, Fred, you

want a cigarette?

No, I'll just breathe the air.

All right.

Okay, sounds good.

All right.

Ready? All right.

On this reel, this woman, Annie Lee Moss.

This is the person McCarthy has spent two weeks claiming was a spy in the

Pentagon. Well, she was a clerk in the communications office.

So, after all this buildup, she finally comes in.

McCarthy only asks her four questions, and he gets up and he leaves.

Wait, wait, wait. He just left?

Well, he realized he had nothing. So, uh, Leo, hit it.

And, uh...

You say you personally did not know Robert Hall. No, sir. That you were not

there when he came to the house. That's right.

Do you know what business Robert Hall had with your husband besides merely

delivering the copy of the Daily Work?

No, sir, I do not.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to excuse myself. I've got a rather important...

All right,

look, and Charlie gets a shot of the empty chair.

Chairman, I have no further questions of this witness at this time.

They say that we have the testimony of Mrs. Marquardt, the undercover agent of

the FBI, stating that Annie Lee Marquardt was a member, a dues -paying

the Communist Party, the Northeast Party of the Communist Party. Leo, that's

enough. Turn it off.

Oh, that Roy Cohn's a real charmer. Ed, Ed, did you see that? He just walked

out. She is not a spy. You don't know that.

Boy, I'll take the odds on it, Fred.

What do you think, Ed?

You haven't made your case.

He's lying.

What's your proof?

I think it's pretty obvious.

Is that our standard now, what you think?

McCarthy told the whole country. He found the spy in the Pentagon, and it

her. Meaning what?

I mean, Ed, does she look like a spy to you?

What does a spy look like, Palmer?

He got up and left his own hearing. She's not a spy, and you have a story.

then, you haven't made your case.

File it.

Okay, fellas, let's save it with the rest of the Senate footage. Thanks.

Fred, did you guys look at the Secretary Stevens stuff? Not yet, John, not yet.

Just watch it to the end. Well done.

All the way to the end. Thank you, John.

Pretty good stuff, Ed. It's been any time in Detroit.

We've got 20 or so of these pieces filed here in the Detroit Free Press. Dexter,

Michigan. Kid named Milo Radulovic. Italian?

Irish. Air Force kicked him out because his dad read some Serbian newspaper.

They called Milo a security risk.

Is his dad a communist? I don't know. Who brought the charges? The Air Force.

The charges were in a sealed envelope. Nobody saw them. Not even at the

He was declared guilty without a trial and told that if he wants to keep his

job, he has to denounce his father and his sister, so he told them to take a

hike. His sister, huh?

Let's send Joe and Charlie down there, see if he's any good on camera.

Is he being brought before the committee?

No. So?

It's not McCarthy.

Isn't it?

Milo Radulovich.

Lieutenant Radulovich, Milo, let me ask you this. What happened

now to your two children? That is, your five -year -old and your five -month

-old in terms of you.

Yes, if I am being judged on my relatives.

Are my children going to be asked to denounce me? Are they going to be judged

on what their father was labeled?

Are they going to have to explain to their friends, etc., why their father

security risk?

I see absolutely that this is a chain reaction.

If the thing is let's stand as the first recommendation,

was sent out by the board, I see a chain reaction that has no end to anybody,

for anybody.

Well, that's new.

And I don't think you can call this a neutral piece. I think we tried to talk

the Air Force.

So you just want to forego the standards you've stuck to for over 15 years, both

sides, no commentary.

I'm just making sure we identify

what it is you're both doing. I can't find any justification for this. I can't

accept that on every story there are two equal and logical sides. You want to

call that editorializing? We'll give them equal time.

It is editorializing, period.

You understand the position you're putting us in. We're all in it together.

If the Senate or the Air Force ask her to do me a favor, avoid any speeches

about how we're all in a big boat together.

Please don't insult me. Look, I have to go back to Alcoa, who sponsors your show

and also has military contracts, and I gotta tell them they might get caught in

a tough bind because you had a beef with Joe McCarthy.

I'm not going at you. Joe McCartney. Well, you're starting a goddamn fire. I

know what this is, Ed. You guaranteed me. This goes back to here and now. You

guaranteed that corporate would have no influence over news content. What I'm

saying is, please don't try to con me into thinking this will be good for me.

Just do me that courtesy.

I'm sorry, Mr.

Paley, Mr. Murrow.

Fred, there's a Colonel Anderson here to see you.

Okay, Shirley, where is he?

He's in your office.

Sorry, gentlemen.

Maybe this guy loves the transcript and is here to congratulate me.

Go after Joe Kennedy.

We'll pay for it.

I got a great story about Hoover.

Do you know how many person -to -persons you'll have to do to make this up? Oh,

Judy and her daughter Liza next week. No chance. You will be interviewing Lassie

and then Mr. Ed back -to -back.

Alcoa won't pay for it.

We probably won't either.

Nobody will stop you. How much are the ads?

Three thousand.

I'll split it with Fred.

He just won't have Christmas presents for his kid this year.

He's a Jew.

Well, don't tell Fred he loves Christmas.

Colonel.

Mr. Friendly.

Please.

I trust you've had a chance to review the transcript?

We have, but we've not been allowed to see the footage.

We're still shooting it.

Charlie Mack is on a plane from Dexter with the last of the interviews. We'll

going right down to the wire.

Your show airs tomorrow.

How can we possibly comment on what we're being accused of? You haven't

the footage.

With all due respect, you have been invited to comment on this piece, not to

approve this piece.

We are going with the story that says that the U .S. Air Force tried Milo

Radulovich without one shred of evidence and found him guilty of being a

security risk without the constitutional right. And you have also not seen the

evidence claim he's not.

Wouldn't you guess that the people that have seen the contents of that envelope

might know a little more about what makes a person a danger to our country?

Who are these people?

Are they elected? Should it just be you that decides?

Appointed? Do they have an ax to grind?

Is it you, sir? Mr. Brindley.

We have been a friend and ally of Mr. Murrow and CBS News.

The story you intend to air is without merit.

Now, before you take steps that cannot be undone, I urge you

to reconsider your stand.

These are very dangerous waters you're attempting to navigate.

Two minutes to air.

Dammit! Millie, unload that thing before I crack.

A couple more seconds.

Okay.

Is Don ready for this? I don't know. Tell him I front -loaded the opening

about five seconds extra.

Front -loaded, five seconds. Thank you, Millie. Oh, Millie, tell Joe he's going

to have to do the voiceover live. Joe's on set. You tell him.

We need a live mic on the floor. I'll get the mic set.

Hi, Don. It's front -loaded. How am I? About five seconds. I did it too much!

Okay, which week is Joe going to do live? His question. Why don't we try to

it up with the whole show on air? Yeah, Joe can do it live. I hate this. We love

it. Fred, did you time Ed's intro? I think we're going to be long. Long is

Don. Remember, no commercial break. Great.

Great. I've got to add two minutes. Don, they're doing a commercial in the

booth. What commercial? We didn't have any commercial.

Okay, yeah. Eddie, set up a mic. I got it, Don. I got it.

Idiot out of the booth. That was...

It's too loud in here. One minute.

You got the film.

Will it be ready?

Yep.

Funny thing, Freddy. Every time you light a cigarette for me, I know you're

lying.

We'll have it. We'll have it.

What did the colonel tell you yesterday?

He wasn't too pleased.

You're going to get audited this year. Not me.

You. I told him I didn't want to do the piece.

You always wear yellow.

Better than red.

Twenty seconds.

You know, it occurs to me we might not get away with this one.

Ten seconds.

In five, four, three, two... Stand

by now.

For See It Now, with Edward R. Murrow.

Alcoa, Aluminum Company of America, in cooperation with CBS Television,

the distinguished reporter and news analyst, Edward R. Murrow, in See It

Edited and produced by Mr. Murrow and Fred W. Friendly.

A weekly presentation of Aluminum Company of America, the nation's leading

producer of aluminum.

Now speaking to you from the control room of Studio 41 is the editor of See

Now, Edward R. Murrow.

Good evening.

A few weeks ago there appeared a few obscure notices in the newspapers about

Lieutenant Milo Radulovich.

a lieutenant in the Air Force Reserves, and also something about Air Force

Regulation 35 -62.

That is a regulation which states that a person may be regarded as a security

risk if he has close and continuing association with communists, or people

believed to have communist sympathies.

The lieutenant was asked to resign in August. He declined.

A board was called, and his case was heard.

At the end, it was recommended that he be severed from the Air Force, although

it was also stated that there was no question whatsoever As to the

loyalty, we propose to examine insofar as we can the case of Milo Radulovich.

Our reporter, Joe Worshpa. Cameraman, Charlie Mack.

This is the town of Dexter, Michigan.

Population, 1 ,500.

This is the story of Milo Radulovich. No special hero, no martyr. He came to

Dexter one year ago after 10 years in the Air Force.

does not question my loyalty in the least. They have reiterated that on

occasions.

They have presented me with allegations against my sister and father

to the effect that my sister and dad have read

what are now called subversive newspapers and that my

sister and father's activities are questionable.

That's the specific charge or allegation, I prefer to call it, against

Lieutenant Radulovich was defended by attorney Charles C. Lockwood, and this

the report on the hearing.

The Air Force did not produce a single witness.

We were not told who the accusers were.

We have no right to confront them or to cross -examine them.

But at the conclusion of the trial...

Although we had met the allegations, the Air Force made findings at the

conclusion of the hearing that every single allegation was true.

This is the sister, Margaret Radulovich Fishman. She neither defends nor

explains her political activities.

I feel that my activities, be they what they may or my political beliefs, are my

own private affair.

And I feel that... The charges leveled against me,

and by reason of which they are trying to purge him from the Army, just

seem to me to be a fantastic trend in this country.

Milo, I guess a lot of people must have asked you from time to time, wouldn't it

have been a lot easier for you if you would have...

Well, just kept sort of quiet about the whole thing. Maybe resigned and nobody

would have known anything about it and all this trouble wouldn't have come to

you. Yes, that's right. I could have signed a resignation form,

which was titled a resignation in lieu of elimination from the service.

And this would have given me an honorable discharge.

However, the honorable discharge would have stipulated that I had, you know,

been discharged.

Because the Air Force could not trust me. In other words, because I had been

discharged as a security risk.

And what happens to your two children? That is, your five -year -old and your

five -month -old in terms of you.

Yes, if I am being judged on my relatives, if are my children going to

to denounce me? Are they going to be judged on what their father was labeled?

Are they going to...

have to explain to their friends, etc., why their father is a security risk.

I see absolutely that this is a chain reaction.

If the thing is let's stand as the first recommendation was sent out by the

board, I see a chain reaction that has no end to anybody or anybody.

Perhaps you'll permit me to read a few sentences just at the end.

because I'd like to say rather precisely what we mean.

We have told the Air Force that we will provide facilities for any corrections

or criticisms it should like to make in the case of Milo Radulovic.

We are unable to judge the charges against the lieutenant's father or

because neither we nor you nor they nor the lawyers know precisely what was

contained in that manila envelope.

Was it hearsay, rumor, gossip, slander, or was it hard, ascertainable fact that

can be backed by credible witnesses?

We do not know.

We believe the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, even if that

iniquity be proved. And in this case, it was not.

But we also believe that this case illustrates the urgent need for the

forces to communicate more fully than they have so far done the regulations

procedures to be followed in attempting to protect national security and the

rights of the individual.

In any case, whatever happens in this whole area of the relationship between

individual and the state.

We will do it ourselves.

It cannot be blamed on Malenkov or Mao Zedong or even our allies. And it seems

to us that it's Fred Friendly and myself that this is a subject that should be

argued about endlessly.

Good night and good luck.

Friday's Edward R. Murrow, person to person on the CBS television network.

And we're out.

I think we're fine.

Oh, I like the sound of this.

What's this tune?

Ah, all right.

I sure hope I remember these words.

It's been a while.

Right here?

I've got my eyes on you.

So best be...

I'm checking on all you do from A to Z.

So, darling, just be wise.

Keep your eyes on me.

Keep your eyes on me.

All right, let's take a bow. I've got to learn these words.

That's all the room we had on the fence for it. Lee, how old are you?

I'm 35, Ed.

Well, at 35, looking back at all that's happened, what comes to your mind first?

Ed, I would say that God has been very, very good to us in making all of this

happen to our family.

And I suppose that nowhere but in the United States could...

This happened to an ordinary American family like ours.

I'm very grateful.

Well, surely something must get under your skin once in a while, doesn't it?

Well, about the only thing that bothers me is when people accuse me of having a

following only of nice old ladies. I have nothing against the nice old

but I like nice young ladies, too.

Lee, thanks so much for letting us come and visit you, and will you say

goodnight to the rest of your family for us?

I certainly will.

Thanks so much.

Goodnight, Ed. Goodnight, Lee.

Next week, we'll take you to Beverly Hills, California, and the home of

Rooney and his new bride.

Until then, goodnight and good luck.

And we're out.

Good show, Ed.

So that...

Mr.

Murrow?

Mr. Murrow?

Mr. Paley was wondering if you'd meet him for a drink.

When?

Uh, now.

He's at the Penscom bar.

What's he doing there? Will you just call him, Shirley, will you please?

I'll let him know. Thank you.

Hi, Don.

Hi, Shirley.

Huh.

You getting good at this, Ed?

They're going to think you like it.

Pays the bills.

How are you, Don?

It's day to day.

Well, if she saw how good you look right now, she'd be back.

Tell her that if you see her, will you?

So I read the O 'Brien piece.

Yeah, it's pretty tough.

I'm a pinko.

I slant the news.

Just waiting for him to say my wife left me, too.

Well, nobody worth their salt reads him.

You read him.

Well, see, I rest my case.

Does Paley read him?

Bill Paley's not going to do anything, Doc.

Listen, Ed, thanks.

I just came over because I wanted to see how great the lieutenant piece was.

Thanks. How's the fallout?

Mostly good, surprisingly.

Is this the start?

You taking sides? Just a little poke with a stick, see what happens.

Well, let me know if I can help.

But you're a pinko, Doc.

I'll see you, Ed.

May I have your attention, please, on track one.

The 830 train to New Haven has been canceled.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Hey, Joe.

What's all this Radwich junk you're putting out?

Oh, Don.

I got nothing to say to you now. We just got to get this film off to the lab.

What would you say if I told you that Murrow was on the Soviet payroll in

Uh, give us a sec, will you, Charlie?

Sure. I gotta use the head anyway.

Hey, Joe.

Watch yourself with this guy.

Is McCarthy going to the

Eisenhower dinner? No idea. I don't keep the senator's calendar for him, Joe.

Oh, really?

This is a track change announcement.

The 845 Northeast Corridor train to New York City will be arriving on track two.

What? You don't watch any spy films, Donald?

You can't just hand me a classified folder. You gotta slip it in my

when I'm not looking.

It's actually perfect. I didn't know who to give this information to. Paley or

Murrow. As you can imagine, Fred and I aren't very friendly.

No pun intended.

No pun.

Elocuted.

Elocuted. Is that a word or did you just make that up?

You boys and your word.

Is Ed in New York right now memorizing a thesaurus?

Joe, what's another word for thesaurus?

Oh, it must be awfully quiet at the Algonquin now that you're gone. Except

Harpo talking away.

All right, Donald.

What do you got?

In short.

Ed Murrow's been a communist sympathizer since the 1930s. Member of the

Industrial Workers of the World.

Sponsor of educational trips to Moscow and on the Soviet payroll in 1934.

It's all there.

You want to know why that's not possible?

Why are you going to lose this one, Donald?

Because everybody in the country knows that if nothing else, Ed Murrow is a

loyal American. He is a patriot.

Did you know that the word gullible isn't in the dictionary, Joe?

I give this to Ed? I'd like you to. I have copies.

I think you guys go too far.

Well, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck.

It's a terrible shame.

Murrow's brother being a general in the Air Force.

What'd I miss?

Nothing. Ed, Donald's just leaving. He's got a hole to crawl back into.

Give my best to Ed.

Bill? Hello, Ed. How's Janet?

How's your boy? Oh, well, how's babe?

Fine. She's fine.

Well... Her fundraiser got rained on. Well, that's why I don't plan anything.

Really? You wouldn't know it.

Reading fiction?

I hope.

You tell me. Well, we know how they're going to come at us.

That's just the first shot.

Somebody will go down. Now, have you checked your facts? Are you on safe

I'm sure. Cards.

They're my cards.

You lose, what happens? Five guys find themselves out of work.

I am responsible for a hell of a lot more than five goddamn reporters.

Let it go.

McCarthy will self -destruct. Cohn, all of them. I don't like you to run from a

fight. I'm not running from anything. Is that so? Hey, I write your check.

I put you in that country house. I put your son through school. And you should

have told me about this before it got so far down the road.

Is it an apology that you want? We don't make the news, Ed. We report the news.

99 % of the time he is wrong about the people he labels. If he goes too far,

Senate will investigate him and we will report on that. 100 % of the time he is

wrong when he steps on their civil liberty. What are you doing, Ed? You are

trying him in the press.

No, you have decided. And you're presenting it as fast. So where do you

take this?

Every one of your boys has to be clean.

You understand?

No ties.

If Aaron's mother went to a group theater fundraiser in 1932, he is out.

Hewitt, too. Everyone in that room, make no mistake, I will cut them loose.

A corporate will not interfere.

With editorial.

But editorial will not jeopardize the hundreds of employees of the Columbia

Broadcasting System.

Yes. Mr. Paley, Senator Symington is on the phone.

And we're not advertising it.

Hello, Steve.

Right.

Well, yes, Senator, I do have a question. The U .S.

military is said to have better nuclear capabilities with much smaller bombs,

but the Soviets have developed longer -range missiles, which pit the two

against each other in a race to build the first intercontinental rocket

of delivering a nuclear explosion.

The Soviets believe they have the upper hand, but military experts here at home

are confident the U .S. will win the race to complete a full and functioning

missile capable of carrying a nuclear bomb.

Let me make it easier. I just need to know

for the good of the peace.

If any of you have any connection at all.

Read a communist newsletter.

Traveled to St. Petersburg.

Was your mother dating a socialist in 1922?

You know what? Why did you leave my mother out of this? Don't care.

I just need to know.

You know, I had a fling with a fascist once. Oh, that must have been fun. No,

not after the war. They were a little down.

Knock it off. Knock it off.

Ed,

I think I should excuse myself. Yeah, I'm going to have to excuse myself.

Let me get out now.

I don't want to hurt us. Christ. Okay, that kills us.

Oh.

My ex was... I wouldn't say she was a communist, but...

She certainly attended meetings.

It was before we were married.

And it never came up until after we were divorced.

It didn't matter then.

We were...

We were all on the same side.

Look, I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, but the thing of it

is, somebody will find out, and they'll hurt us with it. Hurt us?

We can't do this story. I should have told you sooner.

I'm sorry, Fred.

Ed.

Sit down, Homer.

If none of us ever read a book that was dangerous or had a friend that was

different or joined an organization that advocated change, we would all be the

exact kind of person Joe McCarthy wants.

We're going to go with the story.

Because the terror is right here in this room.

Our next report will be about the junior senator from Wisconsin. And Fred, we

use only his words. You understand.

Okay, fellas, that's it. All the footage we've banked. Everything.

John, you and Joe and Charlie go through the HUAC hearings. Eddie and Palmer,

see what else we have. Any speeches he gave or interviews.

His own words, boys.

That's what we need.

Millie, give me those notes.

Yeah.

There may be trouble.

But while there's moonlight and music and love and romance

Let's face the music and dance

Before the fiddlers have fled

Before they ask us to pay the bill And while

we still got a chance Let's face the music and dance

We locked the projector.

Yeah, we'll make it.

Excuse me, Mr. Murrow. Mr.

Paley's on the line.

Maybe he's going to reimburse us for the ad.

We'd like that. I would like that. I already used it.

This is Ed.

Hey, the Knickerbockers are playing tonight, and I got front row seats.

Are you interested?

I'm a little busy bringing down the network tonight, Bill.

is that tonight?

The knickerbockers, you say? Front row?

It's tempting.

So you know.

We're covered.

All right.

I'm with you tonight, Ed.

And I'll be with you in the morning as well.

Thanks, Bill.

What do you think, Joe?

I think we're ready.

I... Wish we could wait till we get more footage.

I just don't think we could take the chance. I think that we have to hit

McCarthy before he could come after Ed. Well, they haven't gone after the Alsops

or Herb Block.

The Alsops and Herb Block didn't work for the Institute of International

Education in 1934.

Then I guess it's time.

Okay.

Hi. Hi.

Bye. Bye.

You worried?

I didn't think I was.

I don't know why. I was in the office on Friday. I answered the phone. It was

Howard calling from London.

He asked me what was going on with McCarthy, and before I answered him, I

and looked over my shoulder to see who was listening.

And who was listening?

Chairman Mao.

Oh, Joe, your ring.

another wife who reminds her husband to take off his wedding ring before he goes

to the office?

Ava Gardner. 30 seconds.

20

seconds.

Ten seconds.

In five, four, three, two.

Good evening.

Because a report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy is by definition controversial,

we want to say exactly what we mean and request permission to read from a

script. any remarks Murrow and Friendly may make.

If the senator feels that we have done violence to his words or pictures and he

wishes to speak to answer himself, an opportunity will be afforded him on this

program. Our working thesis tonight is from this quotation.

If this fight against communism has made a fight between America's two great

political parties, the American people know that one of those parties will be

destroyed and the republic cannot endure very long as a one -party system.

We applaud that statement.

We think Senator McCarthy should as well. He said it 17 months ago in

The American people realize that this cannot be made a fight between America's

two great political parties.

If this fight against communism is made a fight between America's two great

political parties, the American people know that one of those parties will be

destroyed and the republic can't endure very long as a one -party system.

On one thing, the senator has been consistent.

Often acting as a one -man committee, he has traveled far, interviewed many,

terrorized some, accused civilian and military leaders of the past

administration of a great conspiracy to hand over the country to communism.

Part of that quotation on what meat does this our Caesar feed?

And upon what meat does Senator McCarthy feed?

Two of the staples of his diet are the investigations, protected by immunity,

and the half -truths.

You attended Columbia University in the early 30s. I did, Mr. Chairman.

Will you speak a little louder, sir?

I did, Mr. Chairman.

And were you expelled from Columbia?

I was suspended from classes on April 1, 1932.

I was later reinstated, and I resigned from the university.

And you resigned from the university.

Did the Civil Liberties Union provide you with an attorney at that time?

I had many offers of attorneys, and one of those was from the American Civil

Liberties Union, yes. The question is, did the Civil Liberties Union supply you

with an attorney?

They did supply an attorney.

The answer is yes.

The answer is yes.

You know, the Civil Liberties Union has been listed as a front for and doing the

work of the Communist Party.

Mr. Chairman, this was 1932.

Yeah, I know it was 1932. Do you know that they since have been listed as a

front for and doing the work of the Communist Party?

I do not know that they have been listed so, sir. You don't know they have been

listed? I have read that mention.

You wrote a book.

in 1932 uh i'm going to ask you again at the time you wrote this book did you

feel that professors should be given the right to teach sophomores that marriage

uh the quote should be cast out of our civilization as antiquated

and stupid religious phenomena well that's your feeling at that time my

was that professors should have the right to express their considered

on any subject, whatever they were.

I'm going to make an answer to that.

I'll answer yes, but you put an implication on it and you feature this

particular point out of a book which, of course, is quite out of context, does

not give a proper impression of a book as a whole.

The American public doesn't get an honest impression of even that book as

from what you're quoting from it.

The Reed Harris hearing illustrates one of the senator's techniques.

Twice, he said the American Civil Liberties Union was listed as a

front. The attorney general's list does not and never has listed the ACLU as

subversive, nor has the FBI or any other federal government agency. And the ACLU

holds in its files letters of commendation from President Truman,

Eisenhower and General MacArthur.

Earlier, the senator asked.

Upon what meat does this our Caesar feed?

Had he looked three lines earlier in Shakespeare's Caesar, he would have

this line, which is not altogether inappropriate.

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.

No one familiar with the history of this country can deny that congressional

committees are useful.

It is necessary to investigate before legislating. But the line between

investigating and persecuting is a very fine one, and the junior senator from

Wisconsin has...

stepped over it repeatedly.

We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that

accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due

process of law.

We will not walk in fear one of another.

We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason if we dig deep in our

history and our doctrine and remember that we are not descended from fearful

men, not from men who fear to write, to speak, to associate, or to defend the

causes that are for the moment unpopular.

We proclaim ourselves as indeed we are the defenders of freedom wherever it

continues to exist in the world. But we cannot defend freedom abroad by

deserting it at home.

The actions of the junior senator from Wisconsin have caused alarm and dismay

amongst our allies abroad and given considerable comfort to our enemies.

And whose fault is that?

Not really his.

He didn't create this situation of fear. He merely exploited it.

and rather successfully.

Cassius was right.

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.

Good night, and good luck.

I don't know whether all of you have seen what I just saw, but I want to

associate myself and this program with what Ed Murrow has just said and say

I've never been prouder of CBS.

And now the news.

Feel like a scotch? I think everybody could use one. Yep. Women have moved

another male domain.

In 20 United States cities, they've proved themselves highly efficient in

parking and traffic control.

And the trend to the greater employment of traffic policemen as women is rising.

Many of the...

3 .30, early editions are out now. Oh, I'm not worried about that. No, of

not. Hey, Cheryl, honey, run down and pick up the early editions.

All of them? All of them. Just get O 'Brien.

All right, watch my drink.

Yeah, I'll go with you, Shirley.

I'm going to have to fire Joe so those two can date. Cigarette?

I quit.

Good time to quit.

Yeah, but what did you do?

Well, first we want to see if we have jobs tomorrow.

And if we still have jobs tomorrow, then tail gunner Joe gets to return fire.

What's he going to say?

He's going to say we're a pinko organization with a leftist agenda. We

own word.

It's, uh... Well, we do have a leftist agenda.

I'm a pinko.

awfully quiet there, didn't it? We've got Annie Lee Moss.

We can have that together by next week if need be. Is that a whole show?

It's close.

Listen, Ed.

There's not going to be a shortage of material on him. What we have to do now

keep up the pressure till his rebuttal and then move to Calcutta.

Sure do miss radio.

You've got a face for radio.

Well, my wife keeps telling me. All right, here we go. We've got all of

The Post, The Times. Who wrote it? Jack Gould.

Edward R. Murrow's television program on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy was an

exciting and provocative examination of the man and his methods.

It was crusading journalism of high responsibility and courage.

For TV so often plagued by timidity and hesitation, the program was a milestone

that reflected enlightened citizenship.

The program was no

less an indictment of those who wish the problems posed by the senator's tactics

and theatrics would just go away and leave them alone.

That was Mr. Murrow's Intellivision's triumph and a very great one.

I already did. How do you think we got that review?

What about the post?

Pretty good.

What about O 'Brien?

The same.

Julie, what did O 'Brien say?

Oh, I don't have it. Joe, what about you?

No, here, somewhere.

Okay.

Hang on.

Okay.

Jack O 'Brien.

We can't say we were surprised that Edward R. Murrow's hate McCarthy

last evening, when his explosively one -sided propaganda, edited with deviously

clever selectivity for McCarthy's march against communism, was finished last

evening. By equally Machiavellian coincidence, the following telecast

Murrow's PM protege, Don Hollenbeck.

In an obviously gloating mood, Hollenbeck hoped viewers had witnessed

patron's triumph from and for the left.

And so on and so on. Yeah, I guess O 'Brien doesn't like scotch.

It's okay, Shirley, finish it. Shirley, read the post, huh?

That's it, Don. It's just... Shirley, finish it.

That's it, Don. That's it.

Shirley.

Okay.

The Columbia Broadcasting System has been in a lengthy clean house of

mood. The worst offenders on lesser levels have been quietly pushed out of

company.

Don Hollenbeck, a graduate of the demised PINCO publication PM, attacked

conservative newspapers with sly and slanted propaganda.

He then proceeded through an equally tilted review of the day's events, with

McCarthy dominating his words, actions, attitude, and camera.

It's O 'Brien.

I think I'll have that cigarette, Ed.

I'm heading out.

Got a staff meeting in five hours.

Do you want to share a cab?

Oh, yeah. You headed downtown?

Yeah. Where do you live, Shirley? No, no. She lives downtown.

Yeah.

Hang in there, Don. See you, boys.

See ya.

The end.

Don. Appreciate it.

Today,

you mean.

Sorry I missed you the other night, Don.

I need to ask you something, Ed.

It's about O 'Brien.

O 'Brien doesn't matter. He's killing me. It doesn't make a bit of difference.

It's not just him. We have to let this guy have it. We're not going to go after

O 'Brien. I'm not going to take on McCarthy and Hearst.

I can't beat them both.

Don't read the paper, Don.

Or don't read O 'Brien anyway.

No, I get that.

I wake up in the morning and I don't recognize anything.

I feel like I went to sleep three years ago and somebody hijacked.

As if all the reasonable people took a plane to Europe and left us behind.

I was always an optimist.

Really. I always thought things work out half full.

Yeah.

I believe in the system.

As disastrous as it can seem at times, I believe in it.

We designed it to fix it.

Madison built it into the Constitution, for Christ's sake.

I was talking about my divorce.

So was I.

Well, I'm glad the forefathers understood the term dissolution of a

I'm sure they had their difficulties with the opposite sex.

I'm talking about McCarthy.

So was I.

Well,

I thought I'd try.

Sorry, Doc.

We never have this conversation, okay?

It's okay with you, Senator.

Don't laugh. I've thought about it.

How long for that new copy?

Give me an hour. It's going to be an hour.

Yeah, we got a deadline.

He's got back from D .C.

McClellan, just look at that. The McCarthy at the Pentagon here. He called

McCarthy evil.

Wait, who did?

Senator McClellan. He's sitting.

Who's D .C. down from D .C.

He called him evil.

Wait, who's evil? You get it on camera?

Yeah. Wait, who is evil?

Oh. Eddie, I can hear you.

What are they doing in there?

Rewriting the Constitution.

They were there for the original.

Hold on, Joe.

Palmer, can I talk to you for a minute?

Yeah, sure, Fred.

Fred. Yeah.

Fellas, McCarthy's office just called.

He wants equal time.

When? April 6th. In studio.

He wants to film it in his office.

Who?

McCarthy.

Jesus Christ.

They told me Buckley wanted to respond.

No.

It's McCarthy.

But are they going to let Charlie? What's he going to say?

I don't know what it's going to be. He's going to come after me. It's the only

thing he can do.

He's going to bet that Senator Trump's a newsman.

He'll lose.

Maybe.

Okay, fellas, here we go. Joe, call Stanton and let him know.

John, let's see all the Eisenhower footage you've got. We need to prefer a

Yep. Phil, illegal, wants to have a word with you.

Okay.

Now? Yes, now is best.

Never very good news, is it?

Not often.

Can you connect me with Phil in legal?

Right away.

Mr. Williams.

Guilty.

I hope not.

There isn't a lot of time, so I'll be brief.

This network is under a tremendous amount of pressure. These stories aren't

helping. I understand.

I'm not sure you do.

There's a great deal of concern about your past position.

My wife's past position?

That's right.

You act as a file on you.

How do you know? A file was sent to Mr. Paley yesterday.

Well, that's interesting timing. Well, when you strike at a king.

Or a junior senator from Wisconsin.

CBS is prepared to make an offer.

Uh -oh. If you submit your resignation, CBS will cover any legal expenses you

might incur on this subject.

Oh, that's awfully kind of you. No, it isn't. No, it isn't.

These guys don't play around.

They're relentless.

They will cost you everything you have.

I understand.

Do you?

Palmer, take the deal.

If these guys decide to call you in, we will cut you loose.

And then no one will be there to help. Not CBS.

Not Burrow.

No one.

Phil, you're a good guy.

And I appreciate that this is your job.

But what you're asking me to do, I could never do.

I understand.

It's funny how your life can be upended just for telling the truth. And marrying

a communist. Oh, yeah, there is that.

Be careful.

Yeah.

Ed, 28 minutes. I could clip a little off the end.

I think we have to leave it alone.

Very smart. No time for comment. Came in 10 minutes ago, and we put it up for

the first couple of minutes.

You're right.

It's coming after me.

Okay. Thanks.

Charlie, have you seen the latest polls?

The most trusted man in America is Milton Berle.

Maybe he should do the story.

Hey, Fred.

What say we grab a little dinner after the show?

The 21 Club?

Sure. 45 seconds to air.

Look, there's nothing fun about this one.

You just gotta put your gloves down, stick your chin out, and just take it

whole round. Next week's our round.

If I make it up off of Matt.

You will.

30 seconds.

Ten seconds.

In five, four, three, two...

Good evening.

One month ago tonight, we presented our report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy.

We labeled it as controversial.

Most of that report consisted of words and pictures of the senator. At the

we told the senator that if he feels that we have done violence to his words

pictures and he wishes to speak to answer himself, an opportunity would be

afforded him on this program.

The senator sought that opportunity, asked for a three -week delay because he

said he was very busy and wished adequate time to prepare his reply.

We agree.

We place no restrictions on the method or manner of the presentation of his

reply and suggested that we would not take time for comment on this program.

Here now is Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, junior senator from Wisconsin.

Good evening.

Mr. Edward R. Murrow, educational director of the Columbia Broadcasting

devoted his program to an attack on the work of the United States Senate

Investigating Committee.

and on me personally as its chairman.

Now, ordinarily, ordinarily I would not take time out from the important work at

hand to answer Murrow.

However, in this case, I feel justified in doing so because Murrow is the

symbol, the leader, and the cleverest of the jackal pack, which is always

found at the throat of anyone who dares to expose individual communists and

traitors.

I am compelled by the fact to say to you that Mr. Edward R. Murrow, as far back

as 20 years ago, was engaged in propaganda for communist causes.

For example, the Institute of International Education, of which he was

acting director, was chosen to act as a representative by a Soviet agency

to do a job.

which would normally be done by the Russian secret police.

Now, Mr. Murrow, by his own admission, was a member of the IWW, that's the

Industrial Workers of the World, a terrorist organization cited as

an attorney general of the United States.

Now, Mr.

Murrow said on this program, and I quote, he said, the actions of the

senator from Wisconsin have given considerable comfort to the enemy.

That is the language of our statute of peace, rather strong language.

If I am giving comfort to our enemies, I ought not to be in the Senate.

If, on the other hand, Mr. Murrow is giving comfort to our enemies, he ought

to be brought into the home of millions of Americans by the Columbia

Broadcasting System.

But this is a question which can be resolved with...

I have to go to Philadelphia in the morning.

What time is your train?

Eight. Is Charlie going with you?

Mm -hmm.

I don't want to say

what I'm about to say.

Uh -oh. Yeah.

You want a divorce.

No. Do you?

Depends on what you're about to say.

Just keep having this nagging thought that we might be wrong.

About what?

Well, there are communists here. Yeah.

They don't always have our best interests at heart. Probably not. Yeah.

McCarthy? Well, the argument could be made.

It's for the greater good.

That's one argument.

Alger Hiss?

What? Alger Hiss had a trial.

Alger Hiss faced his accusers.

And went to jail. That's right.

That's how this works.

So we're not going to look back and say we protected the wrong side?

You're right, Joe.

Yeah.

I want a divorce.

Yeah, I wouldn't blame you.

When did you start smoking?

15 minutes ago.

Good evening.

Last week, Senator McCarthy appeared on this program to correct any errors he

might have thought we made in our report of March 9th. Since he made no

reference to any statements of fact, we must conclude that he found no errors of

fact. He proved once again that anyone who exposes him, anyone who does not

share his hysterical disregard to decency and human dignity and the rights

guaranteed in the Constitution must be either a communist or a fellow traveler.

I fully expected this treatment.

The senator added this reporter's name to a long list of individuals and

institutions that he has accused of serving the communist cause.

His proposition is a very simple one.

Anyone who criticizes or opposes McCarthy's methods must be a communist.

that be true, there are an awful lot of communists in this country.

For the record, let us consider briefly some of the senator's charges.

He claimed, but offered no proof, that I was a member of the Industrial Workers

of the World. That is false.

I never was a member of the IWW.

Never applied for membership.

The senator charged that Professor Harold Lasky, a British...

scholar and politician, dedicated a book to me. That is true. He is dead. He was

a socialist. I am not.

He was one of those civilized individuals who didn't insist upon

political principles as a precondition for friendship or conversation.

I don't agree with his political ideas.

Lasky, as he makes clear in the introduction, dedicated the book to me

because of political agreement, but because he held my wartime broadcasts

London in high regard.

And the dedication so reads.

I believe 20 years ago and I believe today that mature Americans can engage

conversation, controversy, a clash of ideas with communists anywhere in the

world without becoming contaminated or converted.

I believe that our faith, our conviction, our determination are

theirs and that we can compete and successfully not only in the area of

but in the area of ideas.

I have worked for CBS for 19 years.

The company has subscribed fully to my integrity as a broadcaster and as a

American.

I require no lectures from the junior senator from Wisconsin.

Having searched my conscience and my files, I cannot contend that I have

been right or wise, but I have attempted to pursue the truth with some diligence

and to report it, even though, as in this case, I had been warned in advance

that I would be subjected to the attentions of Senator McCarthy.

We should hope to deal with matters of more vital interest to the country next

week. Good night and good luck.

How are you feeling?

How am I?

How are you feeling?

What time did you leave last night?

She didn't leave last night. I didn't leave this morning.

It's just this today.

Oh, just this?

Ma 'am.

Somewhere there's music.

How faint the tune.

Somewhere there's heaven.

How high the moon.

What time are we going till today?

I'll get back to you in a minute.

We'll be here.

In the last analysis, the senator was perched on the television high dive and

all prepared to make a resounding splash.

He jumped beautifully but neglected to check first where he was going to land.

It must have been something of a shock to discover that Mr. Murrow had drained

the water out of the pool.

Yeah, the Times.

Hell of a writer.

We should hire him away from the Times. Yeah, well, CBS has got a public opinion

survey here that Elmo Roper put together. It says 33 % of all

households believe McCarthy proved Yorukami.

Only 33 %? Listen, listen, listen, listen, listen, listen.

The Senate is investigating McCarthy.

Got him.

Hold on, boys.

Oh, oh, you'll be all right, Palmer.

We're up there with Howdy Doody. Hold

on, Ed.

Somewhere there's music.

The two.

Somewhere this heaven.

One of the best programs I ever heard was called CBS Views the Press.

A great many people liked it, some didn't.

But no one would say it was anything but honest.

It was the work of an honest reporter, Don Hollenbeck.

He also worked occasionally on See It Now.

He did the 11 p .m. news over some of these stations.

He'd been sick lately, and he died this morning.

The police said it was suicide.

Gas.

How much of an obit?

But at least we got our facts straight and it was brief.

That's all Don Hollenbeck would have asked.

Good night and good luck.

See it now.

Yeah. Circulate that memo to 41.

Yeah. Circulate to Stanton.

Circulate to Fig.

Everybody gets that memo. Got it?

Yeah. Sunday, 4 .30.

Yeah.

4 .30 Sunday.

All right.

Yep.

Yep.

Thank you.

Joe, Shirley, can I talk to you both?

Let's use the editing room.

Billy, could you excuse us for a minute? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Shirley?

Fine, Fred.

Is there a problem, Fred? I want to ask you both a question.

But I don't want you to answer it.

Just consider it.

I know you two are married.

Everyone knows. That's not my question.

In the next few weeks...

I have to lay a couple of people off.

We're making some significant cuts across the board. I wanted you to know

because if you have any intention in the near future of starting a family,

I would say to you that you could save someone else from being fired.

I'm asking you to consider making this decision a little easier.

I don't need an answer now.

Just think about it.

Well, this is worse.

We're really going to miss you around here, Joe.

Everybody knew.

Yeah. But the problem isn't simply that you lost your sponsor. Even with Alcoa,

CNN still loses money. $50 ,000 last week's show we did for less than the

We'll find another sponsor. $64 ,000 question. Brings in over 80 ,000 in

sponsors and it costs a third of what you do.

Ed. I've got Tuesday night programming. It's number one because people just want

to enjoy themselves. They don't want a civics lecture.

What do you want, Bill? Well, I don't want a constant stomachache every time

take on a controversial subject.

That's the price you have to be willing to pay.

Careful, Ed.

Let's walk very carefully through these next few moments.

The content of what we're doing is more important than what some sponsor... No,

no, no, what you're doing. Not me, not CBS. CBS News, see it now, they all

belong to you.

Well, you wouldn't know it. What is it, credit that you want? I never censored a

single program.

No, I kept our affiliates who just wanted entertainment from us, and I

keep our license.

With the same politicians you were working to bring down, and I never said

you. Not once. I would argue that we have done well by one another.

I would argue that this network is defined by what the new department has

accomplished. I would also argue not saying no is not the same as not

Really?

You should teach journalism.

Well, let me ask you this. Why is it that you always refer to him as the

senator from Wisconsin?

Because he's the junior senator from Wisconsin.

Not likely.

You taunt him, Ed.

Like a cat with a ball of string.

But now you see you've opened the door.

News with a dash of commentary.

What happens when it isn't Edward R.

Murrow minding the store?

What do you want to do, Bill?

I'm going to take your show from half an hour to an hour, but it won't be a

weekly program and it won't be on Tuesday night.

When would it be?

Sunday afternoon.

How many episodes?

Five.

Why don't you just fire me, Bill?

But I don't think it's what either of us wants You owe me five shows

You won't subject matter no probably not

He

wants me to lay a few people off

I'm sure

Let's do the next show about the downfall of television.

So if the Senate votes to censure McCarthy, what happens then?

He sits in the back row.

But they don't kick him out. No, he stays.

He just loses all of his power.

He's already lost all of his power.

Right.

Now they just teach him a lesson.

They're moving, see it now, to Sunday afternoons.

Uh -oh.

How many episodes?

Five.

Well, might as well go down swinging.

We'll do the story about the migrant farm workers. Make a couple of enemies.

The most trusted man in America is Milton Berle.

See?

Maybe you should have worn a dress.

My legs are too skinny.

Feel like a scotch?

Scotch is good.

Did you know that Joe and Shirley were married?

Sure. Did everyone know?

Pretty much.

And if I did, I beg your pardon. Let us not assassinate this lad further.

Have you done enough?

Have you no sense of decency, sir?

At long last, have you left no sense of decency?

I know this hurts you, Mr. Wells.

Senator,

I think it hurts you too, sir.

I'd like to finish this. Mr. McCarthy, I will not discuss this further with you.

You have sat within six feet of me and could have asked me about Fred Fisher.

You have seen fit to bring it out.

And if there is a God in heaven, it will do neither you nor your cause any good.

I will not discuss it further.

I will not ask Mr. Cohen any more witnesses.

You, Mr. Chairman, may, if you will, call the next witness.

Are there any questions that come from the members of the chair?

I begin by saying our history will be what we make of it.

as we are, then history will take its revenge and retribution will not limp in

catching up with us.

Just once in a while, let us exalt the importance of ideas and information.

Let us dream to the extent of saying that on a given Sunday night, the time

normally used by Ed Sullivan is given over to a clinical survey on the state

American education.

And a week or two later, the time normally used by Steve Allen.

is devoted to a thoroughgoing study of American policies in the Middle East.

Would the corporate image of their respective sponsors be damaged?

Would the stockholders rise up in their wrath and complain?

Would anything happen other than a few million people would have received a

little illumination on subjects that may well determine the future of this

country?

To those who say people wouldn't look, they wouldn't be interested, they're

too...

complacent, indifferent, insulated.

I can only reply there is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable

against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to

Because if they are right and these instruments are good for nothing but to

entertain and amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now.

And we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost.

Ladies and gentlemen, here he is, Pat Stalino. Good evening, I'm Mike Waller.

This is a program of fact, news, information, and observation.

Thank you very much. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.

Our goal is not the victory of might. From Dallas, Texas. But the vindication

right. The flash, apparently official, President Kennedy died at 1 p .m.

Standard Time.

Socket to me, socket to me, socket to me, socket to me.

Here at Kent State University to find a name. The President's a crook. Well, I'm

not a crook. The Space Shuttle Challenger has exploded. Mr. Gorbachev,

this wall. It doesn't fit. If it doesn't fit, you must exist. You're supposed to

be married in three weeks. What are you doing living here?

You are not the father.

Weapons of mass destruction.

Get rolled by the Bush administration.

He's got him. He's got him.

This isn't the World Trade Center.

What exactly happened on 9 -11?

Conspiracy theories continue to saturate the internet. Terrorist. He was wearing

this tan suit.

Santa just is white. The big lie.

Companies called Dominion. Another in a series of stolen elections. President

Biden has a photographic memory.

Totally focused. He's very sharp in meetings.

Alternative facts to that. FBI operatives were organizing the attack on

Capitol. FBI had 26 of their people on the inside.

False flag operation.

Millions of dollars in apologizing to the federal defamation lawsuit. AP

reporter was barred from an Oval Office event. Also from Air Force One. Has

barred the Associated Press. The United States has retracted. A false story

about a Democratic ambassador is extremely dangerous.

Please raise your right hand and repeat after me.

These instruments can teach, they can illuminate, they can

even inspire.

But they can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use them

those ends.

Otherwise, they're merely wires and lights in a box.

There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought.

Against ignorance, intolerance, indifference.

It's a fight for the very soul of this republic.

And so the question is a very simple one.

Not what power unchecked can do.

We have seen that answer.

No.

The question is,

What are you prepared to do?

The fault, dear Brutus.

Good night.

And good luck.

Let's get away from the law.

You've been watching an exclusive live production of Broadway Play, Good Night

and Good Luck, starring George Clooney here on CNN.

The first time that Broadway Play has been broadcast live around the world.

can see the cast still up on the stage. You're seeing George Clooney, who Tony

nominated for his performance in this production.

We're going to speak to some of them shortly. I'm Anderson Cooper. Welcome to

our post -show special, Good Night and Good Luck, Truth and Power.

We're about a mile away from the Winter Garden Theater with a live studio

audience of journalism and communication students and professors.

all of whom watched tonight's performance.

The world of journalism and media that they are studying and may soon enter is

vastly different in many ways than Murrow's day, but there are, of course,

parallels to what Murrow faced as well.

I'm joined here by a panel of renowned journalists and writers from the world

television, newspapers, and podcasts.

I'll also talk exclusively with the former anchor of the CBS Evening News

the longtime 60 Minutes correspondent, Scott Pelley, about why he's there with

journalism and he's under attack.

And we've got CBS and his ongoing legal battle with President Trump.

With me right now, Walter Isaacson, professor of history at Tulane

former CEO of CNN. He actually hired me.

He's also the author of numerous bestselling books about Leonardo da

Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and others.

Also here, Connie Chung, former co -anchor of the CBS Evening News. She was

an anchor here at CNN, as well as ABC and NBC News. She's the author of the

book, Connie.