Date of Birth: April 25, 1908
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Date of Death: April 27, 1965
Biography
Edward R. Murrow, born Egbert Roscoe Murrow, was an iconic American broadcast journalist and war correspondent. He was born on April 25, 1908, in Polecat Creek, North Carolina, and grew up in Washington state. Murrow is best known for his courageous reporting during World War II and his contributions to the development of broadcast journalism in the United States. He gained fame with his dramatic and first-hand radio reports from Europe during the war. Later, he played a pivotal role in the early days of television journalism with his program “See It Now,” which notably challenged Senator Joseph McCarthy’s anti-communist tactics. Murrow’s career began in 1935 when he joined CBS as the director of talks and education. His reports from London during the Blitz and his phrase “This is London” became synonymous with his style of immersive and compelling journalism. After the war, Murrow continued to break new ground in the broadcasting industry, becoming a symbol of journalistic integrity and a relentless advocate for truth. Murrow’s legacy endures as a benchmark for journalistic excellence. His fearless approach and commitment to ethical reporting reshaped the media landscape and left an indelible mark on American journalism. He died on April 27, 1965, from lung cancer.
5 Interesting Facts about Edward R. Murrow
1. Edward R. Murrow was a heavy smoker, often seen with a cigarette in hand during his broadcasts, which eventually contributed to his death from lung cancer.
2. His 1954 broadcast on “See It Now” that directly challenged Senator Joseph McCarthy is considered one of the greatest moments in television history.
3. Murrow’s radio broadcasts during World War II were groundbreaking and earned him worldwide acclaim, particularly his reports from London during the Blitz.
4. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Murrow as the head of the United States Information Agency (USIA).
5. Murrow was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Edward R. Murrow
1. “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.”
2. “Good night, and good luck.”
3. “To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful.”
4. “No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices.”
5. “The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth Edward R. Murrow achieved is estimated to be around $1 million, which was a substantial amount for a journalist in his era.
Children
Edward R. Murrow had one child, a son named Charles Casey Murrow, born in 1945.
Relevant Links
1. [Edward R. Murrow on Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-R-Murrow
2. [Edward R. Murrow on History](https://www.history.com/topics/media/edward-r-murrow
4. [Museum of Broadcast Communications: Edward R. Murrow](http://www.museum.tv/eotv/murrowedwar.htm
5. [Edward R. Murrow on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0615265/