Edward R. Murrow Collection: The McCarthy Years

Legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow is undoubtedly the first hero in the history of American broadcasting, a distinguished reporter who forever set the industry gold standard through his unparalled courage, integrity and newsgathering excellence. From his electrifying World War II frontline coverage to his once-in-a-lifetime interviews with such prominent 20th century icons as John F. Kennedy, Louis Armstrong and Fidel Castro, Murrow truly understood the spellbinding beauty and power of the spoken word, and television will forever be indebted to his unique contributions. Narrated by former CBS NEWS anchorman Walter Cronkite , THE McCARTHY YEARS turns back the clock to 1950s, a time when the country lurched into a murky period of blacklists and witch-hunts for alleged Communists, all led by a young Senator named Joseph McCarthy. Revered for his bravery and incorruptibility, Murrow made a controversial series of broadcasts that challenged McCarthy's abuses of power, which -- as this gripping program investigates -- signaled the emergence of television news as a momentous and highly influential force in American life.

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