Daniel Schorr
A hard-nosed American newsman who broke major stories for CBS, landed on Nixon's enemies list, and found a sharp new voice in his NPR years.
1916–2010 (age 94)·American journalist·Birthday: August 31·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Daniel Schorr's six-decade career was a masterclass in journalistic tenacity. Hired by Edward R. Murrow at CBS News, he built his reputation as a tough, resourceful foreign correspondent, first in Europe and then as the network's pioneering man in Moscow. His dogged reporting often angered powerful figures, most famously President Richard Nixon, who placed Schorr on his infamous 'enemies list.' That conflict peaked when Schorr obtained and aired the explosive Pike Committee report on CIA abuses, leading to a dramatic showdown with his own network and his resignation. Unbowed, he reinvented himself, first in cable news and then, most impactfully, as the seasoned, skeptical voice of NPR's 'All Things Considered.' In his later role as senior news analyst, his brief commentaries, delivered with a gravelly authority, cut through noise with clarity and moral force, reminding listeners of journalism's vital role in holding power to account.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Daniel was born in 1916, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Daniel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1916
#1 Movie
Intolerance
Daniel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1916Born
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Started school
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1929Became a teenager
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Could drive
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1934Could vote
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Turned 21
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1946Turned 30
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 40
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 50
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 60
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 70
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 80
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2010Died at 94
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
Key Achievements
- Was one of only three journalists to be named on President Richard Nixon's 'Enemies List.'
- Broke the story of the CIA's involvement in Chile leading to the overthrow of Salvador Allende in 1973.
- Won three Emmy Awards for his television reporting and analysis.
- Had a distinguished second act as a senior news analyst for NPR for over 25 years, becoming a voice for a new generation.
Did You Know?
He was the last of Edward R. Murrow's legendary 'Murrow's Boys' to remain active in journalism.
He interviewed Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in 1957, a major coup for Western television.
He began his career as a stringer for The New York Times in the Netherlands after World War II.
He published his memoir, 'Staying Tuned: A Life in Journalism,' at the age of 90.
“I think being a journalist is better than being president. You get to be a witness to history, and you don't have to be responsible for the consequences.”
