David Brinkley
His dry, sardonic wit and crisp writing defined television news for a generation, making him the essential counterpoint to the avuncular Huntley.
1920–2003 (age 83)·American journalist·Birthday: July 10·The Greatest Generation
Biography
David Brinkley brought a sharp, skeptical eye to the evening news, forever changing its tone. Starting as a wire service reporter, he joined NBC in 1943 and found his perfect foil in Chet Huntley. The 'Huntley-Brinkley Report,' with its iconic "Good night, Chet" "Good night, David" sign-off, dominated 1960s news, offering a cooler, more literate alternative to its competitors. Brinkley's genius was in his writing—terse, ironic, and perfectly paced for television. After the show ended, he reinvented himself with the Sunday morning program 'This Week with David Brinkley,' where his incisive interviews and commentary set the standard for political talk shows. His career, spanning from World War II to the Clinton impeachment, was a journey through the evolution of broadcast journalism itself. He won ten Emmy Awards, but his greater legacy was proving that intelligence and a hint of wit belonged in the news anchor's chair.
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.
David was born in 1920, 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 David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1920
#1 Movie
Way Down East
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1920Born
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1925Started school
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1933Became a teenager
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Could drive
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1938Could vote
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1941Turned 21
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1950Turned 30
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 40
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 50
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 60
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 70
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 80
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Died at 83
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Key Achievements
- Co-anchored the top-rated 'Huntley-Brinkley Report' on NBC from 1956 to 1970, revolutionizing the TV news format.
- Created and hosted the influential Sunday morning talk show 'This Week with David Brinkley' on ABC for 15 years.
- Won three Presidential Medals of Freedom, from Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton.
- Received ten Emmy Awards over the course of his broadcasting career.
- His election night coverage, particularly in 1956, set new standards for speed and clarity in broadcast reporting.
Did You Know?
He dropped out of college to become a reporter for his hometown newspaper in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Brinkley wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column for the Chicago Tribune for over a decade.
He was known for his distinctive, somewhat halting delivery, which became a widely imitated hallmark.
During World War II, he worked for the United States Army making training films.
“The one function TV news performs very well is that when there is no news we give it to you with the same emphasis as if there were.”
