Bill Monroe

Bill Monroe (1920-2011) was interviewed for three-and-a-half hours in Bethesda, MD. Monroe talked about growing up in New Orleans where he became a print and radio journalist. He spoke about his first job in television at WDSU-TV, where, as news director, he instituted the use of television cameras in the state legislature and pioneered the broadcast of on-camera editorials. He detailed his move to Washington, D.C. where he became NBC's bureau chief. He presented his perspective on several noteworthy events of the era including the Civil Rights Movement, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Kennedy Assassination. He chronicled his work as executive producer and moderator of Meet the Press (from 1975-84) and that of special contributor (from 1984-86). He also spoke of his lifelong commitment as a proponent of First Amendment Rights. Monroe was interviewed on June 13, 2005 by Karen Herman.