Leonard H. Goldenson

Founder of ABC Network


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, the first Archive of American Television interviewee, Leonard H. Goldenson (1905–1999) recalls his early days working for Paramount Theaters and talks extensively about the formation of ABC. He details ABC's programming and the competition it faced from NBC, CBS, and the Hollywood studios. He fondly recalls ABC's eventual rise to become one of television's formidable powers, despite doubts from CBS' William Paley and NBC's David Sarnoff. Goldenson also discusses ABC's long partnership with Walt Disney, and outlines his television deal with Jack Warner. He speaks of the creation of ABC Sports, the popularity of ABC's news anchors, and the very first broadcast of a television miniseries. He outlines several of ABC's hits, including The Fugitive, Charlie's Angels, The Love Boat, Roots, and Monday Night Football. B-roll consists of photos from his life and career - including pictures from events for the organization he helped found, United Cerebral Palsy. Marvin Wolf conducted the interview on May 14, 1996 in Long Boat Key, FL.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"When I acquired ABC, everyone in the motion picture companies had refused to deal with television, but Walt Disney wanted to build Disneyland and he needed money. I made up my mind that I was going to do everything in our power to bring Disney into television. If I could crack Disney, then I could maybe crack the other motion picture companies."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Leonard H. Goldenson on getting into the movie business - working for Paramount Theaters
01:25
Leonard H. Goldenson his deal with Edward J. Noble (head of Lifesavers) to purchase NBC's Blue network, which became ABC
05:48
Leonard H. Goldenson on his programming ideas for ABC and making a deal with Walt and Roy Disney
02:13
Leonard H. Goldenson on Roone Arledge's impact on ABC and sports
05:40
Leonard H. Goldenson on merging with Capital Cities and Disney acquiring ABC
02:48
Leonard H. Goldenson on what represents television at its best - news
00:33
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on his interest in movies and radio; on attending Harvard University at 16 and going to law school
On getting into the movie business - working for Paramount Theaters; on becoming head of Paramount Theaters
On seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair; on Paramount's early association with DuMont; on seeing the potential of television; on ABC making a deal with Walt Disney
On his deal with Edward J. Noble (head of Lifesavers) to purchase NBC's Blue network, which became ABC

Chapter 2

On acquiring ABC and conversations with NBC's David Sarnoff and MGM's Nicholas Schenck; on convincing Paramount's board members to buy ABC; on the state of ABC when he purchased it
On ABC not merging with DuMont; on his programming ideas for ABC and making deals with Walt Disney and Jack Warner; on hiring talent
On his relationship with NBC's David Sarnoff and CBS' William Paley; on Frank Stanton's unsung achievements at CBS; on his relationship with Walt Disney; on others' attempts to take over ABC
On making a deal to merge with ITT (which fell through); on hiring young executives that would become instrumental to the television industry
On ABC's success with Westerns and action-adventure shows; on success with comedies and medical shows; on ABC's deal with Jerry Lewis

Chapter 3

On ABC's The Fugitive and The F.B.I.; on several other ABC hits and ABC's success with miniseries and movies of the week
On changing the sponsorship model for television; on Oliver E. Treyz's contributions to ABC; on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety
On the success of American Bandstand; on the payola scandal; on his management style, executives he hired, and grooming a successor; on ABC becoming the number one network
On Roone Arledge's impact on ABC, sports, and news; on the success of Monday Night Football

Chapter 4

On his most important decisions at ABC; on his career regrets; on his close relationships with several American presidents
On ABC being the last network to switch from 15 to 30-minute news broadcasts; on Peter Jennings becoming news anchor; on the ABC anchor team of Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters; on changes in network news
On ABC's successful movies of the week; on Roots; on believing in Aaron Spelling and shows he produced; on "jiggle television" at ABC
On getting into cable television; on acquiring ESPN and starting A&E and Lifetime; on the future of network television; on merging with Capital Cities and Disney acquiring ABC

Chapter 5

On what represents the best of television; on the network aftermath of JFK's assassination
On thoughts on colleagues
On B-roll footage of photos from his life and career

Chapter 6

On B-roll footage of photos from his life and career: at ABC, at events supporting fundraising for Cerebral Palsy, at school, and playing high school football
On B-roll footage of photos with Richard Nixon, Dick Clark, Walt Disney, Eleanor Roosevelt, Adolph Zukor and others

Chapter 7

On B-roll footage of photos from his life and career, contd.: photos with Richard Nixon; on his working relationship with Nixon; on the Nixon-Kennedy debates; on photos with John F. Kennedy, Rupert Murdoch, and others
On his access to and relationships with American presidents; on his paintings; on photos of awards and letters
Shows

77 Sunset Strip

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with detective/action- adventure shows and westerns
01:02

All in the Family

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Leonard H. Goldenson on asking Norman Lear to adapt the British show 'Til Death Do Us Part, in what became All in the Family, and passing it up
00:43

American Bandstand

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the payola scandal surrounding American Bandstand
02:10

Batman

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with Batman
00:48

Charlie's Angels

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Leonard H. Goldenson on "jiggle television" at ABC, personified by Charlie's Angels
00:45

Cheyenne

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with Westerns, particularly Cheyenne
01:08

FBI, The

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's The F.B.I.
00:50

Fugitive, The

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's The Fugitive
02:09

Hollywood Palace, The

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with The Hollywood Palace
00:19

King's Row

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with Westerns, particularly Cheyenne  
01:08

Love Boat, The

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Aaron Spelling's The Love Boat
00:55

Marcus Welby, M.D.

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's Marcus Welby, M.D.
00:13

Mod Squad, The

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Aaron Spelling's Mod Squad
00:42

Monday Night Football

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Monday Night Football
01:40

Roots

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the decision to air Roots on consecutive nights
01:22

Soap

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Leonard H. Goldenson on approving ABC's Soap
00:17

That Girl

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's That Girl
00:17

United States Steel Hour, The

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Leonard H. Goldenson on changing the sponsorship model for television
02:09

Wonderful World of Disney, The aka Magical World of Disney, The

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC making a deal with Walt Disney to air "Disneyland" on Walt Disney's The Wonderful World of Color
01:33
Topics

1939-40 World's Fair

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Leonard H. Goldenson on seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair
00:34

Coverage

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Monday Night Football
01:40

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Leonard H. Goldenson on seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair
00:34

Historic Events and Social Change

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Leonard H. Goldenson on seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair
00:34
Leonard H. Goldenson on the network aftermath of JFK's assassination
00:52
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo of Richard Nixon; on his working relationship with Nixon and on the Nixon-Kennedy debates
03:21

Hollywood Blacklist

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Leonard H. Goldenson on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety on ABC
01:16

Industry Crossroads

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Leonard H. Goldenson on changing the sponsorship model for television
02:09
Leonard H. Goldenson on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety on ABC
01:16
Leonard H. Goldenson on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety on ABC
01:16
Leonard H. Goldenson on his most important decisions at ABC
03:26

JFK Assassination and Funeral

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the network aftermath of JFK's assassination
00:52

John F. Kennedy

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Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - John F. Kennedy
01:36
Leonard H. Goldenson on the network aftermath of JFK's assassination
00:52

Kennedy-Nixon Debates

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo of Richard Nixon; on his working relationship with Nixon and on the Nixon-Kennedy debates
03:21

Lyndon B. Johnson

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Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - Lyndon B. Johnson
03:24

Media Consolidation

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Leonard H. Goldenson on acquiring ESPN and starting A&E
02:09
Leonard H. Goldenson on merging with Capital Cities
02:04
Leonard H. Goldenson on Disney acquiring ABC
00:29

Memorable Moments on Television

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Leonard H. Goldenson on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety on ABC
01:16

Network Creation

View Topic
Leonard H. Goldenson his deal with Edward J. Noble (head of Lifesavers) to purchase NBC's Blue network, which became ABC
05:48
Leonard H. Goldenson on convincing Paramount's board members to buy ABC
03:06
Leonard H. Goldenson on acquiring ESPN and starting A&E
02:09

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Leonard H. Goldenson on seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair
00:34

Representation on Television

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the impact of Roots
00:35

Richard M. Nixon

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Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - Richard M. Nixon
02:46

Sports

View Topic
Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Monday Night Football
01:40

Television Industry

View Topic
Leonard H. Goldenson his deal with Edward J. Noble (head of Lifesavers) to purchase NBC's Blue network, which became ABC
05:48
Leonard H. Goldenson on convincing Paramount's board members to buy ABC
03:06
Leonard H. Goldenson on his programming ideas for ABC and making a deal with Walt and Roy Disney
02:13
Leonard H. Goldenson on making a deal with Jack Warner
00:40
Leonard H. Goldenson on changing the sponsorship model for television
02:09
Leonard H. Goldenson on his most important decisions at ABC
03:26
Leonard H. Goldenson on getting into cable television
02:01
Leonard H. Goldenson on acquiring ESPN and starting A&E
02:09
Leonard H. Goldenson on merging with Capital Cities
02:04
Leonard H. Goldenson on Disney acquiring ABC
00:29

Television and the Presidency

View Topic
Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - John F. Kennedy
01:35
Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - Lyndon B. Johnson
03:24
Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - Richard M. Nixon
01:13
Leonard H. Goldenson on the network aftermath of JFK's assassination
00:52

Underrepresented Voices

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the impact of Roots
00:35

We Considered

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Leonard H. Goldenson on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety on ABC
01:16
Professions

Executives

View Profession
Leonard H. Goldenson on his management style at ABC
01:10
Leonard H. Goldenson on his most important decisions at ABC
03:26

Network Founder

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Leonard H. Goldenson on his management style at ABC
01:10
Leonard H. Goldenson on his most important decisions at ABC
03:26
Genres

News and Documentary

View Genre
Leonard H. Goldenson on putting Roone Arledge in charge of news
01:09
Leonard H. Goldenson on changes in network news due to network ownership
01:01
Leonard H. Goldenson on the network aftermath of JFK's assassination
00:52
Leonard H. Goldenson on what represents television at its best - news
00:33

Sports

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Monday Night Football
01:40

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with miniseries and movies of the week
02:37
Leonard H. Goldenson on the decision to air Roots on consecutive nights
01:22

Western Series

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with Westerns
05:03
People

Roone Arledge

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Leonard H. Goldenson on Roone Arledge's impact on ABC and sports
01:48
Leonard H. Goldenson on putting Roone Arledge in charge of news
01:09
Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Monday Night Football
01:40
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Roone Arledge
00:04

Barney Balaban

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Leonard H. Goldenson on Paramount head Barney Balaban and his early association with DuMont television
02:45

Jack Benny

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Jack Benny
00:34

Ted Bergmann

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Leonard H. Goldenson on DuMont head Ted Bergmann and ABC not merging with DuMont
00:37

Dick Clark

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the payola scandal surrounding American Bandstand
02:10
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Dick Clark
00:34

Howard Cosell

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Monday Night Football
01:40
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Howard Cosell
00:23
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Henry Kissinger and Howard Cosell at a United Cerebral Palsy event
02:16

Barry Diller

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Leonard H. Goldenson on hiring young executives that would become instrumental to the television industry
01:05
Leonard H. Goldenson on heading up ABC's movies of the week
01:07

Roy E. Disney

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Leonard H. Goldenson on his programming ideas for ABC and making a deal with Walt and Roy Disney
02:13

Walt Disney

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC making a deal with Walt Disney
01:33
Leonard H. Goldenson on his programming ideas for ABC and making a deal with Walt and Roy Disney
02:13
Leonard H. Goldenson on his relationship with Walt Disney
00:56
Leonard H. Goldenson on Walt Disney telling him he wanted to be number one
00:26
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Walt Disney
00:05
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Walt Disney and his wife
00:44
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Walt Disney and others after ABC's deal with Disney
00:36

Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife
01:26

Michael Eisner

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Leonard H. Goldenson on hiring young executives that would become instrumental to the television industry
01:05
Leonard H. Goldenson on his management style at ABC and managing Michael Eisner
00:30
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Michael Eisner
01:15

Billy Graham

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Billy Graham
01:59

Alger Hiss

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Leonard H. Goldenson on Howard K. Smith wanting to do a story on Nixon
01:46

Bob Hope

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo of an award presented to Bob Hope
00:35
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo of a Christmas card of Bob Hope; on Hope's involvement with Goldenson's foundation for Cerebral Palsy
02:12

Roy Huggins

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Leonard H. Goldenson on The Fugitive
02:09

Howard Hughes

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Leonard H. Goldenson on others' attempts to take over ABC (including Howard Hughes)
02:13
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Howard Hughes
00:45

Peter Jennings

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Leonard H. Goldenson on Peter Jennings becoming news anchor at ABC
00:43
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Peter Jennings
00:11
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Peter Jennings
00:18

Lyndon B. Johnson

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Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - Lyndon B. Johnson
03:24
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Lyndon B. Johnson
03:01

John F. Kennedy

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Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - John F. Kennedy; on his dealings with Joseph Kennedy
02:12
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with JFK and Jackie Kennedy in 1960
00:20
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with John F. Kennedy and others at a Boston Children's Hospital event
03:23

Henry Kissinger

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Henry Kissinger and Howard Cosell at a United Cerebral Palsy event
02:16

Ted Koppel

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Ted Koppel and Tom Murphy
02:09

Abe Lastfogel

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Leonard H. Goldenson on William Morris' Abe Lastfogel helping ABC acquire talent
00:41

Norman Lear

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Leonard H. Goldenson on asking Norman Lear to adapt the British show 'Til Death Do Us Part, in what became All in the Family, and passing it up
00:43

Jerry Lewis

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Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's deal with Jerry Lewis
01:08

Joseph McCarthy

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Leonard H. Goldenson on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety on ABC
01:16

Rupert Murdoch

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a career regret - selling stock in Rupert Murdoch's company
00:55
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Rupert Murdoch
01:33

Thomas Murphy

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Ted Koppel and Tom Murphy
02:09

Richard M. Nixon

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Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - Richard M. Nixon
01:13
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Richard Nixon
00:38
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Richard M. Nixon
02:23
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo of Richard Nixon; on his working relationship with Nixon and on the Nixon-Kennedy debates
03:21

Edward J. Noble

View Person Page
Leonard H. Goldenson his deal with Edward J. Noble (head of Lifesavers) to purchase NBC's Blue network, which became ABC
05:48

William S. Paley

View Person Page
Leonard H. Goldenson on his relationship with NBC's David Sarnoff and CBS' William Paley
01:11
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with CBS' William Paley and NBC's David Sarnoff
01:08

Ronald Reagan

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Ronald Reagan
00:34

Harry Reasoner

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the ABC anchor team of Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters
01:26

Eleanor Roosevelt

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Eleanor Roosevelt
01:46

Elton H. Rule

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Leonard H. Goldenson on Elton Rule's contributions to ABC 
01:52
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Elton Rule
00:03
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Elton Rule
00:25

Anwar Sadat

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Anwar Sadat
01:11

David Sarnoff

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Leonard H. Goldenson on acquiring ABC and having a conversation with NBC's David Sarnoff
01:42
Leonard H. Goldenson on his relationship with NBC's David Sarnoff and CBS' William Paley
00:43
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with CBS' William Paley and NBC's David Sarnoff
01:08

Edgar J. Scherick

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Leonard H. Goldenson on Roone Arledge's impact on ABC and sports and recruiting Edgar Scherick
01:48
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Ed Scherick
00:06

Fred Silverman

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the decision to air Roots on consecutive nights
01:22

Howard K. Smith

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Leonard H. Goldenson on Howard K. Smith wanting to do a story on Nixon
01:46

Aaron Spelling

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Leonard H. Goldenson on believing in Aaron Spelling
03:55

Frank Stanton

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Leonard H. Goldenson on Frank Stanton's unsung achievements at CBS
00:42

Elizabeth Taylor

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Elizabeth Taylor
00:34

Marlo Thomas

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Marlo Thomas
00:20

Danny Thomas

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Leonard H. Goldenson on William Morris' Abe Lastfogel helping ABC acquire talent
00:41

Laurence A. Tisch

View Person Page
Leonard H. Goldenson on making a deal to merge with ITT (which fell through)
03:08

Oliver E. Treyz

View Person Page
Leonard H. Goldenson on hiring young executives that would become instrumental to the television industry
01:30
Leonard H. Goldenson on Oliver E. Treyz's contributions to ABC
01:20
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Oliver Treyz
00:22

Donald J. Trump

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Donald Trump
00:42

Barbara Walters

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Leonard H. Goldenson on the ABC anchor team of Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters
01:26

Jack L. Warner

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Leonard H. Goldenson on making a deal with Jack Warner
00:40
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Jack Warner
00:14
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Jack Warner
03:10

Lew Wasserman

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Leonard H. Goldenson on negotiating movies of the week with Lew Wasserman
01:07
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Lew Wasserman
00:32

Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver

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Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Pat Weaver
00:15

Lawrence Welk

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Leonard H. Goldenson on getting Lawrence Welk on the air
00:49

Adolph Zukor

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Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with his wife and Adolph Zukor
01:41
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Adolph Zukor and Barney Balaban
01:31

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