Robert Chandler, Former CBS Executive, Dies At 80

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Robert Chandler, a former CBS News executive who helped launch "60 Minutes" and supervised the TV newsmagazine in its early years, died Thursday, according to the network and his family. He was 80.

Chandler died of heart failure at his home in Pittsfield, said his son, Doug.

Chandler joined CBS News in 1963 as director of information services and later served as vice president in charge of public affairs broadcasts. He was an early proponent of the "60 Minutes" format, helping put Don Hewitt's concept for the pioneering program on the air.

"In my more than half a century at CBS News, I don't recall anyone having a better fix on what `60 Minutes' should be than Bob Chandler," Hewitt said in a statement.

In the late 1970s, as the program emerged as one of television's highest-rated programs, Chandler was responsible for approving Hewitt's stories and budgets. He also played a role in adding Andy Rooney to the broadcast.

"He was a good guy and a good executive. And that is hard," Rooney said.

Chandler's widow, Eleanor, told The Associated Press that her husband was never surprised by the enduring success of "60 Minutes."

"I think he always thought (the program) would be a big success and I think it had to do with the composition of reporters and Don Hewitt," she said.

Chandler also served as director of operations for the CBS News Election Unit, where he helped create the CBS News Poll, which in 1976 partnered with The New York Times to form the New York Times-CBS News Poll.

Chandler retired from CBS in 1985, but later worked briefly at NBC News and served as executive producer of a PBS documentary, "Learning in America: Schools That Work," which premiered in 1990.

Comments

[NoSillyName]

Another Real Newsman gone. Too bad for our democracy. The media consolidation is pretty much complete and that leads to lack of information, slanted information, and false information. Sad.

RIP, Mr. Chandler.

[GrainOSand]

He was integral to the success of 60 minutes, his bodily existence was 80 years, but his spirit of excellence, of love of profession (which I must assume he had), and most importantly his spirit as he lived, endures. Death comes to us all and mourning is proper for there is real loss involved. In that mourning we celebrate the life and give ceremony to the passing on of a spirit divided and made individual by flesh (for a time), back into the singular mass of creative, loving, nurturing, brooding, darkness, that is death and life itself.

Each individual is a star, and on this earthly walk some learn how or are sent to shine as they do, such as to leave a lasting impression of substance that forwards the cause of human life. I knew not Mr. Chandler, and his passing is not of consequence to me because of his reported accolades or achievements. No, the reason I stopped to comment is because each one is worthy and therefore today many individuals mourn this life that has passed on from the flesh. I stopped to mourn with them in words and to point out the celebratory aspect of that loss so that I might lend sanity to the concept of death. There is destiny and people die everyday. It is no coincidence that for this man whom I do not know, I was touched to comment where for other reported deaths (famous or not), I do not.