May 3,1948 - April 13,1962

Douglas Edwards with the News
Original title: CBS Television News

On May 3, 1948, Douglas Edwards began "The CBS-TV News," a regular 15-minute nightly newscast later named "Douglas Edwards with the News." It was broadcast nationally weeknights at 7:30 PM (EST).

This was the first regularly scheduled weekday television news program in American history.

It should be noted that prior to the historic premiere May 3, 1948 weekday CBS-TV News broadcast there were other CBS TV News broadcasts and anchors dating back to Larry LeSuer, doing a 15 minute newscast beginning in June 1946 on Thursday evenings and Saturday evenings with also Tom O’Connor handling the weekend newscast as well. 

On November 30, 1956, the first network news show to be videotaped for rebroadcast to the West Coast was achieved. This video tape is not known to exist today as is most of all of Douglas' news broadcasts, in any broadcast form. 

On April 16, 1962, Walter Cronkite succeeded Edwards as CBS's evening newscaster. Douglas Edwards continued to broadcast the local WCBS nightly weekly newscast. He also did a five-minute daytime newscast until April 1, 1988.


Jonas Salk's anti-polio vaccine begins. The first shot is administered in Fairfax County, Virginia.     

Douglas Edwards reporting.                                

World and National news.

Host: Douglas Edwards                             

World and National news.

Host: Douglas Edwards           

May 3,1948-April 13,1962

Douglas Edwards who replaced Newscaster Larry LeSueur as anchor of CBS television weekly news held that post for fourteen years. For most of its broadcast  history the fifteen minute broadcast was officially titled DOUGLAS EDWARDS WITH THE NEWS.

On November 30, 1956, the first network news show to be videotaped for rebroadcast to the West Coast was achieved. This video tape is not known to exist today as is most of all of Douglas' news broadcasts, in any broadcast form. 

On April 16, 1962 Walter Cronkite succeeded Edwards as CBS's evening newscaster. Douglas Edwards continued to broadcast the local WCBS nightly weekly newscast. He also did a five-minute daytime newscast until April 1, 1988. 


The Israeli capital is bombed as fighting continues. Edward R. Murrow analysis, Hungarians bury their dead in various towns, Adlai Stevenson attacks Eisenhower's foreign policy, Henry Cabot Lodge attacks British and French ultimatums.                                                

An interview with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir who comments on the Middle East Crises and offers volunteers to go to Egypt. Newsman Daniel Schorr comments. Egypt asks for Soviet volunteers. Southeast Asian countries urge for withdrawal of Russian troops from Hungary. A general strike in Hungary, Eisenhower comments on the World problems, the UN bars Red China membership, Negro boycott problems on a bus in Montgomery Alabama, Dr. Martin Luther King comments on recent Supreme Court decision making it illegal to practice bus segregation. 

NOTE: Twelve days after this Wednesday, November 14, 1956 broadcast aired, CBS Television transmitted  the first video tape-delay technology to the West Coast, re-broadcasting  CBS News  with Douglas Edwards on Friday, Nov. 30, 1956. 
Thus a three hour difference time delay for presentation could be done without the use of kinescope technology or the necessitation of  transmitting  live, three hours earlier than in New York.                               

Highlights: President Eisenhower meeting in the White House, He wants the authority to use military might against communism or "Ike Doctrine," Nixon urges more Hungarian refugees to enter the USA, Hungarian refugees arrive in the United States, a report on the day's Bowl games, a report on the latest segregation issues.                                                    

Highlights: Racial crisis brewing in Little Rock, Arkansas Central High School, President Eisenhower to confront Gov. Orval Faubus of Arkansas, the National Guard surrounding Faubus's executive mansion to prevent arrest by US officials called a hoax by Little Rock Mayor, integration problems in other Southern areas, Middle East crisis worsening, open revolt against Cuban dictator Batista in Cuba directed by future leader Fidel Castro, skirmishes in various areas, but the government claims victory, Jimmy Hoffa and David Beck deny union corruption                        

Highlights: A description of Russian film "Trip To The Moon", details of rocket flight, President Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Macmillan to meet next week in Washington concerning the Middle East crisis, Queen Elizabeth is welcomed in Washington D.C by President Eisenhower, Howard K. Smith comments on Anglo-American relationships                          

Highlights: more news about Russian satellites Sputnik 1 and 11,
Russians hope to bring dog safely back to Earth, Russians may send a rocket to the moon, six dogs picket before the UN in protest.             

Highlights: Khrushchev rises to Prime Minister as Bulgarian falls, the US to prepare rockets for flight to the moon, Howard K. Smith reports.                                       

A description of Hurricane Donna, Congo crisis; Lumumba arrested
and released, Kennedy campaigns in Texas, a religious issue discussed.            

Khrushchev claims assassination attempt, says gun in TV camera, Khrushchev holds an unusual news conference from his balcony, Khrushchev complains of confinement, can't see America, says he's under "house arrest", John Kennedy campaigns in Tennessee, Nixon talks in Indiana.                         

Congolese on a rampage, eat their enemies, Congo crisis debated in the UN,              

Highlights: Fidel Castro awarded the Vladimir Lenin peace prize, the crisis in Laos, and possible action by the US, favored by Senator James William Fullbright, and also in South Viet Nam, Bill Downs reports. The US to launch its first astronaut, a report on the carnival atmosphere in Cape Canaveral, Florida, condemns public spectacle of the occasion.                                                    

SPECIAL REPORT of Highlights: Space flight by Virgil "Guss" Grissom.

May 3,1948 - April 13,1962

Douglas Edwards with the News
Original title: CBS Television News

On May 3, 1948, Douglas Edwards began "The CBS-TV News," a regular 15-minute nightly newscast later named "Douglas Edwards with the News." It was broadcast nationally weeknights at 7:30 PM (EST).

This was the first regularly scheduled weekday television news program in American history.

It should be noted that prior to the historic premiere May 3, 1948 weekday CBS-TV News broadcast there were other CBS TV News broadcasts and anchors dating back to Larry LeSuer, doing a 15 minute newscast beginning in June 1946 on Thursday evenings and Saturday evenings with also Tom O’Connor handling the weekend newscast as well. 

On November 30, 1956, the first network news show to be videotaped for rebroadcast to the West Coast was achieved. This video tape is not known to exist today as is most of all of Douglas' news broadcasts, in any broadcast form. 

On April 16, 1962, Walter Cronkite succeeded Edwards as CBS's evening newscaster. Douglas Edwards continued to broadcast the local WCBS nightly weekly newscast. He also did a five-minute daytime newscast until April 1, 1988.

NOTE: This was the third from last CBS NEWS WITH DOUGLAS EDWARDS newscast with Douglas Edwards at the anchor desk, ending am amazing fourteen year run. Five days later Walter Cronkite would replace Edwards in that chair. 

News reported include:
President Kennedy condemns irresponsibility of steel companies 
in raising the price of steel, Byron White's appointment as a Supreme Court justice is approved, Fidel Castro to release some sick Cuban POW's, George Rockwell Nazi troopers arrive in New York, talk about their movement.                       

Douglas Edwards anchored the CBS EVENING NEWS from May 3, 1948 to April 13, 1962. He would continue his affiliation with CBS NEWS doing a five minute daytime weekday news broadcast until April 1, 1988.  

The stock market suffers its worst day since the crash of 1929, the paper value drops $20 billion dollars. 

A Schweppes commercial is included.                        

May 3, 1948 - April 13, 1962

Douglas Edwards with the News
Original title: CBS Television News

On May 3, 1948, Douglas Edwards began "The CBS-TV News," a regular 15-minute nightly newscast later named "Douglas Edwards with the News." It was broadcast nationally weeknights at 7:30 PM (EST).

This was the first regularly scheduled weekday television news program in American history.

It should be noted that prior to the historic premiere May 3, 1948 weekday CBS-TV News broadcast there were other CBS TV News broadcasts and anchors dating back to Larry LeSuer, doing a 15 minute newscast beginning in June 1946 on Thursday evenings and Saturday evenings with also Tom O’Connor handling the weekend newscast as well. 

On November 30, 1956, the first network news show to be videotaped for rebroadcast to the West Coast was achieved. This video tape is not known to exist today as is most of all of Douglas' news broadcasts, in any broadcast form. 

On April 16, 1962, Walter Cronkite succeeded Edwards as CBS's evening newscaster. Douglas Edwards continued to broadcast the local WCBS nightly weekly newscast. He also did a five-minute daytime newscast until April 1, 1988.


Adolf Eichmann is hung, a report from Israel.                                                                

Allies to have ambulances at the Berlin Wall to aid the refugees if shot by the East Germans, this follows the killing of a young German refugee by border guards, West Berliners angry at US and Reds. Russian spacemen give interviews on recent flights, earthquakes in Italy, Churchill greeted by Britons following convalescing, police seeking smallpox boy, another assassination attempt on French President Charles De Gaulle, ruling on deportation tomorrow on Dr. Robert Soblen, the FDA warns the public on thalidomide drug, they urge removal from medicine shelves, a report on the racial situation in London, Hoot Gibson dies, Vice-President Lyndon Johnson arrives in Lebanon on part of a goodwill tour.                                                               

Democrats to nominate Robert Morganthau as a candidate for Governor, Republicans to nominate Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Nasa's Kenneth Gilbreath names nine new astronauts who will be trained for a trip to the moon, four white men confess to burning a negro church.                                      

President Kennedy's brother (Ted Kennedy) wins the Democratic primary in Massachusetts for Senator, comment by Ted Kennedy, Robert Morganthau is nominated for Governor of New York, Senator Jacob Javits is renominated, the UN opens fall session, integration news.                          

Sonny Liston knocks out Floyd Patterson, the Justice Department to seek a contempt citation against Governor Ross Barnett of Mississippi who is refusing to permit James Meredith, a negro, to enroll at Mississippi University, Russia may build a naval base in Cuba, secret training practices in the US, Cuban exiles are learning guerilla tactics for action in Cuba, Soviet planes buzz allied planes near Berlin, Andrei Gromyko meets Dean Rusk in Washington on Laos problems, the fraud trial of Billy Sol Estes is postponed, fascist Oswald Mosely arrives in the US, calls American negro "crackpots," the Department of Markets investigates phony weights in New York City.                                

Vice-President Lyndon Johnson snubs Robert Morgenthau in New York City visit, Nelson Rockefeller comments on Morganthau comment about "tax rise."             

A storm threatens the moon-shot from Cape Canaveral, three more US personnel die in South Vietnam, President Kennedy to meet Andrei Gromyko in Washington to discuss problems, Wally Schirra receives astronaut wings, the US to test a nuclear bomb, Ahmed Ben Bella is greeted in Cuba, Mayor Wagner greets Peace Corp trainees, an interview with Henry Morganthau (candidate for governor of New York State), the New York Yankees defeat the San Francisco Giants in game 7 of the 1962 World Series.                                        

Topics: The Canadian government falls on nuclear commitments to the US, Russian arms buildup still continues according to Congressmen. 

.                                                    

Topics: Woman wins slander lawsuit against Congressman Adam Clayton Powell (he called her a "bag woman") Cubans undergo military training in Florida, hope to go back to Cuba, slumlord order to repair apartment building and get rid of rats, whipping post to be used again in Delaware.  

Host: Douglas Edwards.                       

Topics: Senators reject President Kennedy's distress bill, NAACP leader Medgar Evers is assassinated in Mississippi, comment by Martin Luther King, picketing in NYC over racial labor discrimination, Governor Rockefeller comments on criticism of Arthur Levitt, Project Gemini to begin in 1965, John Profumo sex scandal revelations continue in England, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson sees Nikita Khrushchev, the film "Cleopatra" premieres on Broadway, various reviews of the film.                                      

Topics: Senators reject President Kennedy's distress bill, NAACP leader Medgar Evers is assassinated in Mississippi, comment by Martin Luther King, picketing in NYC over racial labor discrimination, Governor Rockefeller comments on criticism of Arthur Levitt, Project Gemini to begin in 1965, John Profumo sex scandal revelations continue in England, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson sees Nikita Khrushchev, the film "Cleopatra" premieres on Broadway, various reviews of the film.                                      

Topics: Nikita Khrushchev calls for peace will visit East Germany, President Kennedy talks to West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, Kennedy comments on the multi-lateral nuclear force, a New York State official is accused with racial discrimination, Malcolm X says whites want to corrupt Harlem, 
Louisville makes progress in integration, Douglas Edwards fluff, says "ass" for oxen.                                     

Viet Cong raids the hills, more Americans in South Vietnam, violent demonstrations by Buddhists against the Government of Diem, Attorney General Robert Kennedy testifies for his brother's civil rights bill before Senator James Eastland's legislative hearing, President Kennedy entertains 2,000 foreign students at a White House lawn party.                          

Civil rights crisis in Tuskeegee, George Wallace defies the US on integrated schools in Alabama, President Kennedy chastizes South Vietnam's Diem regime, claims it's out of touch with people, Buddhists protest Diem regime.                          

The latest news with Douglas Edwards and sports with Frank Gifford.