Complete Murrow Speech From Good Night, and Good Luck

Evmonk

Uploaded on Jul 11, 2007

The two excerpts of Ed Murrow’s brilliant 1958 speech that are included in Good Night, and Good Luck. Performed by David Strathairn. For the full text of the speech, follow this link: http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/commenta…

My commentary on this piece and the current state of TV journalism can be found here: http://web.archive.org/web/2009110923…

today’s birthday: Edward R. Murrow (1908)

Posted on April 25, 2015 | Leave a comment

Edward R. Murrow (1908)

Known for his trademark signoff, “Good night, and good luck,” Murrow was an American journalist who became famous for his series of dramatic radio news broadcasts from London rooftops during German bombing raids in World War II. He later became a pioneer of television news broadcasting and produced a series of reports that helped turn public opinion against anti-Communist Senator Joseph McCarthy. Rarely seen without a cigarette, Murrow was said to smoke how many a day? More… Discuss

Uploaded on Nov 23, 2011

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves. – Good night, and good luck”

Famous CBS journalist, Edward R. Murrow speaks on Senator Joseph McCarthy and the fear he was creating by his insatiable quest for communists in the U.S.

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As a journalism major, I find the study of Ed Murrow simply captivating. He is by far one of the greatest writers and journalists of all time.

Egbert Roscoe Murrow, the youngest of three brothers, was born to Quaker parents of Scott-Irish descent at Polecat Creek, Guilford County, North Carolina on April 25, 1908. The home he was born in was a simple primitive log cabin with no modern amenities whatsoever. He father was Roscoe C. Murrow and mother was Ethel F. née Lamb. Later his parents out of desperation migrated to Washington State and set up a homestead where Murrow received his education. He graduated from Washington State College with a degree in speech communications.

Murrow made his fame in radio when he broadcast live from Vienna, the annexation of Austria (Anschluss) by Germany in 1938. HIs broadcast with multiple journalists speaking from different cities in the western world captivated audiences. He would later report during the bombing raids over London known as “The Blitz” to historians. Murrow’s style and precedent in radio made him a news radio pioneer. He was best known by those close to him to be witty, honest and a man of integrity.

One of the highlights of his career was taking on the insatiable witch hunt by junior Senator, Joseph McCarthy. McCarthy became known for his quest to root out so-called communists in U.S. government and entertainment industry in Hollywood. Murrow had enough and over a period of a year, collected numerous video and recordings of McCarthy exposing his tactics on air. Historians believe because of Murrow’s bravery, it ended the career of Joseph McCarthy.

Murrow’s style of reporting with his pauses between words along with his unique way of driving home the point of his address set him apart from other radio personalities.. He is noted as one of the best, if not the best, journalist of all time. He was well known for his catch phrase after each editorial, “Good night, and Good Luck” as heard in this video.

Murrow passed away in April 27, 1965 just two days after celebrating his 57th birthday. His wife,Janet Huntington Brewster, passed away in 1998. They had one male child, Charles Casey Murrow born in 1945 and is now a Professor in New England.