New Rochelle in Westchester County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Don Hewett
(1922 - 2009)
| | New Rochelle Walk of Fame | |
Donald Shepard Hewitt, the man who created 60 Minutes, grew up only "45 Minutes from Broadway" in New Rochelle, New York. He was born in New York City but his family moved to New Rochelle after stops in Boston and Milwaukee.
While Don loved the movies and would take the nickel trolley ride to the Cameo Theater in Mt. Vernon on Saturday afternoons, his real ambition was always to be a reporter. In the seventh grade at Albert Leonard Junior High School, he won a contest for best editorial in Junior Scholastic magazine. At New Rochelle High School he wrote a sports column called "Athletes Footnotes" and was captain of the track team. He began his journalism career writing for the Pelham Sun during the day and moonlighting as a copyboy for the New York Herald Tribune at night.
His career in broadcast journalism began when he joined the fledgling CBS news operation in 1948 before he even owned his first television set. It was Hewitt, who while producing-directing the first Kennedy-Nixon debate in 1960, attempted to advise Nixon to use appropriate make-up to cover his wan appearance. Nixon didn't listen, lost the debate, and lost the election. Hewitt later became executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, helming the famous broadcast of John F. Kennedy's assassination
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In 1968, Don launched the legendary Emmy Award-winning show 60 Minutes. It's title was taken from a memo he had written to argue for 60 minutes of prime time. The concept was inspired in part by Life Magazine which combined news stories with celebrity profiles. It was the first TV program to use a newsmagazine format.
Don Hewitt won two Peabody awards and eight Emmys, including a Founders Emmy from the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 1995. In 1990, he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
Erected by City of New Rochelle, NY; New Rochelle Downtown Business District.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications. A significant historical year for this entry is 1948.
Location. 40° 54.615′ N, 73° 46.993′ W. Marker is in New Rochelle, New York, in Westchester County. It is on Huguenot Street (U.S. 1), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 264 Huguenot St, New Rochelle NY 10801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Hudson Valley and in the New York City Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Whitney M. Young, Jr. (here, next to this marker); Richard Courant & Kurt Friedrichs (here, next to this marker); Adrian Iselin and Family (here, next to this marker);
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 93 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 24, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
