Howard Kingsbury Smith (May 12, 1914 – February 15, 2002) was an American journalist, radio reporter, television anchorman and commentator, and one of the original Murrow boys.
Born in Ferriday (Concordia Parish) in eastern Louisiana, Smith graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1936, with both a bachelor's degree and an L.L.D. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University (Merton College) from which he graduated in September 1939.
Was a foreign press correspondant in Germany during the 1930s. Howard Smith was a friend to William Shirer and one of the few American reporters to have ever been admitted to the Berchtesgaden resort at Obersalzburg. There, Smith had the rare oppurtunity to meet and interview such figures as Joseph Goebbels, Heinrich Himmler, and Adolf Hitler. In later years, Smith was best known for his portrayal as the newscaster on the series "V" and also narratored several films including "Escape from Sobibor".
Served as moderation for the first televised presidental debate in 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.
Attended Oxford University in 1937 as a Rhodes Scholar.
Son, Jack, and daughter, Catherine.
Son, Jack Smith (V), and daughter, Catherine.
Won numerous awards during his long career in broadcasting, including seven Overseas Press Club Awards (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1961, 1966, 1975); the Peabody Award in 1960; the Emmy Award in 1961; the Paul White Memorial Award in 1961; the DuPont Commentator Award in 1962; and in 1976 he was a special Congressional honoree for his contribution to journalism.
