Began his journalism career in the Army after being drafted in 1941
In 1943, he was one of six correspondents who flew with the Eighth Air Force on the first American bombing raid over Germany
Worked as a writer on the popular radio show Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts in 1949 and later on television for The Garry Moore Show
His CBS News special Mr
Rooney Goes to Washington won a Peabody award in 1975
His support of striking members of the Writers Guild of America and refusal to appear on-air resulted in a salary freeze by CBS in 1987
A friend of slain World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle, he was bestowed a lifetime achievement award named in Pyle's honor by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists in June 2003
Received a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 2003
Won the Best Script of the Year award from the Writers Guild of America multiple times