David Dvorin

Martin Zama Agronsky, born in 1915, was an American journalist, political analyst, and television host whose career spanned over five decades. He began his work in journalism in 1936 at the Palestine Post in Jerusalem, later freelancing in Europe. During World War II, he served as a war correspondent for NBC, covering conflicts across three continents before returning to the U.S. to report for ABC. Agronsky became known for his courageous reporting on McCarthyism, for which he received a Peabody Award. He later worked for CBS, moderating Face the Nation and earning an Emmy for his interviews. He is noted for pioneering the "talking heads" news format with his show Agronsky & Co. and later hosted Agronsky at Large on PBS. Agronsky's career concluded in 1988, and he passed away in 1999. His alma mater, Rutgers University, honored him with multiple awards and induction into its Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

Martin Agronsky began his journalism career in 1936 with the Palestine Post in Jerusalem, owned by his uncle. He soon moved to Europe to work as a freelance journalist, covering the Spanish Civil War and writing for various publications, including a notable piece on rising anti-Semitism in Italy. With the outbreak of World War II, Agronsky joined NBC as a radio war correspondent, covering the conflict across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. He distinguished himself under fire and was accredited to cover events in Southeast Asia and the Pacific theater. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor and Singapore, he was sent to the Pacific, narrowly escaping capture in Southeast Asia. He returned to the United States in 1943 and joined ABC, reporting from Washington D.C. for the remainder of the war.

Following World War II, Agronsky continued his prominence in radio journalism with ABC and was an early participant in television coverage of political conventions. He gained significant recognition for his fearless reporting on McCarthyism and the House Un-American Activities Committee, a stance that drew criticism and threats but also commendation from his network. Agronsky later moved to CBS, where he moderated Face the Nation and received an Emmy for his groundbreaking interviews with Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black. He is credited with pioneering the "talking heads" news format with his own show, Agronsky & Co., and later expanded into longer interview formats with Agronsky at Large on PBS, notably covering the Watergate scandal.

“pure nepotism”

“wanted to make it on his own”

“a political gesture”

“No.”