NYT: Wallace Retiring From '60 Minutes'

[951-Riverside]

When asked in an interview last April if he would ever consider retiring from "60 Minutes," Mike Wallace said that he planned to do so only "when my toes turn up."

"Well," Mr. Wallace said, amending that statement in an interview today, "they're just beginning to curl a trifle."

After serving as a correspondent on "60 Minutes" since its inception in September 1968, Mr. Wallace said today that he had decided to retire this spring, at the end of the current television season. He said that the move had come at his initiative, and that "CBS is not pushing me."

"As I approach my 88th birthday, it's become apparent to me that my eyes and ears, among other appurtenances, aren't quite what they used to be," said Mr. Wallace, whose birthday is May 9. "The prospect of long flights to wherever in search of whatever are not quite as appealing."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/14/business/media/14cnd-wallace.html?ei=5094&en=738ee9e161919cbc&hp=&ex=1142398800&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print

[Montauk6]

1. Cynics may cry "plastic surgery"

But, hey, we should ALL be so blessed to look in that good a condition approaching 90!

[951-Riverside]

2. I didnt know he was that *ahem* he does look very well for that age

[shadowknows69]

3. This man

is and always has been one of my heroes. Truly one of the icons of American Journalism for all time. Take your well deserved rest Mr. Wallace.

[gauguin57]

4. One of the last guys who really tells the truth on TV news ...

... not afraid to get all up in some bureaucrat's grill to find out what in the hell is going on that affects all of us.

I will miss Mike Wallace more than I can say.

[Maccagirl]

5. Another voice of truth gone

Farewell, Mike. BTW, teach that creepy kid of yours some ethics and common sense as you walk out the door.

[Radio_Lady]

6. This is funny! Wallace, quoted on "growing older" ---

Late last year, Wallace, to promote his memoir, sat for an interview with his son, Chris Wallace, a Fox News Channel anchor. The son asked his father, "Do you hate getting old?"

"I had my hearing aid fixed today so that I could properly hear you," the elder Wallace responded. "I can't see as well. I now have -- this has stopped me from smoking -- a pacemaker, have for about the last 15 years. No, I don't like getting old."

He's a mellow old geezer -- and still looks and sounds good to this "geezer-ess." I met him once in Acapulco, Mexico's airport -- we were all stranded there because the incoming flight was late. Got to talk with him about several things. Just seemed to be a great guy -- smiling, friendly, etc.

I'm just listening to the audio CDs of his memoir. Really good stuff in his book!

Mike, hope you get to have some R & R if that's what you want! You deserve it.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[PVK]

7. Why didn't his son turn out as well?

I hate Chris W.

[Radio_Lady]

9. How old are you? Do you have a son? Did he turn out JUST like you?

How about your father? Did you turn out just like him? If so, I guess you'd consider yourself lucky!

Genetics is a crap shoot... After you expel that spermatozoa which is now combined with that egg, you could get a saint -- or a murderer.

As mother and stepmother to five children, I'm telling you -- you rarely get a carbon copy! Those of us who have children have an option: Hate your kids if they aren't JUST LIKE YOU PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, POLITICALLY or SPIRITUALLY, or try and find a way to accept them for what they are. Sorry your hatred is so palpable.

Rant over.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[PVK]

10. 57 and yes he did.

Good parenting is what I call it.

And, on edit, is this a good kid?

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/12/11/100751.shtml

{snip}

Fox News Sunday" anchorman Chris Wallace says father Mike Wallace has "lost it" - after the legendary CBS newsman told the Boston Globe last week that the fact George Bush had been elected president shows America is "-up."

"He's lost it. The man has lost it. What can I say," the younger Wallace lamented to WRKO Boston radio host Howie Carr on Friday.

"He's 87-years old and things have set in," the Fox anchor continued. "I mean, we're going to have a competence hearing pretty soon."

Wallace Jr. quickly dispelled any notion that he was joking. When Carr suggested that his comments were likely to be covered by NewsMax, he responded: "You know what? Fine. Go ahead. Call them. That's fine. I'll stand by that."

[Radio_Lady]

11. Gloat all you want. I certainly won't deny you that! One kid only?

Everybody in your family in lock-step in all ways?

Sorry, I still consider it the luck of the draw, and of course, some good parenting.

But now you're suggesting that Mike Wallace didn't parent Chris Wallace well, and if he had, Chris would have turned out a liberal. I certainly don't agree with that. Good parenting does NOT make all good, obedient, eagerly similar children for many of us. A new human being is just that -- a new human being. Not you, not me -- somebody else.

On behalf of a multi-religious family of seven decidedly different human beings -- not including the ones they have married and divorced and re-married -- well, I'll leave it at that.

Good night and good luck.

Radio_Lady

[PVK]

12. My family is very much alike.

We are all progressives. We are all liberals.

I can't imagine how Mike got this RW nutjob for a son. Especially one that would publicly chastise his father, to the point of calling him "incompetent". Shameful.

[Radio_Lady]

13. How did President Ronald Reagan get Ron Reagan as a son?

The President was a well-known conservative. So is his widow, Nancy Reagan. Their biological son is not interested in being in politics and is a well-spoken liberal with many media pursuits.

So, was that good parenting?

(Actually, the irony here is that Michael Reagan, President Reagan's ADOPTED son, who did not have much to do with him while growing up with his mother, Jane Wyman -- is now so arch-conservative that it's almost unbelievable!)

[PVK]

14. I think that's a very weird situation as well.

I've often wondered about it. I figure Nancy must be the reason why.

http://www.thetalentshow.org/archives/001024.html

{snip}

Reagan says his mother shares his "distrust of some of these people. She gets that they're trouble in all kinds of ways. She doesn't like their religious fervor, their aggression."

[Radio_Lady]

15. First of all, Ron Reagan is NOT a "Junior" and I wonder why the

blogger didn't pick that up. I've heard much of what that 2004 blog asserted from Ron himself, whom I consider to have a good deal of talent. That aside, "nature versus nurture" is still debated today and it's pretty interesting when you boil it down to genetics.

I just didn't care for the way you backhandedly criticized people you don't know -- about how they raise their children, and what happens when they do.

I'm glad everything worked out for you.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[PVK]

16. I'm sorry you took it so personally. n/t

[Vidar]

8. He'll be missed.