CBS journalist Ed Bradley has passed away of complications of leukemia in New York City. He was 65 years old.
Bradley came to journalism via an indirect route. In the 1960's Bradley was a 6th grade teacher, but he moonlighted at WDAS radio in Philladelphia, first as a volunteer, then for minimum wage. When Philladelphia erupted in riots in the 60's, to call him a cub reporter would be generous, but he was in position to cover the events, and cover them he did. CBS radio offered him a job in 1967, and he worked at WCBS in New York until 1971.
In 1971 he moved to Paris. As his savings was running out he took a job as a stringer for CBS...just in time to cover the Paris Peace Talks. Throughout the 70's, Bradley was where the story of the day could be found. He covered the Vietnam war and the invasion of Cambodia, where he was wounded covering the action. He covered the Carter campaign and he was later a White House correspondent. In 1981 he joined the venerable stable of serious news people at 60 Minutes and stayed there for the remainder of his career.
Ed had the hip factor, no doubt about it. He made the news cool. No one my age will ever forget the earring, but there was oh so much more to Ed Bradley. He will be missed.
