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Remembering Mike Wallace

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Veteran broadcast journalist Mike Wallace, who found his way into the homes of millions of people through his many years on CBS’ ‘60 Minutes,’ died Saturday night at the age of 93.

No cause of death has been released, but Wallace’s heath had been declining for years.

‘It is with tremendous sadness that we mark the passing of Mike Wallace,’ CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves said in a statement on the CBS News website. ‘His extraordinary contribution as a broadcaster is immeasurable and he has been a force within the television industry throughout its existence. His loss will be felt by all of us at CBS.’

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Already an established fixture on CBS news circuit as host of an early version of ‘The CBS Morning News,’ Wallace became a correspondent on ’60 Minutes’ from its premiere in 1968 and quickly earned a reputation as a dogged interrogator. His tough interview style would carry him through 38 seasons with the program until his retirement in 2006.

Here’s a look back at some of his most memorable moments:

(1964) A year before the death of Malcolm X, Wallace spoke with the activist leader about his position in the black Muslim community.

(1982) Part of the CBS investigative report (“The Uncounted Enemy”) claiming the U.S. military had inflated body counts during the Vietnam War, the general in charge of most of the war, William Westmoreland, denied the claims and later sued Wallace and CBS for millions. The case was later settled.

(1991) Things got heated between Wallace and Barbra Streisand during this sit-down. She even cried. While questioning her use of psychotherapy, Wallace famously told her, “I really didn’t like you back then, 30 years ago.”

(1996) Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and Wallace’s discussion of corruption in Nigeria led to a tense exchange.

(1996) It was the Wallace interview with tobacco company insider Jeffrey Wigand that inspired the Hollywood feature film ‘The Insider,’ and a flurry of debate. It’s hard to find clips of it, but here’s a link to the memorable interview. And here’s a sample of it.

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--Yvonne Villarreal

twitter.com/villarrealy

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