Richard S. Salant

Richard S. Salant
Richard S. Salant
Born	(1914-04-14)April 14, 1914 Manhattan, New York City, New York
Died	February 16, 1993(1993-02-16) (aged 78) Southport, Connecticut
Residence	New Canaan, Connecticut
Nationality	United States of America
Alma mater	Harvard University
Occupation	President of CBS News

Richard S. Salant (April 14, 1914 – February 16, 1993) was a CBS executive from 1952 and president of the CBS News division from 1961–64 and 1966–79. He was noted for the introduction of "60 Minutes" and the "CBS Morning News" and "Sunday Morning" programs during his tenure and for his quest to shape broadcast journalism integrity in the face of the industry's own tendency to emphasize entertainment content, and in the face of pushback from the Nixon administration regarding unfavorable reporting on The Pentagon.

Salant was born in New York City's borough of Manhattan. He graduated from Harvard University in 1935 and Harvard Law School in 1938. In his early career, he was a lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, DC. Between 1940 and 1943, he held various posts in the U.S. Department of Justice. He joined the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant commander during World War II. Upon leaving the Navy, he joined the Manhattan law firm of Rosenman, Goldmark, Colin & Kaye and worked on behalf of the Columbia Broadcasting System as his client."

Salant first married Rosalind Robb, whom he divorced. In 1953, he married the former Frances Trainer. Salant had three daughters, Linda, Susan, and Priscilla, plus a son, Robb, with his first wife. He had one daughter, Sarah, with his second wife.

Salant's legal work for CBS led him to join that company in 1952 as a vice president. He represented CBS in hearings before the Federal Communications Commission and Congressional committees and headed the CBS legal team in litigation with RCA–NBC over which side would develop the standards and technology for color television. Although CBS lost the suit, he impressed the network's president, Frank Stanton, who influenced him to pursue broadcast journalism. Salant worked as Stanton's assistant for nine years and would become the president of the CBS News Division when Stanton appointed him in February of 1961.