Harry Smith was Born …:
… on August 21, 1951, in Lansing, Mich.
Growing up with Harry:
Always interested in performing – theater, film and television – Harry received his bachelor’s degree in theater and communication from Central College in Iowa.
Harry’s First Job & The Early Years:
Harry got his start in radio at stations in Denver and Cincinnati. From there, he moved on to television at a CBS affiliate station in Denver. That got him noticed, and Harry was soon a part of CBS News, working as a correspondent in Dallas.
Becoming a Talk Show Host:
In 1987, he served as co-anchor of CBS This Morning, and his beat brought him all manner of stories, including the Gulf War, where he broadcasted live for a month from Saudi Arabia. He’s reported from around the world, including Japan, Poland, Hungary, Bosnia, Cuba, France, Italy, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Great Britain, Russia and Spain. Domestically, he covered stories ranging from the 1989 San Francisco earthquake to the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Republican and Democratic National Conventions, and the Oklahoma City bombing.
What Does the Future Hold?:
More groundbreaking reporting and fascinating interviews, no doubt. Smith has interviewed many newsmakers, including former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, first lady Laura Bush, Sen. John McCain, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, as well as celebrities and sports figures including Madonna, Lauren Bacall, Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, among many others.
And Just for Fun:
- His Travels with Harry pieces for the CBS Evening News, in which he spotlighted the everyday trials and tribulations of regular Americans, helped solidify him as favorite among viewers.
- Is the regular host of CBS’s broadcast of the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.
- Hosts a daily radio news and analysis program titled Just a Minute on the CBS News Radio Network.
- Hosts documentaries on The History Channel and A&E’s Biography.
- He was the first network morning anchor on the ground after Hurricane Katrina, and has made five trips to the region.
- Harry was also the first network anchor to conduct an interview with Ed Smart after his missing daughter, Elizabeth, was found.
