Journalist, Radio Commentator. Born Hans von Kaltenborn in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was known as H.V. At 20, he volunteered for the Spanish-American War, during which he provided reports for his home newspaper, the "Merrill Advocate." Upon his return to the United States, he landed a job with the "Brooklyn Daily Eagle" on the political beat and, at 24, he enrolled as a special student at Harvard University. He began his radio career at WEAF in New York in 1923 when he became one of the first newscasters to offer commentary in addition to a simple report. He joined the new CBS Network in 1927, and by 1936 was the first to provide a live account from a war by broadcasting from Spain during that country's civil war. A few months later, he was in England for the first live broadcast of a king's coronation when George VI came to the throne after his brother's abdication. In 1938, he remained at the CBS studios for eighteen days to report on the so-called Munich Agreement when France, Britain, and Italy allowed Germany to annex the western half of Czechoslovakia. He called it "the first great international crisis in which radio broadcasting participated intensively every step of the way." His fame was sufficient by 1939 to garner him an appearance in the feature film 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.' He moved to NBC in 1940, where he was given his own broadcast, "Kaltenborn Edits the War News," and provided news and commentary on the war. In 1942, he published a book, also called "Kaltenborn Edits the War News." In 1944 he received the Alfred du Pont Award for his "aggressive, independent and meritorious gathering, interpretation, and presentation of the news." He made further appearances as himself in feature films such as "The Babe Ruth Story" (1949) and "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951). He went into semi-retirement in 1953, but appeared as a panelist on the television series "Who Said That?" in 1954 and provided analyses during the Republican and Democratic National Conventions in 1956. Further books included "I Broadcast the Crises" (1938), "Europe Now" (1945), "Fifty Fabulous Years" (1950), and "It Seems Like Yesterday" (1956). Known as "The Dean of American Commentators," he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2011.
Journalist, Radio Commentator. Born Hans von Kaltenborn in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was known as H.V. At 20, he volunteered for the Spanish-American War, during which he provided reports for his home newspaper, the "Merrill Advocate." Upon his return to the United States, he landed a job with the "Brooklyn Daily Eagle" on the political beat and, at 24, he enrolled as a special student at Harvard University. He began his radio career at WEAF in New York in 1923 when he became one of the first newscasters to offer commentary in addition to a simple report. He joined the new CBS Network in 1927, and by 1936 was the first to provide a live account from a war by broadcasting from Spain during that country's civil war. A few months later, he was in England for the first live broadcast of a king's coronation when George VI came to the throne after his brother's abdication. In 1938, he remained at the CBS studios for eighteen days to report on the so-called Munich Agreement when France, Britain, and Italy allowed Germany to annex the western half of Czechoslovakia. He called it "the first great international crisis in which radio broadcasting participated intensively every step of the way." His fame was sufficient by 1939 to garner him an appearance in the feature film 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.' He moved to NBC in 1940, where he was given his own broadcast, "Kaltenborn Edits the War News," and provided news and commentary on the war. In 1942, he published a book, also called "Kaltenborn Edits the War News." In 1944 he received the Alfred du Pont Award for his "aggressive, independent and meritorious gathering, interpretation, and presentation of the news." He made further appearances as himself in feature films such as "The Babe Ruth Story" (1949) and "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951). He went into semi-retirement in 1953, but appeared as a panelist on the television series "Who Said That?" in 1954 and provided analyses during the Republican and Democratic National Conventions in 1956. Further books included "I Broadcast the Crises" (1938), "Europe Now" (1945), "Fifty Fabulous Years" (1950), and "It Seems Like Yesterday" (1956). Known as "The Dean of American Commentators," he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2011.
Bio by: Iola
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