Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 2, 1990 TAG: 9003023132
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
"Andy Rooney and I have discussed at length the events that led to his suspension as well as the debate that has ensued over the past month," CBS News President David Burke said in a statement announcing his decision to rescind his earlier discipline against the 70-year-old newsman.
Noting that Rooney had stated publicly that "he is not a man who holds prejudice in his heart," Burke said that, "it is time Andy returned to his proper place on `60 Minutes.' "
While Rooney could not be reached for comment, he was expected to address the controversy in his commentary Sunday night. Don Hewitt, executive producer of "60 Minutes," had said earlier this week that, "When he does come back, he will, of course, give an explanation of how he got into this bind."
Reaction to Rooney's reinstatement was generally positive, even from several groups that initially had criticized him. But some at CBS objected to Burke's handling of the matter.
Burke's Feb. 8 suspension of Rooney had generated thousands of letters of support for the CBS commentator, and ratings for "60 Minutes" had dropped. Last Sunday it was beaten in its time period by an entertainment program for only the second time in the past 12 years.
In addition, former CBS anchor Walter Cronkite, former CBS News President Richard A. Salant and others declared that Rooney's suspension impinged on the rights of commentators to state their views.
Burke alluded to that issue in his statement Thursday, saying that he was concerned about the balance between "the needs of a news organization to maintain its reputation for fairness and objectivity" with "the ability of to speak without undue constraint." That balance, he said, "has been achieved."
Rooney has denied making a racial remark about blacks "watering down their genes" that was attributed to him in an interview in The Advocate, a Los Angeles-based gay magazine. He did acknowledge writing a letter published by the magazine in which he said that he did not consider homosexuality to be normal.
At the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which earlier had praised CBS' suspension of Rooney, assistant director Karin Schwartz said Thursday that the organization did not object to his early return.
In his statement Thursday, Burke said, "While I have not spoken publicly on the matter, I have listened to the opinions and comments of various gay and lesbian organizations, the NAACP, as well as many individuals whose judgments I also respect." He said that "We have all learned a great deal" about "how deeply people and groups can be hurt if great care is not taken in public discourse."
by CNB