
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 11, 1994                   TAG: 9403110046
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

LAWRENCE SPIVAK, TV NEWS SHOW PIONEER, DIES

Lawrence Spivak, originator of the NBC's "Meet the Press" and pioneer of television's Sunday news show format, died Wednesday in Washington. He was 93.

Spivak died of congestive heart failure at Sibley Memorial Hospital, said Tim Russert, Washington bureau chief for NBC and the current host of the show.

Spivak was moderator of "Meet the Press" from its beginning in 1947 until 1975.

"It's the roar of the presses, working day and night in the North, South, East and West of our nation," Spivak said in introducing his first show, which he billed as "America's press conference of the air."

During the early days, television journalists were reluctant to ask their guests hard questions, so Spivak made a special effort to be tough, he once said.

by CNB