Robert McCormick, Newsman in Early Days of Television Dies

Robert McCormick, 74, an NBC newsman who broadcast some of the earliest live news and commentary on the “Current Opinion” and “Camel Caravan” television shows, died Wednesday in New York City, his daughter said Thursday.

McCormick, who retired in 1976 after several years of covering Capitol Hill, died of heart failure at a New York City hotel, Karen Skilling said.

McCormick spent most of his life in Washington and was the first NBC newsman to anchor coverage of a political convention, appearing on camera at the 1948 Democratic and Republican national conventions.

He first went on the air in 1947 when NBC, the first TV network to broadcast a regular news program, introduced “Current Opinion,” a Wednesday night commentary program originating in Washington. The program preceded “Camel News Caravan,” which went on the air in 1948 with John Cameron Swayze as anchorman and McCormick sharing the microphone.

When McCormick was assigned to Germany, where he headed bureaus in Frankfurt and Bonn, David Brinkley became his replacement.

McCormick also was host for “Battle Report,” a 1950-52 documentary on the Korean War.

After he retired, McCormick wrote a book titled “Facing Alcoholism” and was active the rest of his life in fighting that disease.