Hugh Downs is one of America's most famous and best-loved television personalities. From Sid Caesar's Hour in the 1950s to the news magazine 20/20 in the 1990s, his career spanned more than four decades. Along the way, he earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for having spent more hours on the small screen than any other person -- and earned a place in Americans' hearts for his intelligence, warm smile, and affable demeanor. He also famously praised libertarians for having "all the good ideas."

Downs got his start in television as the announcer on Sid Caesar's Hour (1956-1957). He went on to serve as Jack Paar's sidekick on The Tonight Show (1957-1962), and then moved into the spotlight as the host of the game show Concentration (1958-1968). He was a host on The Today Show from 1962-1972.

From 1978-1999, Downs was the co-host of the high-rated news magazine 20/20, sharing the stage with Barbara Walters and libertarian commentator John Stossel. Downs ended each show with a smile and his catch phrase, "We'll be in touch, so you stay in touch."

In 1985, Downs made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for having logged more hours on television than any other person in U.S. history. By May 1994, he had spent 10,347 hours in front of the television camera.

Downs won an Emmy Award in 1988; was named Broadcaster of the Year by the International Radio and Television Society in 1990; and was honored by the Museum of Broadcast Communications in 1995. In 1999, he retired from network television.

Downs has written 10 books, including an autobiography, Yours Truly, Hugh Downs (1960); a positive look at aging, Fifty to Forever (1994); a collection of radio essays, Perspectives (1995); a look at his TV career, On Camera: My 10,000 Hours on Television (1986); and a collection of science articles, Rings Around Tomorrow (1970). In 2002, he edited My America: What My Country Means to Me.

Downs has served as a chairman for UNICEF, as a member of the National Academy of Science, and as a member of NASA's Advisory Council. He is also an avid boatsman; in 1965, he sailed a 65-foot ketch across the Pacific Ocean.

In 1997 and 1998, Downs raised some eyebrows when he praised libertarians and libertarianism on the radio and on television. He said:

• "This country is a one-party country. Half of that party is called Republican and half is called Democrat. It doesn't make any difference. All the really good ideas belong to the libertarians." (Politically Incorrect, March 31, 1997.)

• "From a historical perspective, all Americans are libertarians, even those who are not registered as such. Libertarianism was a prominent political development that distinguished free Americans from those subjected to the British Crown." (Perspective radio commentary, September 19, 1998.)

Downs has also expressed libertarian sentiments on a number of specific issues (although he does not describe himself as a libertarian).

In a May 20, 1995 radio commentary, he said: "I sympathize with people who want to ban guns, but I can't agree with them. We have to be careful that in our zeal to abolish guns we don't wind up pushing counterproductive legislation that will leave armed only those people most likely to do harm with the weapons."

And in an April 14, 1994 radio commentary, he said about marijuana: "Here is a weed, growing wild, that millions use whether there is a law against it or not. It kills no one. It has been in continuous use for about 5,000 years that we know of, and it has recognized medical applications. And yet the government is waging a deadly and expensive war against it."

In October 2005, Downs was a guest speaker at the Advocates for Self-Government's 20th Anniversary celebration. In an interview at the event, he talked about why he was attracted to libertarian ideas. "I do remember feeling that there were threads of [libertarian] thought in what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they set up this nation," he said. "And that kind of appealed to me. The way the nation has evolved now, from the government's standpoint, there's a real need for that kind of philosophy to come back into it. I can't say that I am in agreement with everything that is said -- possibly because in some cases I don't understand fully what [libertarians] are saying -- but still, the basic philosophy I find attractive and needed."

-- Bill Winter

Quotable:

"This country is a one-party country. Half of that party is called Republican and half is called Democrat. It doesn't make any difference. All the really good ideas belong to the libertarians." -- Hugh Downs on Politically Incorrect (March 31, 1997)

Books & Tapes

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