Changes

Smith's ''News and Comment'' began early in 1962. On November 11, five days after mid-term elections were held on November 6, Smith broadcast a program entitled "The Political Obituary of [[Richard M. Nixon]]", which proved highly controversial as well as premature. He included an interview with Nixon nemesis [[Alger Hiss]], the Cold War convicted [[perjury|perjurer]] from [[Massachusetts]], as well as remarks from Nixon loyalist Murray Chotiner. Some said that Smith's program in the long-run benefited Nixon's six-year political comeback because there was a backlash of sympathy caused by Hiss's appearance.<ref name=mbc>{{cite web|url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/S/htmlS/smithhoward/smithhoward.htm|title=Smith, Howard K.|publisher=The Museum of Broadcast Communications|location=[[Washington D.C.]], accessdate=December 29, 2008}}</ref>

Smith's ''News and Comment'' began early in 1962. On November 11, five days after mid-term elections were held on November 6, Smith broadcast a program entitled "The Political Obituary of [[Richard M. Nixon]]", which proved highly controversial as well as premature. He included an interview with Nixon nemesis [[Alger Hiss]], the Cold War convicted [[perjury|perjurer]] from [[Massachusetts]], as well as remarks from Nixon loyalist Murray Chotiner. Some said that Smith's program in the long-run benefited Nixon's six-year political comeback because there was a backlash of sympathy caused by Hiss's appearance.<ref name=mbc>{{cite web|url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/S/htmlS/smithhoward/smithhoward.htm|title=Smith, Howard K.|publisher=The Museum of Broadcast Communications|location=[[Washington D.C.]], accessdate=December 29, 2008}}</ref>

While ABC stood behind Smith when the outcry erupted over the program, sponsors became increasingly difficult to find. ''Howard K. Smith: News and Comment'' was hence replaced in a revised format simply entitled ''ABC News Reports.<ref name=guardian/> After ''News and Comment'' Smith hosted ABC's Sunday afternoon half-hour interview program, then known as ''Issues and Answers'' (now the hour-long  ''This Week''.<ref name=mbc/>

While ABC stood behind Smith when the outcry erupted over the program, sponsors became increasingly difficult to find. ''Howard K. Smith: News and Comment'' was hence replaced in a revised format simply entitled ''ABC News Reports.''<ref name=guardian/> After ''News and Comment,'' Smith hosted ABC's Sunday afternoon half-hour interview program, then known as ''Issues and Answers'' (since the hour-long  ''This Week.''<ref name=mbc/>

A native of Ferriday in Concordia Parish in eastern [[Louisiana]], Smith remained at ABC from 1962 to 1979, when he resigned because the network reduced the time allowed for his on-air commentaries. During the Nixon administration, Smith began to express more [[conservative]] views, particularly in regard to the [[Vietnam War]]. He hosted an hour-long interview with President Nixon in the [[White House]] in 1971. After he left ABC, Smith went on the lecture circuit, wrote his memoirs, and, befitting his patrician mannerisms, was cast in bit parts in such [[film]]s, as ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind,'' ''Nashville,''  and ''The Candidate (1972). He usually appeared as  himself.<ref name=guardian/>

A native of Ferriday in Concordia Parish in eastern [[Louisiana]], Smith remained at ABC from 1962 to 1979, when he resigned because the network reduced the time allowed for his on-air commentaries. During the Nixon administration, Smith began to express more [[conservative]] views, particularly in regard to the [[Vietnam War]]. He hosted an hour-long interview with President Nixon in the [[White House]] in 1971. After he left ABC, Smith went on the lecture circuit, wrote his memoirs, and, befitting his patrician mannerisms, was cast in bit parts in such [[film]]s, as ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind,'' ''Nashville,''  and ''The Candidate (1972). He usually appeared as  himself.<ref name=guardian/>