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This story is about Howard Beale, who wasthe "Network News" anchorman on UBS TV.
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In his time, Howard Beale had beena mandarin of television...
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the grand old man of news...
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with a HUT rating of 16and a 28 audience share.
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In 1969, however, his fortunesbegan to decline.
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He fell to a 22 share.
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The following year, his wife died,and he was left a childless widower...
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with an 8 ratingand a 12 share.
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He became morose and isolated,began to drink heavily.
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On September 22, 1975,he was fired...
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effective in two weeks.
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The news was broken to himby Max Schumacher...
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who was the presidentof the News Division at UBS.
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The two old friendsgot properly pissed.
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I was at CBSwith Ed Murrow in 1951.
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Must've been 1950, then.
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I was at NBC.Associate producer.
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Morning news.I was just a kid... 26 years old.
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Anyway... anyway, they're building the lowerlevel of the George Washington Bridge.
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We were doing a remote from there.
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And nobody told me.
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Then after 7 in the morning,I get a call.
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"Where the hell are you? You're supposed to beon the George Washington Bridge?"
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I jump out of bed,throw my raincoat over my pajamas.
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I run downstairsand out into the street...
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hail a cab and say to the cabbie...
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"Take me to the middleof the George Washington Bridge."
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The cabbie turns around and says...
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He says, "Don't do it, buddy.
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You're a young man. You've gotyour whole life ahead of you."
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