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Person To Person

"Person to Person": Iconic images

November 16, 2012 / 11:25 PM EST / CBS News

AP Photo — CBS Photo Archive

From 1953 to 1958, legendary CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow interviewed celebrities and newsmakers in their homes from his easy chair in a New York studio for his weekly program "Person to Person."

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Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy on "Person to Person" — CBS Photo Archive

The logistics for the original "Person to Person" were staggering, involving heavy cables and massive cameras. Robert F. Kennedy and his wife, Ethel take a peek though one of the cameras that invaded their MacLean, Va., home.

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Special section: "Person to Person"
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Person to Person: Marilyn Monroe talks about being a model — CBS Photo Archive

At the Connecticut home of photographer Milton Green, Marilyn Monroe talked about being a model. She lamented the fact that, although she graced the covers of plenty of mens magazines, she never made the cover of "Ladies Home Journal."

Video: Watch an excerpt of Monroe's 1955 interview
Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"
New life for legendary TV show

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Person to Person: Senator John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, were interviewed in their Boston apartment one month after they were married — CBS Photo Archive

Senator John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, were interviewed in their Boston apartment one month after they were married. When Murrow asked Jacqueline, "Which required more diplomacy -- her old job as a reporter or being married?" the young bride hesitated to say. So her husband broke the silence: "Being married, I guess."

Video: Watch an excerpt of the Kennedy's 1953 interview

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Person to Person: Marlon Brando — CBS Photo Archive

Just two nights after 31-year-old Marlon Brando won the Best Actor Oscar for "On the Waterfront," Murrow spoke to him about acting. But when he played the bongos, it turned out to be the highlight of the show.

Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"

Special section: "Person to Person"
Video: "Person to Person" with Clooney, Buffett and Bon Jovi

Person to Person: Sophia Loren, March 21, 1958 — CBS Photo Archive

Sophia Loren had only been in the United States for a year and was still learning the language when Murrow interviewed the 23-year-old actress in 1958. She didn't hesitate to consult her Italian/English dictionary and accept a few kind corrections from the host.

Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"

Special section: "Person to Person"
Video: "Person to Person" with Clooney, Buffett and Bon Jovi

Person to Person, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, Nov. 12, 1954 — CBS Photo Archive

Tony Curtis helped his wife, Janet Leigh, put on her microphone for their 1954 interview, but there were technical difficulties and the couple couldn't hear Murrow's questions. Fortunately, the actors knew how to play Murrow's part, and the show went on more or less as planned.

Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"

Special section: "Person to Person"
Video: "Person to Person" with Clooney, Buffett and Bon Jovi

Person to Person: Dick Clark; April 25, 1958 — CBS Photo Archive

When Murrow interviewed Dick Clark, host of "American Bandstand," in 1958, the teen dance program had only been on for a year. During a tour of his modest house in Drexel, Pa., Clark showed Murrow his record collection, including this rare antique from his grandmother: A metal record.

Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"

Special section: "Person to Person"
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Person to Person: Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, Sept. 3, 1954 — CBS Photo Archive

In 1954, Lauren Bacall showed off her charm bracelet with a whistle, a gift from Humphrey Bogart to remember her famous movie line: "If you want anything just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you? Just put your lips together and blow."

Video: Watch an excerpt of their 1954 interview
Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"

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Video: "Person to Person" with Clooney, Buffett and Bon Jovi

Person to Person: Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, Dec. 26, 1958 — CBS Photo Archive

Married less than a year and expecting their first child, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward had just moved into a Greenwich Village, N.Y., apartment when Murrow's cameras came for a visit in 1958. The Oscar winning actress showed him what she called her "favorite child... until I have this one."

Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"

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Video: "Person to Person" with Clooney, Buffett and Bon Jovi

Person to Person: Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd (April 5, 1957) — CBS Photo Archive

Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd were newlyweds when they spoke to Murrow from their penthouse apartment in New York in 1957. At this point in her life, Taylor said, she couldn't care less about movies.

Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"

Special section: "Person to Person"
Video: "Person to Person" with Clooney, Buffett and Bon Jovi

Person to Person: Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd (April 5, 1957) — CBS Photo Archive

Elizabeth Taylor, then a mother of two children, introduced the family's pet duck. It walked all over her during the interview.

Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"

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Video: "Person to Person" with Clooney, Buffett and Bon Jovi

Person to Person: Liberace (Jan 6, 1956) — CBS Photo Archive

Just about every detail in the luxurious house Liberace designed for himself and his mother had a musical theme. The pool side featured piano keys, while the pool itself was shaped like the top of a grand piano.

Video: Watch an excerpt of Liberace's 1956 interview
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Video: "Person to Person" with Clooney, Buffett and Bon Jovi

Person to Person: Harpo Marx (Jan. 3, 1958) — CBS Photo Archive

Harpo Marx, who never spoke in his films, stayed in character and didn't speak to Murrow either. Harpo's son, Bill, was on hand to help with the interview at their Palm Springs, Calif., home in 1958.

Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"

Special section: "Person to Person"
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Person to Person: Jerry Lewis as host (Nov. 9, 1956) — CBS Photo Archive

Jerry Lewis sat in for Edward R. Murrow one night in 1956, and he did quite a good impression of the legendary newsman, too.

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Video: "Person to Person" with Clooney, Buffett and Bon Jovi

Person to Person: Fred Astaire (June, 7, 1957) — CBS Photo Archive

Fred Astaire practiced his dance moves before Murrow's cameras rolled on his 1957 interview in his Beverly Hills living room.

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Person to Person: Rev. Billy Graham (April 5, 1956) — CBS Photo Archive

The world's most famous evangelist, the Rev. Billy Graham, invited the crew to his retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1956. Here in the study, he was surrounded by notebooks of his sermons. He always wrote them down, Graham said, so he wouldn't ramble.

Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"

Special section: "Person to Person"
Video: "Person to Person" with Clooney, Buffett and Bon Jovi

Person to Person: Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher — CBS Photo Archive

IN 1956, one year into their marriage, Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher spoke to Murrow from their Pacific Palisades, Calif., home. They had just worked together on a movie called "Bundle of Joy."

Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"

Special section: "Person to Person"
Video: "Person to Person" with Clooney, Buffett and Bon Jovi

Person to Person: Harry and Bess Truman (May, 27, 1955) — CBS Photo Archive

President Harry S. Truman and his wife, Bess, were interviewed for "Person to Person" in 1955, but not by Murrow. Their daughter, Margaret, hosted the visit to their unpretentious Independence, Mo., home.

Video: The best of Murrow's "Person To Person"

Special section: "Person to Person"
Video: "Person to Person" with Clooney, Buffett and Bon Jovi