A Tribute to Michael Rosenbaum by Jeff Fager

Michael Rosenbaum was a true reporter. He saw himself as a newspaperman who simply happened to work in television. At the same time, he was an outstanding producer. He produced 63 stories for 60 Minutes and 60 Minutes 2. Very few people ever reach that number while maintaining the level of quality he consistently achieved. He was simply that talented. I always viewed him as the go-to guy, constantly warming up in the bullpen and waiting for the call to step in and save the game. He rescued us so many times, and he loved playing that part. He truly thrived in that role.

This is the third time this year that I have spoken following the death of someone who meant a great deal to us at CBS and 60 Minutes. But Mike Wallace and Andy Rooney passed away at ripe old ages. Mike Rosenbaum was stolen from us. He was denied what he deserved and wanted so deeply: several years of independence and freedom.

In many ways, he resembled Mike Wallace and Andy Rooney. He was tough, direct, and never wasted words. Morley said about Andy Rooney that underneath his gruff exterior was a prickly interior. Well, beneath Rosenbaum's gruff exterior was an extraordinarily kind and generous soul.

He wanted to help others, and he did exactly that. He guided young producers while walking through the halls of 60 Minutes in his stocking feet. They valued his experience and wisdom, whether he was teaching them about bluesheets and screenings or showing them how to manage annoying and difficult correspondents.

He taught everyone around him to question almost everything. He was not an optimist. He genuinely wanted things to turn out well, but he usually expected that they would not. Whenever I became optimistic and enthusiastic, he would simply shake his head. "Goyim." (Smirk).

My first complete experience working with Michael came when Rabin was assassinated. Michael and Bob did exceptional reporting on the story. Dan and I joined them in Israel to report the Evening News around the funeral. It was the most remarkable funeral any of us had ever covered, and Michael understood the story in great depth. I still remember what he said at that moment: that the chance for peace with the Palestinians was now gone, without Rabin. It proved to be prophetic.

I came to know him as someone who always expressed his views and was willing to challenge authority. He spoke the truth as he understood it and said the things that others were often too afraid to say. Those qualities made him, in my mind, the ideal person to join us in the fishbowl at the Evening News as a senior producer.

We had a strong group at the time, and Michael made the team even stronger. We laughed together, challenged one another, and frequently argued. We were fortunate that our audience was growing, so the front office largely left us alone. Somehow, inside that cramped and windowless room, we managed to enjoy ourselves. Michael was a major reason for that.

I hired Michael as one of the original producers of 60 Minutes 2, and again when we moved to 60 Minutes, because he was always the go-to guy. He had the ability to make any story succeed, regardless of the subject.

I don't know. It remains difficult to accept this loss. Still, if you search for something inspiring within it, you can find something.

Bob Anderson and I had lunch with him a few months ago. He still had it. I asked how his brother and sister were doing, and he replied, "It's really quite nice. They have been coming to visit a lot, and we're actually getting along."

He also discovered something he may not have expected: that he had extraordinary friendships. These were people who supported him through an incredibly difficult year. They did more than simply help him endure it. They gave everything they could to Michael. John Reade and Ann Reingold, Jon and Julie Meyerson, Geraldine Baum, Bob and Tanya Simon, and many others. Thank you for everything you did for Michael.