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Ticking Clock: Behind the Scenes at 60 Minutes

Ticking Clock: Behind the Scenes at 60 Minutes

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  • Create Date：2021-05-19 10:51:41
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
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  • Author：Ira Rosen
  • ISBN：1250756421
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Summary

Two-time Peabody Award-winning writer and producer Ira Rosen reveals the intimate， untold stories of his decades at America’s most iconic news show。 It’s a 60 Minutes story on 60 Minutes itself。

When producer Ira Rosen walked into the 60 Minutes offices in June 1980， he knew he was about to enter television history。 His career catapulted him to the heights of TV journalism， breaking some of the most important stories in TV news。 But behind the scenes was a war room of clashing producers， anchors， and the most formidable 60 Minutes figure: legendary correspondent Mike Wallace。

Based on decades of access and experience， Ira Rosen takes readers behind closed doors to offer an incisive look at the show that invented TV investigative journalism。 With surprising humor， charm， and an eye for colorful detail， Rosen delivers an authoritative account of the unforgettable personalities that battled for prestige， credit， and the desire to scoop everyone else in the game。 As Mike Wallace’s top producer， Rosen reveals the interview secrets that made Wallace’s work legendary， and the flaring temper that made him infamous。 Later， as senior producer of ABC News Primetime Live and 20/20， Rosen exposes the competitive environment among famous colleagues like Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters， and the power plays between correspondents Chris Wallace， Anderson Cooper， and Chris Cuomo。

A master class in how TV news is made， Rosen shows readers how 60 Minutes puts together a story when sources are explosive， unreliable， and even dangerous。 From unearthing shocking revelations from inside the Trump White House， to an outrageous proposition from Ghislaine Maxwell， to interviewing gangsters Joe Bonanno and John Gotti Jr。， Ira Rosen was behind the scenes of 60 Minutes' most sensational stories。

Highly entertaining， dishy， and unforgettable， Ticking Clock is a never-before-told account of the most successful news show in American history。

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Reviews

Jerry ，

Some insights into the popular CBS news magazine， especially Mike Wallace for whom Rosen produced。

Anne ，

Loved this book！ Wonderful stories and great behind the scenes look at how the stories come together。 He doesn’t spare too many people either。 Juicy。

Regan ，

Rosen is a good writer -- but you have to expect that given his history and career。 He writes in an engaging style that draws you in and at times makes you feel as if you are there with him and whoever he is talking about。 In many ways the book is two different stories in one。 There is Rosen's autobiography which takes readers from his start on 60 Minutes and then it is a biography of Mike Wallace。 I met Mr。 Wallace back in the early 1980s when he came to interview the attorneys I worked for at Rosen is a good writer -- but you have to expect that given his history and career。 He writes in an engaging style that draws you in and at times makes you feel as if you are there with him and whoever he is talking about。 In many ways the book is two different stories in one。 There is Rosen's autobiography which takes readers from his start on 60 Minutes and then it is a biography of Mike Wallace。 I met Mr。 Wallace back in the early 1980s when he came to interview the attorneys I worked for at Littler， Mendelson。 At that time the firm was a labor law firm representing employers。 But at that time they took on the case of three employees who were suing I Magnin for age discrimination and we won and won big。 Wallace came out to interview the attorneys and took a moment to say hello to me。 Nothing untoward occurred。 He was pleasant enough and went on to do the interview。 Rosen's career was a storied one and while he has retired from 60 Minutes， given his interests and drive， even if taking a little slower pace I can see him embarking on another， equally fascinating career。 。。。more

Mary Delgizzi ，

Real insight thanks Ira

Mary Keen ，

SO INTERESTING！ Have watched many years of 60 Minutes， but discovered not at the beginning。 Still a wonderful show most Sundays IMOOverdrive @ 1。25

Pam ，

That was interesting。。 if you didn't think about it too much！ If I do think about it it is not the book itself that settles。。。 but the sorry， sad world。 Sigh。 That being said， I would love to be a friend of Ira Rosen's。。。 isn't HE an interesting guy！ That was interesting。。 if you didn't think about it too much！ If I do think about it it is not the book itself that settles。。。 but the sorry， sad world。 Sigh。 That being said， I would love to be a friend of Ira Rosen's。。。 isn't HE an interesting guy！ 。。。more

Susanne Gulde ，

The beginning of this book was interesting， but I thought it turned snarky before mid-way。Too much information about some people， language and actions on their part， or the author's personal opinion about them。 The beginning of this book was interesting， but I thought it turned snarky before mid-way。Too much information about some people， language and actions on their part， or the author's personal opinion about them。 。。。more

Shirlee Sloyer ，

Ira Rosen’s Ticking Clock is an honest telling of what it was like to be a producer behind some famous 60 Minutes shows。 The facade we see as we watch these skilled， slick interviewers on our TV screen is not the only story。 There’s more， much more about personal lives and what it takes to get the good。 juicy revelations for us to keep our sets tuned to CBS。

Jim Mackell ，

You will have to search long and hard to find ANY positive comments about anyone Rosen ever met。 But a magnificent piece of gossip covering his entire career。 All the dirt on all the big names。

Susan Kosel ，

In a way this book us a history of all of our lives。 The important stories of the past 50 years were done by 60 minutes。 Great read。

Peggie ，

This book started great - investigative stories that won awards。 But it deteriorated into subjects I didn’t care about - Trump， the Clintons， the Kardashians。 Plus all the “revelations “ about harassment - I didn’t think my opinion of these people could go lower， but it did。

Eadie ，

Ticking Clock is an account of the most successful news show in American history， 60 minutes。 Ira Rosen reveals the interview secrets that made Mike Wallace’s work legendary。 Rosen exposes the competitive environment among famous colleagues like Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters， and the power plays between correspondents Chris Wallace， Anderson Cooper， and Chris Cuomo。 I enjoyed this book as I used to watch these news commentators all the time and it was interesting to learn about what went on b Ticking Clock is an account of the most successful news show in American history， 60 minutes。 Ira Rosen reveals the interview secrets that made Mike Wallace’s work legendary。 Rosen exposes the competitive environment among famous colleagues like Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters， and the power plays between correspondents Chris Wallace， Anderson Cooper， and Chris Cuomo。 I enjoyed this book as I used to watch these news commentators all the time and it was interesting to learn about what went on behind the scenes。 。。。more

Elbrackeen Brackeen ，

So much "gossip" I cant even start。 As a kid who grew up watching 60 minutes it was tough to hear some of these stories。 But in post metoo I am not surprised at any of it。 So much "gossip" I cant even start。 As a kid who grew up watching 60 minutes it was tough to hear some of these stories。 But in post metoo I am not surprised at any of it。 。。。more

Patricia ，

Interesting behind the scenes look at 60 Minute stories and a producer's function。 The distracting juvenile remarks about his associates were redundant 。 - Just present the facts; usually the reader can see the various personality foibles when the facts are well presented。 No need to turn the knife。 Interesting behind the scenes look at 60 Minute stories and a producer's function。 The distracting juvenile remarks about his associates were redundant 。 - Just present the facts; usually the reader can see the various personality foibles when the facts are well presented。 No need to turn the knife。 。。。more

Claudia ，

Interesting

Mike L ，

Good book， learned a lot about many of the 60 Minutes correspondents。

WM D。 ，

The ticking clock was a awesome book。 It took you behind the scenes of 60 minutes。 I learned a lot about the people on the show 。 An must read for anyone who likes nonfiction

Stephanie ，

This was a very well written， fascinating tale of high- and lowlights that comprised the television production career of Ira Rosen。 Most of his time was spent at 60 Minutes， although he did a stint at ABC with Prime Time。 I admire Rosen's straight talk about the people with whom he worked--he pulls no punches and calls it just the way he sees it。 Rosen seems to take his role as a truth teller seriously， and I admire his devotion to that role。 Although he does not say outright that the seemingly This was a very well written， fascinating tale of high- and lowlights that comprised the television production career of Ira Rosen。 Most of his time was spent at 60 Minutes， although he did a stint at ABC with Prime Time。 I admire Rosen's straight talk about the people with whom he worked--he pulls no punches and calls it just the way he sees it。 Rosen seems to take his role as a truth teller seriously， and I admire his devotion to that role。 Although he does not say outright that the seemingly shoddy ethics of CBS Corporate， the Washington Post and The New Yorker in handling sexual harassment and opioid epidemic issues hastened his desire to retire， it strikes me as more than a coincidence that his decision to do so happened right on the heels of those events。 A nit picky but important note to those of us who care about quality: I encountered two egregious editing mistakes that shocked me and diminished my admiration for those who edited and published this book。 Perhaps these were only found in the Kindle edition that I read--I certainly hope so。 One error was the statement about Trump that "With all the legal scrutiny he and the paper were under， he was worried that the Bezos story would be looked at as a hit piece ordered by publisher David Pecker because of Bezos’s friendship with the president。" The other was a printing error， with one incomplete sentence introducing another sentence that said essentially the same thing。 I look forward to learning that these errors have been corrected！ 。。。more

Kayla Minter ，

This was interesting， even to someone who has only seen a few episodes of 60 minutes。 I enjoyed the behind the scenes look at how correspondents， producers， and editors interact。 No big surprised but a lot of people in front of the cameras are not the nicest people on the job。

Hal ，

Ira Rosen's rambling reminiscence and revelations of his career behind the scenes producing the renowned investigative news program。 Although there is a lot of scintillating insides onto what took place over the years I found it a bit flat。 His profiles and relations with some of the note worthies such as Wallace and Kroft were at times interesting and revealing。 Both difficult men to work with and Ira should be noted for putting up with their crap over the years。There was a lot of info on some Ira Rosen's rambling reminiscence and revelations of his career behind the scenes producing the renowned investigative news program。 Although there is a lot of scintillating insides onto what took place over the years I found it a bit flat。 His profiles and relations with some of the note worthies such as Wallace and Kroft were at times interesting and revealing。 Both difficult men to work with and Ira should be noted for putting up with their crap over the years。There was a lot of info on some of the famous stories and investigations they did and again interesting at times， slow at other times。 The one factor which both made the series famous and manipulative was how they could really shape and edit their pieces to really sway perceptions， and not always fairly。 But what is fair after all in journalism anymore。 Fake news the new buzzword， often pioneered by this news program。 。。。more

Romina Villaflor-Wilson ，

Very impressive take on the ins and outs of investigative journalism， I enjoyed the back stories behind the rise and fall of the most prominent people in the world of tv news （being an avowed news junkie）。

Schuyler Wallace ，

Producer Ira Rosen takes the reader on a salacious tour behind the scenes of CBS “60 minutes” for a tell-all accounting of the behavior of its well-known stable of correspondents。 Mike Wallace， Harry Reasoner， Steve Croft， Bill Whitaker， Diane Sawyer， Barbara Walters， as well as mobsters， political figures， civil rights activists， and other famous people， have their indiscretions and bad habits fully disclosed You may wonder at reading about their peccadillos what prompted their willingness to Producer Ira Rosen takes the reader on a salacious tour behind the scenes of CBS “60 minutes” for a tell-all accounting of the behavior of its well-known stable of correspondents。 Mike Wallace， Harry Reasoner， Steve Croft， Bill Whitaker， Diane Sawyer， Barbara Walters， as well as mobsters， political figures， civil rights activists， and other famous people， have their indiscretions and bad habits fully disclosed You may wonder at reading about their peccadillos what prompted their willingness to give such revealing information， none of which casts a favorable personal light。 The answer to that is simple， according to Levin。 It was because they were asked。 Questions are nearly always answered if asked in the right way and he’s a master at that。Some of the wrongdoing is much in the news today。 Bra snapping， unwanted kisses and hugs， indecent proposals， late-night bedroom visits， bottom groping， and other such unseeming behavior seems to be a staple around the studio。 Public desire for the details of such conduct is also high。 Details about such behavior are everyday occurrences with newspaper accounts， magazine articles， and TV coverage flooding current news with never-ending revelations leading to the damage of many careers in the public eye， although not as many as might be expected。Damaged careers， according to Rosen’s account， don’t get much attention。 Even public disclosure doesn’t appear to slow the behavior down， seemingly adding another feather in the headdress of the famous。 The more the reports become public， the more the allegations grow。 Easy money and fame seem to flow to the accusers， while not much happens to the perpetrator。 Public displeasure seems tepid at best。 I have to confess， however， to my own interest to such behavior。 I enjoy reading reputable accounts of such behavior for some reason I can’t explain， a shortcoming no doubt connected to my nosiness。 Rosen’s is certainly credible。Rosen is no hack writer that looks in every corner for something nefarious going on。 His research is extensive and well-grounded。 The conduct is egregious and should not have widespread acceptance。 But there you have it。 Rosen found it to be alive and well and decided to tell us about it。 Why？ He’ll explain that somewhat in his book， although I’m not sure I picked up on it completely。 No doubt residuals and royalties in the publication of his book had something to do with it。 I would be more likely to read about it in a well-published and edited book than I would in a scandal mag。 Something to do with credibility， I suppose。If you are of the same bent， read this book。 I can guarantee you will enjoy it。Schuyler T WallaceAuthor of TIN LIZARD TALES 。。。more

Joseph Hanseling ，

Page turner

Ed ，

Interesting enough， behind the scenes look at the stories and personalities of the long running news show。

P。 Hobson ，

Highly recommended。A fascinating account from a true insider。 Funny and informative。 60 Minutes is such an institution， it's our history。 I learned a lot I didn't know。 Highly recommended。A fascinating account from a true insider。 Funny and informative。 60 Minutes is such an institution， it's our history。 I learned a lot I didn't know。 。。。more

Missy ，

3。5 stars

Budd Margolis ，

Another book with insight into the dark side of some of the most celebrated onscreen journalists and the producers who deserve more credit than they ever receive。 Why are so many top names in TV so insecure， abusive， misogynists as well as assholes？ Does it seem that to get ahead， in the past， one had to be utterly ruthless and vile as well as talented and intelligent？Rosen lays out his career as we travel from job to job， story to story， and many insights and lessons as to what it took to creat Another book with insight into the dark side of some of the most celebrated onscreen journalists and the producers who deserve more credit than they ever receive。 Why are so many top names in TV so insecure， abusive， misogynists as well as assholes？ Does it seem that to get ahead， in the past， one had to be utterly ruthless and vile as well as talented and intelligent？Rosen lays out his career as we travel from job to job， story to story， and many insights and lessons as to what it took to create some amazing revelations that often changed views and the laws of the land。But his vast and long-serving experience at CBS's 60 Minutes， arguably the best TV journalism created， tells the story of how society has changed， and highlights what needed to change， hopefully for the better。The 60 Minutes formula， how to interview， the different areas to cover to be perceived as well rounded and not typecast into any theme， the preparation and psychological process to get the best interviews are explained and worthy for anyone interested in how TV journalism works。The culture is real Mad Men。 And the age of TV as a dominant medium， now in decline， is well recorded and depicted。 Imagine what quality would have been possible with professional behavior and no egos？ 60 Minutes should have had the insight to have had a full psychiatric staff on the floor to cope with the abuses。 And management & HR has a responsibility as well。 What strikes me is the stark proof that journalism， TV or print， has informed and changed our society mostly for good。 That the recent lie of fake news， empowered by digital formats and the internet， is an attack against truth meant to harm society， fracture the common good and divide us in。 order to control us。60 MInutes was as much a part of our culture and history as any force in America。 But the abuse that was allowed to permeate that company， and others， is a sad statement of the lack of moral values of the past。 For that， this is an especially worthy read。 。。。more

Jennifer ，

I waited a day to write a review。 I’ve already referred to this book （but mostly this writer / producer） more than I might have expected。 There is a lot to take in here。 As a professional woman of a certain age， I was very interested in the accounts of terrible behavior in the workplace but I truly had no idea how brazen and perpetual and ubiquitous these behaviors were。 This positively eviscerates Mike Wallace， so if you want to stay ignorant of exactly how despicable he was， this is not for yo I waited a day to write a review。 I’ve already referred to this book （but mostly this writer / producer） more than I might have expected。 There is a lot to take in here。 As a professional woman of a certain age， I was very interested in the accounts of terrible behavior in the workplace but I truly had no idea how brazen and perpetual and ubiquitous these behaviors were。 This positively eviscerates Mike Wallace， so if you want to stay ignorant of exactly how despicable he was， this is not for you。 I loved the book and the insider’s look at the news magazine shows， investigative journalism， and frankly， one hysterical （but horribly misogynistic） story about Ed Bradley。 。。。more

Ty ，

I'm not quite sure what my expectations were going in， but they were really not met。 While this was purported to be a behind-the-scenes， tell-all type book， it glossed over a lot。 The author went to great lengths to portray Mike Wallace as a jerk with little concern for anything outside his image and job but in the end tries to walk that back and redeem Wallace's portrayal。 Imagine after the passing of someone you view as a friend and mentor you trash them openly （whether truth or fiction） but t I'm not quite sure what my expectations were going in， but they were really not met。 While this was purported to be a behind-the-scenes， tell-all type book， it glossed over a lot。 The author went to great lengths to portray Mike Wallace as a jerk with little concern for anything outside his image and job but in the end tries to walk that back and redeem Wallace's portrayal。 Imagine after the passing of someone you view as a friend and mentor you trash them openly （whether truth or fiction） but then realize the error of your ways and try to take back everything bad you said。 The author's relationship with Wallace was clearly complicated， much like that a father-son， love-hate relationship。 I found it interesting that the author did openly criticize anyone and everyone associated with Trump， but other than a brief foray into Nancy Pelosi's insider trading， there was very little dished on the party with which the author openly admits to being in allegiance。 While bashing Trump and his allies took up a significant part of what was supposed to be a "behind the scenes" at 60 Minutes， it painted a picture very much in league with the established media narrative。 While not a Trump apologist by any means， I found some of his tales to be a little tabloidesque and steeped in schadenfreude。 Having said that， the author also tellingly says， "You will be punished if you buck the established narrative of the mainstream media。" That line calls into question much of what he writes about political personalities。 His self-portrayal was something of a crusader mixed with a reporter with tunnel vision: everyone he met of any import was an interview target whom he dogged until they relented or became less interesting。 I find it particularly laughable that a television producer considers himself a reporter。 As a former media relations and strategic communications professional， most of my contacts in television news openly admitted to me that they were not journalists， but entertainers。 My own confirmation bias was satisfied to learn that many of the "correspondents" and on-air personalities were focused way more on self-image， competition for stories that would land them more awards and adulation， and their own pumped-up entitlement。 While not universal in my own experience in the media world， there were plenty of ladder climbers with the same personality traits。 As a former corporate spokesperson， strategic communications professional， and reporter， I found the book little more than bashing coworkers and political enemies。 Since I listened to the Audible version， I must also add that the narrator of most of the book （other than intro and closing by the author） brought very little to the story， over-enunciating and delivering in a monotone。 。。。more

Joanne ，

Interesting read on what makes 60 minutes “tick”。 Rosen has a huge ego so I took every thing he wrote with a gain of salt as everything that worked was due to him & everything that didn’t was someone else’s failure。 Still I am a great admirer of 60 minutes & found this entertaining。

Reference

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