Commentary: Ted Koppel's Exit From 'Nightline' Ends News Era

Summary

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Last Friday morning, when we learned that Pope John Paul II's health had deteriorated, the newspapers also carried a story about Ted Koppel saying the host of ABC's Nightline program for more than 25 years would be leaving ABC News in December.

It seems that Koppel has been on the air forever. The program began as a nightly special report after American hostages were seized at the American Embassy in Iran in November 1979. Many political analysts believe that this news program, and a number of other reports as well, created an impression with the American people that our country was helpless and at the mercy of Iran. They also believe that this, in turn, laid the foundation for Ronald Reagan's victory over President Jimmy Carter.

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Commentary: Ted Koppel's Exit From 'Nightline' Ends News Era

It's hard to believe, but while all of that was happening, Pope John Paul II was already in the Vatican. The pope that we now mour...

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