Background
Leonard was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York, the son of Ruth (Leonard) and James Garfield Moses, a lawyer
Leonard was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York, the son of Ruth (Leonard) and James Garfield Moses, a lawyer
Dartmouth College.
He served in the United States Navy until 1945, when he took a position at Columbia Broadcasting System as the radio anchorman for This Is New York and its subsequent television show Eye on New New York He was chosen as a floor reporter for the 1952, 1956 and 1960 political conventions. After Leonard was promoted to correspondent, Fred West. Friendly chose him for the Columbia Broadcasting System Reports team
He led Columbia Broadcasting System" new news election unit from 1961 to 1965 and helped develop exit polling.
He then held a series of management positions at Columbia Broadcasting System News, rising to President in 1979 until his 1982 retirement. As president, he chose 60 Minutes correspondent Dan Rather to succeed Walter Cronkite as anchor of the Columbia Broadcasting System Evening News in 1981.
He also created Sunday Morning. Leonard and Chairman William South. Paley were the only two employees allowed to stay on past Columbia Broadcasting System" mandatory retirement age.
He was the stepfather of journalist Chris Wallace.
Leonard died from a stroke in Laurel, Maryland. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1937, where he worked for the student newspaper, The Dartmouth.
