Reynolds' career showed perseverance. He began in local radio, then Chicago television before hooking on at ABC. Reynolds was a correspondent there before becoming anchor in the late 60's. Demoted. Promoted again when the ABC Evening News became World News Tonight in 1978.
The second trip to anchor was fascinating. Barbara Walters had a contract that stipulated anchor status, even though she wasn't very good at it. ABC News president Roone Arledge was a genius. In revamping the news, he said they didn't have anchors. They had "desks." There was a Washington desk, a domestic desk in Chicago with Max Robinson, and an international desk in London, with Peter Jennings. Walters was eased into the special correspondent role, and she was great at that.
ABC News went to the three anchor (or desk) format because Arledge never could land that star anchor he wanted. Dan Rather turned it down. Tom Brokaw turned it down. He had to settle for Frank Reynolds, who did his part by hitting it out of the park.
The format was designed that the "desk" with the top story would lead the broadcast. Old habits die hard. It turned out viewers liked stability, so Reynolds was made the "most equal" of the three. Reynolds became the first face you saw every night at 6:30. ABC News was climbing out of the ratings cellar.
Was Frank Reynolds perfect? No. He was criticized for being too stiff, too formal, and on one occasion, too emotional. It happened during the Reagan assassination attempt. Reynolds became angry, on air, when some unconfirmed information was broadcast. I can understand it. Reynolds and Reagan, political opposites, were friends. The two bonded in 1976, when Reynolds was assigned to the Reagan presidential campaign.
Reynolds was teamed with Ted Koppel for the 1980 election night. No chemistry. It was Reynolds and David Brinkley in 1982. No chemistry. Some people are better off working solo.
My favorite moment came during the 1980 Democratic National Convention. Willie Nelson sang the national anthem one night-- dressed in torn jeans, a wrinkled tee shirt, and bandana. In other words, the standard Willie Nelson uniform. As Nelson approached the podium Reynolds said "I see he dressed for the occasion." I fell on the floor.
Cancer cut Frank Reynolds' life short. We lost a giant 40 years ago today.
