Peace

Television's machine-tailored personalities are generally easy to replace, but when Dave Garroway resigned from Today last May, NBC faced one of those crises that keep TV executives afloat in martinis. Where could the network find another fellow with all the father owl appearance of Garroway and his special air of wisdom? The network did not try, instead delivered an intelligent surprise last week by replacing Garroway not with a "personality" but with a topnotch newsman. NBC's choice is John Chancellor, who has spent his career in the NBC news department, has recently been the network's bureau chief in Moscow and is at least as well informed on most subjects as Garroway.

Although NBC pointed out that the Today show will continue to have its traditional varied balance of breakfast matter, the choice reflects the network's growing emphasis on news and public affairs. After an apprenticeship on the Chicago

Sun-Times, University of Illinois Graduate Chancellor, now 33, joined NBC news in 1950, went around Chicago in a mobile unit painted like a police car and equipped with a flashing red light and siren. He chased cop calls, once sprawled on the pavement and narrated a gunfight with bullets whanging overhead, also covered an oil refinery fire, continuing his broadcast even while running through falling debris, although his voice went up about seven octaves en route.

Assigned to the Democratic campaign of 1956, Chancellor was so impressive that Adlai Stevenson offered him a job on his projected White House press staff. At Little Rock in 1957, he won the-further respect of writing reporters--who deplore most TV newsmen--with his candid and unmincing coverage, his use of the TV camera to help find sense rather than sensationalism. Called home to help on election night last November, Chancellor was given the Midwest desk, outdid Huntley and Brinkley in sagacity, and was one of the few commentators who kept saying all night long that the result would be close.

Abroad, Chancellor covered a variety of stories, from Princess Margaret's wedding in London to Francis Gary Powers' trial in Moscow. Called back to New York last month for a trial run on Today, he impressed NBC executives with his wit and his range of interest.

After almost two years of tape, the Today show will be a "live" show again when Chancellor takes over next week, since Chancellor wants to "mobilize the show so we can cover news stories as fast as possible." He goes on hopefully: "I want to try and start a kind of new wave of U.S. television. When they called me back to cover election night last fall, I got a chance after two years away to see U.S. television again. It needs some changes, and I hope I can make them."

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