| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| HACD ID | HACD-0128 |
| Document Type | Newspaper article |
| Publication | The Washington Post |
| Section | Lifestyle |
| Date | July 14, 1981 |
| Author | Tom Shales |
| Headline | NBC Gets 'PM' Host |
| Subhead | 'PM' Host Henry Tenenbaum to Report Network News |
| Source File | Screenshot2026-07-04at3.35.11PM.png |
Tom Shales, the Washington Post's chief television critic, reports that Henry Tenenbaum has been hired by NBC News as a reporter for the Washington bureau, with an assignment to contribute to a planned weekend edition of "The Today Show" set to premiere in January 1982. The article provides a comprehensive summary of Henry's PM Magazine career and the circumstances of his departure.
| Fact | Evidence |
|---|---|
| NBC hire confirmed | July 13, 1981 ("sources confirmed yesterday") |
| NBC start date | September 1981 |
| NBC bureau chief | Sid Davis |
| Davis quote | "We've known about him for years for his work here in Washington" |
| PM Magazine launch | March 1979 |
| Original co-host | Susan Goldwater |
| PM Magazine end | June 30, 1981 (contract expiration) |
| Departure reason | Westinghouse pressure for "Ken and Barbie type show" |
| Henry's age | 34 on July 13, 1981 |
| World tour | 55-day trip departing July 14, 1981 |
| Weekend Today Show | Planned premiere January 1982 |
| Weekday Today Show | May appear until weekend edition launches |
"We've known about him for years for his work here in Washington." — Sid Davis, NBC News Washington bureau chief
"I'm real excited about this. I couldn't ask for a better opportunity." — Henry Tenenbaum
"No, not terribly." — Henry Tenenbaum, asked if his parting with WDVM had been amicable
"He said the station had caved in to pressure from Westinghouse Broadcasting, which franchises the 'PM Magazine' format here and in other cities, to make the program more of a 'Ken and Barbie type show,' and he wanted the emphasis on 'honest and genuine people.'"
"I'm almost overwhelmed with an abundance of joys." — Henry Tenenbaum
Henry is described as "34" on July 13, 1981, placing his birth year at 1946 or 1947. This is consistent with being born in a displaced persons camp in Germany after the war (parents were concentration camp survivors). The 1973 PICS MAILBOX column's statement that he came to the US "at age 3" would place immigration at ~1949-1950, consistent with the DP camp timeline.
This is among the most important documents in the archive:
1. Tom Shales was the most influential television critic in America. A profile by Shales in the Washington Post is the highest-level media coverage in the archive.
2. Precisely dates the NBC hire, PM Magazine tenure, and transition
3. Confirms national recognition — NBC hired him based on years of watching his local work
4. Documents the departure narrative — Henry left on principle (refusing to do "Ken and Barbie" TV)
5. Establishes the 55-day world tour — a significant personal milestone between careers
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Corroboration | HACD-0129 (Roanoke Times, July 25, 1981) — independent confirmation |
| Career period | Transition from PM Magazine to NBC News |
| People | Sid Davis (NBC bureau chief), Susan Goldwater (PM co-host) |
| Programs | PM Magazine (WDVM), Weekend Today Show (NBC), Today Show (NBC) |
| HTA records | All PM Magazine HTA records now precisely bounded: March 1979 – June 30, 1981 |
| NBC records | HTA-0371 (Barbershop Quartet), HTA-0385 (AIDS documentary) now contextualized |
The article also discusses NBC's agreement with the Chinese government to open the first American TV news bureau in Peking — a historic development reported in the same article as Henry's hire. This juxtaposition in a Tom Shales column suggests both were considered significant news in the television industry.
The article confirms Henry was described as a "general assignment reporter who covered offbeat or whimsical happenings" prior to PM Magazine — this is the Eyewitness News / Weekend Wrap era (1975-1979).