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Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News
Starting with his coverage of the largest tornado in Kansas history, legendary correspondent, anchorman, and producer Bill Kurtis details his whirlwind career reporting American history as it unfolded, from the Chicago Seven to Charles Manson to Agent Orange. A fast-paced, entertaining, and inspiring story about the potent combination of talent and luck in the network era of television.
From his beginnings as a kid from Kansas working at local radio and television stations to pay for college and law school, Bill Kurtis had a hunger for telling stories and finding the truth. With passion, skill, and just the right amount of luck, Kurtis’s reporting of the infamous Topeka Tornado of 1966 launched him into a whirlwind career in broadcast journalism. Only four years later, after passing the Kansas bar exam, Kurtis had already reported four of the largest trials of the twentieth Richard Speck, the Chicago Seven, Charles Manson, and Angela Davis.
During his career as a West Coast correspondent for Cronkite’s CBS Evening News, anchorman and foreign correspondent at the revolutionary local newsroom at WBBM-TV Chicago, co-anchor with Dianne Sawyer at CBS Morning News, and beyond, Kurtis brought history to the American people in real time.
Recounting moments in his remarkable career as a television journalist, Kurtis brings us into some of the most iconic moments of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. He was in the streets during the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago; he uncovered the truth about the deadly effects of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War; he was the first US television journalist to return to Chernobyl after the infamous nuclear disaster; and much more. Kurtis also offers an insider look at how television evolved from an emerging news source to the dominating force in American media.
A natural storyteller, Kurtis remembers his career with honesty and insight and gives a rare picture of American history and broadcast journalism.
From his beginnings as a kid from Kansas working at local radio and television stations to pay for college and law school, Bill Kurtis had a hunger for telling stories and finding the truth. With passion, skill, and just the right amount of luck, Kurtis’s reporting of the infamous Topeka Tornado of 1966 launched him into a whirlwind career in broadcast journalism. Only four years later, after passing the Kansas bar exam, Kurtis had already reported four of the largest trials of the twentieth Richard Speck, the Chicago Seven, Charles Manson, and Angela Davis.
During his career as a West Coast correspondent for Cronkite’s CBS Evening News, anchorman and foreign correspondent at the revolutionary local newsroom at WBBM-TV Chicago, co-anchor with Dianne Sawyer at CBS Morning News, and beyond, Kurtis brought history to the American people in real time.
Recounting moments in his remarkable career as a television journalist, Kurtis brings us into some of the most iconic moments of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. He was in the streets during the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago; he uncovered the truth about the deadly effects of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War; he was the first US television journalist to return to Chernobyl after the infamous nuclear disaster; and much more. Kurtis also offers an insider look at how television evolved from an emerging news source to the dominating force in American media.
A natural storyteller, Kurtis remembers his career with honesty and insight and gives a rare picture of American history and broadcast journalism.
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Published September 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 15, 2025
A very enjoyable read, especially having watched Kurtis on CBS in my youth. "Whirlwind" is a novelty for this journalism grad who somehow is still a voracious local TV news viewer.
I might have preferred the content of the book to have been a higher quantity of shorter stories/chapters and perhaps a bit more inside baseball at WBBM-TV... Lastly, and I hate to harp on this, but there were a few too many typos for my liking.
I might have preferred the content of the book to have been a higher quantity of shorter stories/chapters and perhaps a bit more inside baseball at WBBM-TV... Lastly, and I hate to harp on this, but there were a few too many typos for my liking.
October 1, 2025
“Whirlwind: MyLife Reporting the News.”
In 2025 Plainspoken Books published Bill Kurtis’ autobiography “Whirlwind: MyLife Reporting the News.” The book has a very interesting preface, 27 chapters, and a 23-page collection of pictures.
The “Topeka tornado” began on June 8, 1966, at 7:14 pm. The tornado was on the ground for 34 minutes, traveled 22 miles across Topeka, and seventeen people died. It was a whirlwind of destruction. Over 500 people were injured; and the tornado did over $200 million of damages to homes, businesses, government facilities, and community infrastructure. After completing his active duty in the Marine Corps, Bill in 1963 accepted an announcer and later a weatherman position at WIBW radio in Topeka, Kansas.
Nelson Rupard’s KIND radio station at Independence, Kansas hired Bill Kurtis when Bill was a 16-year-old high school student. Nelson was Bill’s mentor and gave Bill a love for radio music, news, and technological innovations. Nelson’s wife taught at Independence Kansas Community College. Bill worked weekends and holidays at the KIND radio station. He had earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Kansas and later he earned a Law Degree at Washburn University in Topeka. While in law school he married Helen Scott. She taught second grade in a Topeka public school. They had a daughter while he was in law school. After graduating from law school, he sought employment in broadcast journalism. He left his WIBW radio broadcast job in Topeka and took a full time T.V. broadcast job in Chicago. Later he started a firm “Kurtis Productions” for tracking and reporting breaking news about arrests, court cases, and criminal as well as business related activities of social significance. In August 1968 Chicago was the site of the Democratic National Convention, anti-Vietnam warfare protests, and remembrance events triggered by the assignations of President John Kennedy (November 22, 1963) and Dr. Martin Luther King (April 4, 1968). His interview of a Japanese World War 2 female siren known worldwide as “Tokyo Rose” is fascinating and full of historic significance. Her ancestral Japanese family name is Iva Toguri D’Aquino. Iva was born in California in 1916. She was one of 20 broadcasters for Radio Tokyo. She was proud to be born in America; and she did not seek Japanese citizenship. In 1949 she was arrested and accused of treason. Seven of the eight charges were dropped by the U.S. court. One charge had an 12-year imprisonment sentence. She served 6 years and then received an early release from prison. Bill was asked by 60 Minutes TV producers to help them arrange an interview with Iva in 1976. He agreed to help them, and the 60 Minutes interview was aired and received many accolades. Iva died in 2006. Bill wrote in his book “Whiplash” that “Her (Iva’s) friendship and her story deeply impacted my (Bill Kurtis’) life, and being able to help her to tell the truth was a great honor. It was a highlight of my career to have known her.” After profiling “Tokyo Rose”, Kurtis then discussed the October 1969 Chicago Seven anti-Vietnam war trial that featured outrageous behaviors of activist Bobby Seale, Judge Hoffman’s gag orders, and the charges against the Black Panthers whose leader was Bobby Seale. The seven defendants were acquitted of conspiracy charges, each fined $5,000, and given 170 contempt citations which were later revoked by the Seventh Court of Appeals. Bill Kurtis wrote “The Chicago Seven trial…. was one of the most disruptive trials ever... Over time, it shifted from the news of the day to one of the greatest moments in American (legal) history.” In 1970 Bill’s wife Helen and their two very young children Scott and Mary Kirsten relocated in Los Angela’s when Bill took a CBS job broadcasting at their West Coast Bureau. When he arrived in L.A. the top news story of national significance was about Charles Manson who is a guitar playing hippie, illegal drug user, and a lunatic murderer. In August 1970 Mandan organized a team of his hippie friends to murder actress Sharon Tate and her friends who were visiting Sharon in her L.A. home. After the murders, Charles Manson and members of his murder team were arrested for their murders of Sharon, a young visitor of the estate caretaker, and Sharon’s three friends. In 1971 Manson and three murder team defendants were convicted and imprisoned for life. Sandy Socolow executive producer of the Cronkite show assigned the Manson murder case reporting to Bill Kurtis.
From Topeka, to Chicago, over to Los Angeles, and back to Chicago Bill Kurtis and his family traveled to report televised and often radio daily news. He was very interested in televised news reporting, and he traveled with three people: 1) a camera operator, 2) a signal operator, and 3) a lighting technician-operator. He lived in the present moment; had a strong interest to document history as it occurred; and he wanted to inform audiences about why the reported news events are important to their lives. Bill composed, edited, and narrated the daily events. He composed using video feeds; he narrated the audio description of the feeds, and he managed timelines associated with his reporting activity. The video activities of the 1950s and 1960s underwent profound changes caused by the new technologies of the 1970s and the 1980’s. Mini cams, electronic news gathering (ENG) real-time feeds; and remarkable transmission technologies underpinned the new technologies for reporting news. These technologies were constantly changing. During this period technology was changing from analog to digital.
“Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News” has chapters about the end of the Vietnam War, the search for the parents of orphaned infants, the role Catholic Relief Services played in funding CRS orphanages, the way Nuns intervened in caring for abandoned Vietnam orphans and transporting these orphans to “safe” caring centers. At the age of 37 years, Bill’s wife Nancy developed a severe case of breast cancer. Bill and Nancy were married 13 years, and they had two children when the cancer was detected, and chemo treat began. Two years later she died. The autobiography presents Bill’s work as an investigative reporter, his single parent abilities raising two children, and his successful written compositions that became world class documentaries about agent orange, and journalism about human rights, social justice, and welfare reform. Based on journalism works by Kurtis and other reporters many initiatives were passed by U.S Congress members to transport thousands of Amerasian children and their mothers to America. Tens of thousands of people immigrated to the United States from 1979 thru 1990s. The legislation included the Orderly Departure Program (1979), the Amerasian Homecoming Act (1989), and the Amerasian Immigration Act (1982). Kurtis left Chicago and relocated in New York City where he paired with Dianne Sawyer to on CBS Morning News program. He also anchored many live national 2 hour 7 a.m. news programs.
In 1975 Muhammad Ali purchased an 85-acre estate in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The estate was once owned by mobster Louis Campagna who was a bodyguard for Al Capone. Kurtis spent 3 days with Ali on his estate and filmed a CBS documentary episode about Ali’s 27 years of athletic achievements and his religious beliefs. Bill’s American Parade Episode aired on CBS in March 1984. Ali died on June 3, 2016.
Late in Bill’s career he performed in several comedy productions that featured narrator, anchorman, and game show public radio/television announcers. I enjoyed reading Bill Kurtis’ “Whirlpool” autobiography very much. (P)
In 2025 Plainspoken Books published Bill Kurtis’ autobiography “Whirlwind: MyLife Reporting the News.” The book has a very interesting preface, 27 chapters, and a 23-page collection of pictures.
The “Topeka tornado” began on June 8, 1966, at 7:14 pm. The tornado was on the ground for 34 minutes, traveled 22 miles across Topeka, and seventeen people died. It was a whirlwind of destruction. Over 500 people were injured; and the tornado did over $200 million of damages to homes, businesses, government facilities, and community infrastructure. After completing his active duty in the Marine Corps, Bill in 1963 accepted an announcer and later a weatherman position at WIBW radio in Topeka, Kansas.
Nelson Rupard’s KIND radio station at Independence, Kansas hired Bill Kurtis when Bill was a 16-year-old high school student. Nelson was Bill’s mentor and gave Bill a love for radio music, news, and technological innovations. Nelson’s wife taught at Independence Kansas Community College. Bill worked weekends and holidays at the KIND radio station. He had earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Kansas and later he earned a Law Degree at Washburn University in Topeka. While in law school he married Helen Scott. She taught second grade in a Topeka public school. They had a daughter while he was in law school. After graduating from law school, he sought employment in broadcast journalism. He left his WIBW radio broadcast job in Topeka and took a full time T.V. broadcast job in Chicago. Later he started a firm “Kurtis Productions” for tracking and reporting breaking news about arrests, court cases, and criminal as well as business related activities of social significance. In August 1968 Chicago was the site of the Democratic National Convention, anti-Vietnam warfare protests, and remembrance events triggered by the assignations of President John Kennedy (November 22, 1963) and Dr. Martin Luther King (April 4, 1968). His interview of a Japanese World War 2 female siren known worldwide as “Tokyo Rose” is fascinating and full of historic significance. Her ancestral Japanese family name is Iva Toguri D’Aquino. Iva was born in California in 1916. She was one of 20 broadcasters for Radio Tokyo. She was proud to be born in America; and she did not seek Japanese citizenship. In 1949 she was arrested and accused of treason. Seven of the eight charges were dropped by the U.S. court. One charge had an 12-year imprisonment sentence. She served 6 years and then received an early release from prison. Bill was asked by 60 Minutes TV producers to help them arrange an interview with Iva in 1976. He agreed to help them, and the 60 Minutes interview was aired and received many accolades. Iva died in 2006. Bill wrote in his book “Whiplash” that “Her (Iva’s) friendship and her story deeply impacted my (Bill Kurtis’) life, and being able to help her to tell the truth was a great honor. It was a highlight of my career to have known her.” After profiling “Tokyo Rose”, Kurtis then discussed the October 1969 Chicago Seven anti-Vietnam war trial that featured outrageous behaviors of activist Bobby Seale, Judge Hoffman’s gag orders, and the charges against the Black Panthers whose leader was Bobby Seale. The seven defendants were acquitted of conspiracy charges, each fined $5,000, and given 170 contempt citations which were later revoked by the Seventh Court of Appeals. Bill Kurtis wrote “The Chicago Seven trial…. was one of the most disruptive trials ever... Over time, it shifted from the news of the day to one of the greatest moments in American (legal) history.” In 1970 Bill’s wife Helen and their two very young children Scott and Mary Kirsten relocated in Los Angela’s when Bill took a CBS job broadcasting at their West Coast Bureau. When he arrived in L.A. the top news story of national significance was about Charles Manson who is a guitar playing hippie, illegal drug user, and a lunatic murderer. In August 1970 Mandan organized a team of his hippie friends to murder actress Sharon Tate and her friends who were visiting Sharon in her L.A. home. After the murders, Charles Manson and members of his murder team were arrested for their murders of Sharon, a young visitor of the estate caretaker, and Sharon’s three friends. In 1971 Manson and three murder team defendants were convicted and imprisoned for life. Sandy Socolow executive producer of the Cronkite show assigned the Manson murder case reporting to Bill Kurtis.
From Topeka, to Chicago, over to Los Angeles, and back to Chicago Bill Kurtis and his family traveled to report televised and often radio daily news. He was very interested in televised news reporting, and he traveled with three people: 1) a camera operator, 2) a signal operator, and 3) a lighting technician-operator. He lived in the present moment; had a strong interest to document history as it occurred; and he wanted to inform audiences about why the reported news events are important to their lives. Bill composed, edited, and narrated the daily events. He composed using video feeds; he narrated the audio description of the feeds, and he managed timelines associated with his reporting activity. The video activities of the 1950s and 1960s underwent profound changes caused by the new technologies of the 1970s and the 1980’s. Mini cams, electronic news gathering (ENG) real-time feeds; and remarkable transmission technologies underpinned the new technologies for reporting news. These technologies were constantly changing. During this period technology was changing from analog to digital.
“Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News” has chapters about the end of the Vietnam War, the search for the parents of orphaned infants, the role Catholic Relief Services played in funding CRS orphanages, the way Nuns intervened in caring for abandoned Vietnam orphans and transporting these orphans to “safe” caring centers. At the age of 37 years, Bill’s wife Nancy developed a severe case of breast cancer. Bill and Nancy were married 13 years, and they had two children when the cancer was detected, and chemo treat began. Two years later she died. The autobiography presents Bill’s work as an investigative reporter, his single parent abilities raising two children, and his successful written compositions that became world class documentaries about agent orange, and journalism about human rights, social justice, and welfare reform. Based on journalism works by Kurtis and other reporters many initiatives were passed by U.S Congress members to transport thousands of Amerasian children and their mothers to America. Tens of thousands of people immigrated to the United States from 1979 thru 1990s. The legislation included the Orderly Departure Program (1979), the Amerasian Homecoming Act (1989), and the Amerasian Immigration Act (1982). Kurtis left Chicago and relocated in New York City where he paired with Dianne Sawyer to on CBS Morning News program. He also anchored many live national 2 hour 7 a.m. news programs.
In 1975 Muhammad Ali purchased an 85-acre estate in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The estate was once owned by mobster Louis Campagna who was a bodyguard for Al Capone. Kurtis spent 3 days with Ali on his estate and filmed a CBS documentary episode about Ali’s 27 years of athletic achievements and his religious beliefs. Bill’s American Parade Episode aired on CBS in March 1984. Ali died on June 3, 2016.
Late in Bill’s career he performed in several comedy productions that featured narrator, anchorman, and game show public radio/television announcers. I enjoyed reading Bill Kurtis’ “Whirlpool” autobiography very much. (P)
November 14, 2025
That name may not mean much to you but I bet most of you are familiar with him in some capacity. For those under 50, you may remember him or his voice from “Anchorman” (the movie), or the more intellectual among the younger folks might know him as the Official Judge and Scorekeeper of “Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me” on NPR. But those of us that are older may remember him as the investigative reporter for CBS news, or as host of their morning show, or the reporter who broke the story of Agent Orange in Vietnam, or interviewed any number of famous folks. And if nothing else, you’ll recognize his voice as he has narrated much of the past 60 years of America’s public life. This is his autobiography. It was kind of fun, as he tells his version of his experiences getting in and out of Vietnam in 1975 when Saigon was about to fall, or breaking stories on Big Tobacco that ultimately led to the Tabacco settlement, or many other interesting stories. He went to law school (Washburn in Topeka, KS; he is a Kansas native) but paid for his way through college and lawschool by working radio (he has the perfect voice) and then doing weather. His first big story was the 1966 Topeka tornado that killed 17. He was on the air when it happened. He’s a storyteller and this is a well-told storyteller. The most powerful chapter to me was the story of his young wife’s death from breast cancer. She was his high school sweetheart but she only lived to be in her 30s. If that chapter doesn’t stir your heart there is something wrong with you. I listened to his book (narrated by Kurtis, which helped) and his voice drips with his love for his wife in that chapter. It’s good.
November 28, 2025
Thanks to Edelweiss and Plainspoken Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I remember Bill Kurtis’ deep rich voice narrating programs on TV shows that aired on A&E network in the 1980s and 1990s. It was very interesting to hear him talk about his life and career. I had no idea that he covered some really big stories of the 1960s and 1970s. The Democratic National Convention of 1968, the murders by Charles Manson’s followers, you name it. Somehow, Kurtis was in the right place at the right time for some major events of the 20th century. Whether it was Los Angeles or Chicago, Kurtis cut his teeth on some major events.
This fast‑paced, investigative narrative that blends personal memoir with landmark historical events, exactly the blend Whirlwind offers with its tornado coverage, the Chicago Seven trial, and the Charles Manson case. If you’re looking for a nonfiction work that satisfies your appetite for true‑crime drama, historic‑event storytelling, and a memoir‑style behind‑the‑scenes look at American media, Whirlwind fits the bill.
I ended up getting the audiobook version because Kurtis narrates it himself. He has a truly memorable voice that is very soothing and nostalgic for me.
I remember Bill Kurtis’ deep rich voice narrating programs on TV shows that aired on A&E network in the 1980s and 1990s. It was very interesting to hear him talk about his life and career. I had no idea that he covered some really big stories of the 1960s and 1970s. The Democratic National Convention of 1968, the murders by Charles Manson’s followers, you name it. Somehow, Kurtis was in the right place at the right time for some major events of the 20th century. Whether it was Los Angeles or Chicago, Kurtis cut his teeth on some major events.
This fast‑paced, investigative narrative that blends personal memoir with landmark historical events, exactly the blend Whirlwind offers with its tornado coverage, the Chicago Seven trial, and the Charles Manson case. If you’re looking for a nonfiction work that satisfies your appetite for true‑crime drama, historic‑event storytelling, and a memoir‑style behind‑the‑scenes look at American media, Whirlwind fits the bill.
I ended up getting the audiobook version because Kurtis narrates it himself. He has a truly memorable voice that is very soothing and nostalgic for me.
October 18, 2025
Bill Curtis's Whirlwind is a good read.
I first encountered Bill in 1979 when I left the Marines and took a job in Cisero,Il. Bill was my anchorman on WBBM. I spent 2 years in Chicago land freezing my butt off listening to him and laughing at the political show of Jane Byne'S mayoral debut and comedy of errors. His story was a good walk Down memory lane for me. I do believe Bill was good story teller who stuck to the truth in his reporting ,.unfortunately so many news people don't tell the true story today and Leave out important facts that don't fit their
Politicks.
I first encountered Bill in 1979 when I left the Marines and took a job in Cisero,Il. Bill was my anchorman on WBBM. I spent 2 years in Chicago land freezing my butt off listening to him and laughing at the political show of Jane Byne'S mayoral debut and comedy of errors. His story was a good walk Down memory lane for me. I do believe Bill was good story teller who stuck to the truth in his reporting ,.unfortunately so many news people don't tell the true story today and Leave out important facts that don't fit their
Politicks.
October 10, 2025
I was born and raised 25 miles from Kurtis’ hometown of Independence, so this book really hit home - especially since I’ve been involved in broadcasting for 40 years. Kudos to Kurtis for a wonderful and fun and enjoyable book!
September 30, 2025
I enjoyed his recounting of history, especially in Chicagoland.
October 23, 2025
Best voice to read an audiobook. His life had been pretty spectacular so I’m glad he got to brag about it.
Want to read
November 14, 2025SM
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews