Former NBC president Julian Goodman, who first paired David Brinkley and Chet Huntley on the evening news desk, has died at the age of 90.

Goodman, who started his career at NBC on the night news desk in Washington, was responsible or involved with a number of high-profile moments in TV history.

In addition to essentially creating “The Huntley-Brinkley Report,” Goodman produced the second Kennedy-Nixon debate for NBC, signed Johnny Carson to a long-term deal at “The Tonight Show,” and led the network during  the infamous Jets-Raiders “Heidi game,” which saw the network cut away from the football game to broadcast “Heidi.”

Later on Goodman would become a target of the Nixon Administration, which included him on its own infamous “enemies list.”

Goodman is survived by his wife and four children. Read more about him in his AP obituary here, and the New York Times here.

There will be a private memorial service for Goodman on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 in Juno Beach, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation (address below) or to the charity of their choice.

Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation

5300 East Avenue

West Palm Beach, FL 33407

Or online at:

https://www.hpbcf.org/make-a-gift/