'60 Minutes' honors correspondent Morley Safer as he retires

NEW YORK (AP) — "60 Minutes" said goodbye to Morley Safer on Sunday, honoring the newsman who has been a fixture at the CBS newsmagazine for all but two of its 48 years

The tribute marked the close of a 61-year career for Safer, who, according to the program, has had the longest-ever run on prime-time television.

During the hourlong show, Safer was described as tough, funny, intrepid, curious and courageous, with reporting that ranged from the Cold War to cyberspace, from the Muppets to the Orient Express.

Safer considered one element above all — the spoken word — to be essential for great television: "What you're aiming at," he said, "are people's ears rather than their eyes."