This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Back in the 1960s, many Utahns had two primary sources of news: the daily newspaper and nightly news on the big three networks. That changed in 1968, when CBS introduced "60 Minutes" and Mike Wallace.

From the start, we knew something amazing was happening. Wallace, as tough as any reporter then working, had it all. He was smart, bold and implacable.

Right up to the time in 1996, when he interviewed Gordon B. Hinckley, then prophet, seer and revelator of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In the resulting "60 Minutes" segment, as The Salt Lake Tribune reported, Wallace may have looked like he was tossing softballs to Hinckley, but it may have been "the media-savvy Hinckley deflecting hardballs."

Wallace did his best: What about the status of blacks in the church, purported physical and sexual abuse of women and those sacred undergarments?

The fact that black men could not hold the priesthood until 1978?

Don't worry, Hinckley advised.

"It's behind us — don't worry about those little tricks of history."

As for abuse, Hinckley called that a "blip here, a blip there" and said more forcefully, "the welfare of women and children is as important, if not more important, than that of the men."

He wouldn't discuss the undergarments, although "60 Minutes" did ask Steve Young, then quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, who said he didn't wear them during games because of the sweat and grime. Nor, Hinckley told Wallace, does the church tell members how to vote or governments how to govern.

And when Wallace asked about the advanced ages of top church leaders, Hinckley said "isn't it great" that men of age and wisdom were in charge.

Wallace replied, "as long as they're not dotty," and a smiling Hinckley said, "thank you for the compliment."

Now, Wallace was the reporter who exposed the American military commanders' apparently deliberate underestimation of the Viet Cong fighters during the Vietnam War, although some reporting elements made the finding seem questionable.

He also exposed tobacco executives who lied, under oath before Congress, that nicotine was not addictive.

But because the CBS chairman was the father of a tobacco executive, the interview was not broadcast, according to The New York Times' obituary on Wallace.

Toward the end of the interview, Hinckley told Wallace that Mormons have assurances of a wonderful afterlife.

"A lot of us don't," Wallace said.

"I know that. But you could," Hinckley said.

"I've thought about it, but I've not been able to persuade myself," Wallace said.

"You haven't thought about it long enough," Hinckley shot back.

Wallace versus Hinckley?

Game, set, match to the prophet.

Peg McEntee is a news columnist. Reach her at pegmc-entee@sltrib.com, facebook.com/pegmcentee, and Twitter: @ Peg McEntee.