He served in the Korean War as an Army intelligence officer.[1] Bruno then earned a Fulbright scholarship to study in India after the war.[2] He married his wife, Margaret "Meg" Christian Bruno, on November 12, 1959.[2][3]
Bruno joined ABC News in 1978 after leaving Newsweek.[1][2] He oversaw ABC News' election and political coverage during the 1980s and 1990s.[1] Ken Rudin, the current political editor of NPR who worked as Bruno's deputy at ABC News, described Bruno as "...the eyes and ears for Peter (Jennings) and 'World News Tonight' and (Ted) Koppel."[1] As political director, Bruno packaged much of the political headlines presented by ABC's best known reporters, including Ted Koppel, Cokie Roberts, Sam Donaldson, and Peter Jennings.[2] Colleagues, such as Donaldson, have described Bruno as personally knowing nearly every major party county chairman in the United States.[2]
While much of his work at ABC took place off-screen, Bruno was invited onto news and talk shows owing to his political expertise.[2] Bruno also hosted the weekly radio show, Hal Bruno's Washington, on ABC Radio until 1999.[1][5]
Bruno received public attention as the moderator of the 1992 vice presidential debate in Atlanta on October 13, 1992.[1][2][3] The debate took place between incumbent Republican Vice President Dan Quayle, Democrat Al Gore, and Independent retired Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale, who was the running mate of Ross Perot.[3] The debate would become known for unusual responses and negative rhetoric from the candidates and the audience.[2] It would later be called "the most combative debate in the 32-year history of the televised forums" by the Washington Post.[2] One of the most memorable moments from the debate came early in the night. Bruno, in his capacity as debate moderator, asked James Stockdale, "Admiral Stockdale, your opening statement, please, sir?"[3] Stockdale famously replied to Bruno's request: "Who am I? Why am I here?"[2][3]
Bruno also scolded the debate's audience when they jeered candidates Quayle and Gore, saying, "There’s no call for that ... so knock that off."[2]
He retired from ABC in 1999 to become the chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.[4][5]
Bruno called in coverage of the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.[3] He was one of the first rescue workers to respond to the Pentagon attack and remained on site for hours.[2]
Bruno died at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, November 8, 2011, of heart arrhythmia caused by a fall at the age of 83.[1][2] He was survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Margaret; two sons, Harold R. Bruno III and Daniel Bruno; his sister, Barbara; and four grandchildren. Bruno and his wife were residents of Chevy Chase, Maryland.[3]
