Anderson Cooper’s emotional farewell to 60 Minutes after 20 years

For more than 20 years, Anderson Cooper has traveled the world for 60 Minutes in search of stories that revealed the humanity behind the headlines.

In his farewell interview, Cooper recalled his dread of joining the program he idolized as a child and walking the same halls as legends such as Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, Ed Bradley and Bob Simon. He described the privilege of gaining people’s trust and the unforgettable moments in interviews where it felt like the cameras were no longer there.

As he delivers his latest, “I’m Anderson Cooper,” he leaves behind not only a remarkable body of work, but also a heartfelt tribute to the storytelling, independence and confidence that have defined 60 Minutes for generations.

Photos and video courtesy of the Goldberg-Polin family, Yad Vashem, Dana Keller and Getty Images

Producers Brit McCandless Farmer and Andy Court. Associate producers Rebecca Chertok Gonsalve and Jane Greeley. Edited by Scott Rosann and Warren Lustig.