The Oldest Man In America

Steve Hartman presents this weeks Assignment America from Great Falls, Mont., where 112-year-old Walter Breuning proudly stands as the oldest man currently living in the nation.

[@wrestlefanatic77]

He lived through 2 presidential assassinations, a great depression, 9/11, Watergate, man walking on the moon, 2 World Wars, and 20 US presidents. RIP :(

[@notthatdigusted7468]

You forgot he could still remember where he was when the Titanic sank, the Korean War and Vietnam War Broke out, the Persian Gulf and Iraq War Broke out and countless other historical event during the 20th century and early 21st century. It is kind of crazy to think of the variety of time periods that man had lived through.

[@notthatdigusted7468]

I think its funny how Walter witnessed the invention of CRT TVs in the 1930's/1940's and also saw the introduction of flatscreen HDTVs in the 2000's/2010's.

[@KevinBusomjack]

It's hard to imagine living that long. If I were to live that long I would see the year 2097.

[@MrGreen-ci2mm]

He's born in 1896, I was born in 1996..so If I lived as long as he, I would see the year 2111

[@Hiitsstriker]

I would see 2112

[@EUSA1776]

A grandfather who fought in the Civil War wow ...

[@ryanfriedman4329]

Walter was the oldest man who I heard say hell, RIP Mr. Bruening

[@jcchurch]

"Why hell, you sure can!" May you live another hundred years. You've earned the right to curse far worse than that on national television.

[@Rafibafi]

RIP Walter Bruening (1896-2011) We will miss you.

[@samerahsaad3290]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️wishing you many more healthy years Mr. Walter

[@danikah22]

Loved this piece when it first aired. He seemed like a really nice guy. RIP Walter!

[@bender274]

Its amazing that he lives in the 19th, 20th, and now the 21st century he must have lived a very healthy life.

[@secretstache7504]

OMG that guy is so cool haha

[@TheNexus]

I work at an assisted living center and we just had a resident turn 100. Had a birthday cake, champagne, the whole deal. We are so lucky to have people who can remind us of a long forgotten time.

[@glortw]

Walter is awesome!!!! This is absolutely amazing, and an inspiration to everyone.

[@lunagal]

He's 114 now. Still kicking!

[@notthatdigusted7468]

One thing I think is funny Walter could remember where he was when the Titanic sank originally (1912), where is he was when the 1950's Titanic film came out, where he was when they discovered the Titanic in the 1980's, where he was when the 1997 Titanic film came out, and finally where he was when the 3D Blurray release of Titanic 1997 film came out in early 2011 before his death.

[@Carole616]

I just love this man. Just watching him makes me feel good. What a great attitude he has.

[@memahselfni]

Ha ha, after performing at several nursing homes in my area with my drama club, it was so funny and refreshing to see Walter zooming around his care home in his scooter. He has more energy and enthusiasm than most people I saw near Christmas! I'm so glad I wrote to him and got a letter back!

[@Resimaster]

Its amazing he remembers his grandfather fighting in the Civil War. Incredible.

[@Bozewani]

Great Falls, MT is soooo BEAUTIFUL!! :) he is so awesome..

[@speedfreak18ish]

what a cool old man, hope he lives many more years keep going walter... from England

[@lap465]

God Bless you Walter. You were born 2 years before my grandfather. I would love to hear your stories....

[@Ging_10]

A women in a village in the north mountains of Algeria is 148 years old and she is still living till today. Any way RIP for this remarkable guy.

[@Nadrojsleek]

Awesome, Great Falls finally gets some spotlight. Rock on Walter!

[@alishadoll1]

Bless his heart

[@00Kavon]

thats so cool, the best part is when he's talking about his grandfather in the civil war and then tells what he was doing during all the different presidencies

[@JohnCBarsoom]

My great-grandpa was born back in 1900, and had great memory up until he died at 106 following several strokes. It was really awesome to listen to him tell stories from an era before most of our "necessities" were even invented or created. It's really too bad he didn't have any kids...not many people go search out people from outside the family.

[@Jotto999]

I would love to be around that long, and be as fit and healthy as I could. It seems to me that the main thing that will make life not enjoyable anymore will be poor health. Stay active, stay healthy, have fun, life will still be good. This man is just incredible. He's seen so much, I hope more people take the opportunity to interview him and get whatever knowledge we can while he's still around. Think how much he has accumulated! I want to know his opinion on many things!

[@patrickbama1234]

WOAH, he can STAND! way to go

[@AGentertainmentofficial]

That guy is amazing. I can't imagine what he's lived through. It's like all of us living now, with cars on streets and all, and then 112 years from now there's a cloud city. He was alive when cars were barely being invented, when America was barely a country (most of the states weren't states yet), and have lived through most of the presidents and wars, and after all of that, he has a smile on his face here. What a life.

[@notthatdigusted7468]

He also gained the title of being one of the few people who lived during parts of three different centuries! :)

[@notthatdigusted7468]

Thats just incredible!

[@peacefrog1916]

what a legend, wish him all best...

[@adrianlindsaylohan]

i want meet him soooooooooooooooo bad, i could just sit there for hours to listen to him talking about what everything was like

[@chimairatool]

simply amazing- good story

[@xcurleyxgirlx]

That's amazing!

[@NicubinnugyentaiGerz-gz3iu]

Rip thank you love you

[@RetepNamenots]

It is in mono (Left channel), so if you've only got one speaker or a mono speaker then you might not be able to hear it.

[@oakfan21]

It would be a treat to hear this old man tell some stories.

[@Pugslee3]

I wish I knew about him when I was in seventh grade in 2001, because then he had many years ahead of him and he seemed like such a good guy whom I only learned about when he was only going to live 2 more years!

[@AS-cu2rd]

Amazing

[@MAAAAPLE]

What an amazing human being.

[@MrSteve05]

this has to be CBS's best piece ever!!!!!

[@snarf66]

Wow. 112 and still very sharp. That's quite remarkable. He must have a lot of stories to tell.

[@neville1001]

this is so awsome

[@deadboy000]

awsome!

[@dshom]

I want to meet this guy!

[@bellydancerocks321]

I know people in their 50' who aren't anywhere near this healthy and sharp. I would love to meat you Walter.

[@azoldtime09]

Your right that,is a legend.

[@catlover876]

that is so cool!

[@Draquoir]

Love this guy.

[@johncfl]

Happy belated birthday, Walter!

[@xxwinterose456]

wait... 114?!?!?

[@MsJustJane]

Happy Birthday, Mr. Walter! :)

[@selvovic]

He is turning 114 years old today, Happy Birthday, Walter! :D

[@franknhonest]

Born in 1896. A legend.

[@MrPatriot1911]

Haha "hard to see" I'd love to meet him, he reminds me so much of my grandfather. I do wish people these days had more respect for elders. I was in the same situation a few months ago as Violet7Stella, I about cried it was so sad

[@nightmare1st]

as they said, talking to him you could learn so much stuff about what happened back then, through someone that actually saw these things. talking to him is a once in a lifetime chance, and i wouldent pass it up

[@tmdpictures]

I really do respect that :)

[@PianoMan347]

I live in Great Falls, He became the oldest man in the world and recently died :( RIP

[@fuzzyballs8726]

thats amazing he can still stand

[@warpedcomedy]

I've seen that picture of him in 7th Grade. Amazingly, its from 1907. I also know that he joined the railroad company in 1913, and got married in 1927. And this man is still alive today in the 21st Century.

[@blondeanimeboys]

duuude he is so badass with that scooter.

[@taybaxter]

He reminds me of my grandfather--who just died earlier this summer--except for the fact that he has nearly thirty years on him.

[@FelipexProductions]

R.I.P. he seemed like such a nice guy D:

[@redtreepython]

amaziing

[@CofCGuy]

I've written a novel called "Sarah Conrad of Eagle Creek." Its about a 16 year old girl growing up in Montana in the year 1910. One of her friends is 14. That means, Walter could have been a character in my book. Amazing. You can listen to it on KZbin.

[@philly442]

omg that is awesome

[@Pugslee3]

This is almost like immortality!

[@Gabyvk94x]

I wish I could talk to him and find out what his thoughts are, negative and positive, about America's progress through his years

[@mrchaplin1889]

yeah he's very much still alive at the age of 114 and a half, he is still in excellent health. Aswel as having being the oldest living man for almost 2 years he is now the second oldest living person in the world!

[@RevUntoMan]

@Violet7Stellawhat time i was at a synagogue service and i was sitting in the back next to an elderly man probably about ninety years old. WHen he went to stand up, he lost his balance and fell. Prayer service was stopped while myself and others helped him and made sure he was OK, but not even his own family (sons, grandchildren, friends) even helped him up

[@neildjreid]

r.i.p henry allingham and well done Walter Breuning for becoming the worlds oldest man

[@mike462727]

thats amazing, good for him

[@OneManOnFire]

I want to hear him talk about the civil war to bad he passed RIP

[@Blackjesus3]

WOW THATS CRAZY

[@Fredacas]

long live for him!

[@toby099]

I really want to know what he thinks of todays society, youth, music etc

[@toby099]

can't believe he was born in the 1800's , simply astounding

[@KinisonisKing]

Thank you gramps... by the way is that your mom in your profile pic? I couldn't tell I'm only used to seeing the top of her head.

[@Q-Bano]

There is so many 100 year olds or almost 100 year olds is Montana

[@drealm]

That guy's pretty much a hero to me. Pretty badadd old guy. "second marriages never work"..."today first marriages don't work" priceless.

[@Originaltuber]

god bless him .

[@Streetz507]

R.I.P. :(

[@Snoobroglo30]

Aww, it made me really sad when I heard that he'd died earlier this week. D= Inspirational guy; rest in peace. =(

[@robbo3087]

wow , he lived for 2 years after this

[@Andrewwascool]

Amazing He sounds like a really funny guy my grandfather would've cried if he heard the word 'Hell'

[@melgibsonsballs]

man thats crazy hering your grandfather talk about the civil war!

[@sexseek23]

He was 89 years old when i was born!!!

[@Jonger81]

My Lord. This guy is 112?! I've seen people in their 80's who are far worse off than him. It's amazing that his memory and speech is still so clear.

[@Pugslee3]

Wow, he's doing as well as my 84 year old grandma. He's even old enough to be her father! Thats crazy.

[@Frenite]

Is your grandma still alive?

[@robinmerc]

R.I.P.

[@lnvaderGir]

It's all about being happy and having no stress. That alone can allow someone to live many years longer. There was a story of a man in India supposedly 127 years old. He was a hermit so he never had anything to stress about.

[@LINAZAS]

Hope he lives some more

[@squamish4244]

"Remember that life's length is not measured by its hours and days, but by that which we have done therein. A useless life is short if it lasts a century. There are greater and better things in us all, if we would find them out. There will always be in this world - wrongs. No wrong is really successful. The day will come when light and truth and the just and the good shall be victorious and wrong as evil will be no more forever." - Walter Breuning

[@SimlishSammy]

He has good memory too, his old friends and family all died and maybe he is the last one in his generation. The ones leaving now are the children of his time when he was younger.

[@Ringey247]

r.i.p Walt

[@PismoBeach]

Fine use of an illustrated timeline.

[@DCR123TV]

this dude is 100 years older than me. both born in 95

[@azoldtime09]

Wow.

[@pabloriverollo]

Outstanding achievement !!! ... just one thing, not related to this great person, but to the title of the program ("Assignment America")... AMERICA is a CONTINENT, not single country, so the investigation should consider people from countries of SOUTH AMERICA and CENTRAL AMERICA too !!!

[@lilbill898]

What about Bernardo Lapallo? He is 112 and in even better shape

[@alexistarr]

I don't think he's being treated like a child, this is a lightweight, feel good piece after all, Naturyl. I imagine the interviewer takes the same approach with all his interviewees. I thought the whole piece, and especially the banter about the "exclusive" interview, in 4 or 5 years time at 2:38 made him look really good. He's clearly every bit as sharp as he was half a century ago.