Washington - Don Hewitt, the legendary producer of the television magazine news programme 60 Minutes, died Wednesday of pancreatic cancer at the age of 86, CBS News said.

60 Minutes has aired on CBS for more than 40 years, currently the longest running show broadcast during prime time. The investigative news documentary show typically carved into three 20-minute segments is widely regarded as the best of its genre.

Hewitt's nearly 60-year career at CBS News put him in the middle of some of the biggest events before he stepped down from 60 Minutes in 2004.

Hewitt produced and directed the coverage of the first televised presidential debate in 1960 between John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon. The charismatic Kennedy, who went on to narrowly defeat Nixon, was widely regarded as the winner of the exchange.

Historians attribute Nixon's defeat to his appearance in the debate, as he was outshone by the more youthful looking Kennedy. A majority of those who listened on radio believed Nixon prevailed, later studies would show.

According to CBS, Hewitt said later said he first offered makeup to Kennedy, who refused. Nixon, following Kennedy's lead, also refused.

Hewitt was born December 14, 1922 in New York City.(dpa)