It would be fair to say this would NOT be allowed by many national broadcast news outlets today. But back-in-the-day, Paul Harvery News was iconic and Harvey with his distinctive delivery was a daily staple of millions of Americans at high noon.
Clearly, Harvey's success afforded him latitude others may not have enjoyed. Given this was a Saturday broadcast and two weeks ahead of Easter, my hunch is he wanted to provoke some prayerful reflection.
Sixty-plus years later, "If I were The Devil" has become one of the singulary most notable set of prophecies I have ever heard or read.
It is also a reminder how God uses people with the gifts and platforms He has given them for His purpose. Don't lost sight of that as you consider what your "platform" may be each day.