Bob Schieffer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bob Schieffer
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Schieffer in 2009
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| Born |
Bob Lloyd Schieffer
February 25, 1937 Austin, Texas, U.S.
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| Education | Texas Christian University |
| Occupation | Journalist, anchor |
| Years active | 1963–present |
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Notable credit(s)
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| Title | Chief Washington Correspondent; Anchor, Face the Nation |
| Spouse(s) |
Patricia Penrose
(m. 1967) |
| Children | 2 |
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Bob Lloyd Schieffer (born February 25, 1937) is a famous American television journalist. He is well-known for leading important presidential debates. People often praised him for how well he handled these debates.
Bob Schieffer is one of the few journalists who has reported from all four major places in Washington, D.C. These include the White House, the Pentagon (where the military is managed), the United States Department of State (which handles foreign affairs), and the United States Congress (where laws are made). His work with CBS News has mostly focused on national politics. He has interviewed every U.S. President since Richard Nixon. He also spoke with many people who wanted to become president.
Schieffer worked for CBS News starting in 1969. For 20 years, from 1976 to 1996, he was the anchor for the Saturday edition of CBS Evening News. He was also the Chief Washington Correspondent from 1982 until 2015. From 1991 until May 31, 2015, he hosted Face the Nation, a Sunday show about public affairs. From March 2005 to August 2006, Schieffer was the temporary weekday anchor of CBS Evening News. He often filled in for other main anchors like Dan Rather and Katie Couric.
After leaving Face the Nation, Schieffer continued to work for CBS. He appeared on air to share his thoughts on politics, especially during the 2016 United States presidential election. Schieffer also started a new podcast called "Bob Schieffer's 'About the News' with H. Andrew Schwartz".
Schieffer has written several books about his career. These include Face the Nation: My Favorite Stories from the First 50 Years of the Award-Winning News Broadcast and This Just In: What I Couldn't Tell You on TV. He also wrote Bob Schieffer's America. He co-wrote a book about Ronald Reagan called The Acting President.
Bob Schieffer has won many awards in journalism. These include eight Emmys and the Edward R. Murrow Award. He was added to the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2013, he joined the National Academy of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. The Library of Congress named him a living legend in 2008.
Schieffer is currently a special fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Bob Schieffer was born on February 25, 1937, in Austin, Texas. He grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. He went to North Side High School. In 1959, he earned a degree in journalism and English from Texas Christian University (TCU). While at TCU, he was part of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. In 2013, TCU renamed its College of Communication in his honor.
Starting His Journalism Career
After college, Schieffer served in the United States Air Force for three years. He worked as a public information officer. After leaving the Air Force, he became a reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper. One of his important tasks was traveling to Vietnam to write about soldiers from Fort Worth. He was the first reporter from a Texas newspaper to report from Vietnam.
Schieffer gained major attention for his reporting when President Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. Schieffer was at the Star-Telegram office when he got a call from Marguerite Oswald, the mother of Lee Harvey Oswald. She needed a ride to Dallas. Schieffer went with her to the Dallas police station. He spent many hours there. Being with Oswald's mother and wife allowed him to use the police station phone. He called in reports from other Star-Telegram reporters. This helped the newspaper print four special editions on the day of the assassination. Later, Schieffer worked for the Star-Telegram's TV station, WBAP-TV, before joining CBS in 1969.
Working at CBS News
Schieffer was an anchor for the CBS Sunday Night News from 1973 to 1974. He also anchored the Saturday Evening News for twenty years, from 1976 to 1996. From 1979 to 1980, he hosted the weekday CBS morning show called "Morning." One of his most famous roles was as the host of Face the Nation. He led this Sunday public affairs show from 1991 until May 31, 2015.
Schieffer was also known for his reporting. From 1970 to 1974, he worked at the Pentagon. From 1974 to 1979, he was the White House correspondent for CBS. In 1982, he became the Chief Washington Correspondent.
After Dan Rather retired, Schieffer became the temporary anchor for the weekday CBS Evening News. He started this job on March 10, 2005. Under Schieffer, the CBS Evening News gained more viewers. He was replaced by Katie Couric on August 31, 2006. Schieffer continued to provide segments for the evening news as chief Washington correspondent. He also filled in for Couric and Scott Pelley when needed.
Schieffer moderated several important presidential debates. He led the third presidential debate in 2004 between President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry. In 2008, he moderated the third debate between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. He also moderated the third debate in 2012, between President Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
In 2013, Schieffer received the National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award. He also won the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Retirement and Later Work
On April 8, 2015, Schieffer announced he would retire as host of Face the Nation. He made this announcement at his old university, Texas Christian University. Schieffer retired after working in journalism for 52 years, with 46 of those years at CBS. On April 12, he announced that John Dickerson would take over as host in June 2015.
As he prepared to retire, Schieffer thought about the praise he received later in his career. He said that much of the recognition came after most people would have retired. He felt that people became familiar with him because he had been around for a long time. Schieffer's final broadcast as moderator of Face the Nation was on May 31, 2015.
Singing and Personal Life
Since leaving the anchor desk in 2006, Schieffer has followed his interest in songwriting. He has worked with musicians in New York and Washington, D.C. He has written lyrics for songs with the band Honky Tonk Confidential. He even sings one of their songs called "TV Anchorman."
Schieffer married Patricia Penrose in 1967. They have two daughters and three granddaughters.
Bob Schieffer has an older brother, Tom Schieffer. Tom was a Texas state legislator and a friend of President George W. Bush. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Australia and later to Japan. Bob also has a sister, Sharon Schieffer Mayes. She is a retired teacher and school administrator.
Schieffer is a survivor of bladder cancer. He was diagnosed in 2003 and has been cancer-free since 2004. He also has type 2 diabetes and uses insulin.
Career Timeline
- 1973–1974: CBS Sunday Night News anchor
- 1973–1996: 60 Minutes contributor
- 1973–2005: CBS Evening News anchor (summer and weekend editions)
- 1982–2015: CBS News Chief Washington correspondent
- May 1991 – May 31, 2015: Face the Nation moderator
- March 10, 2005 – August 31, 2006: CBS Evening News anchor
- 2016–present: CBS News contributor
See also
- New Yorkers in journalism
