Bob Schieffer

Bob Schieffer
Name	Bob Schieffer
Caption	Schieffer in 2011
Birth name	Bob Lloyd Schieffer
Birth date	25 February 1937
Birth place	Austin, Texas, U.S.
Education	Texas Christian University (BA)
Occupation	Journalist, author
Spouse	Patricia Penrose, 1967
Known for	Chief Washington correspondent for CBS News, moderator of Face the Nation
Years active	1963–2021

Bob Schieffer is an American broadcast journalist renowned for his decades of trusted reporting and political analysis. He served as the chief Washington correspondent for CBS News and is best known for his long tenure as moderator of the Sunday public affairs program Face the Nation. A respected figure in Washington, D.C., he also moderated a presidential debate and received numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy Awards and the Paul White Award.

Early life and education

Bob Lloyd Schieffer was born in Austin, Texas, and grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. His interest in journalism began early; he worked on his high school newspaper and later attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism in 1959. While in college, he wrote for the campus newspaper, the TCU Daily Skiff, and also served in the United States Air Force Reserve. His first professional job was as a reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he covered the Texas Legislature and the beat surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Journalism career

Schieffer joined CBS News in 1969 as a reporter based in its Dallas bureau, quickly rising through the ranks. He served as the network's Vietnam War correspondent and later as the anchor of the CBS Sunday Night News. In 1974, he was named the network's chief Washington correspondent, a position he held for over three decades, covering every major story from the Watergate scandal to the September 11 attacks. He also anchored the Saturday edition of the CBS Evening News and was a frequent contributor to 60 Minutes. His reporting was characterized by a straightforward, non-partisan style that earned him respect across the political spectrum in Washington, D.C..

Face the Nation tenure

Schieffer became the moderator of Face the Nation in 1991, succeeding Lesley Stahl. Over his 24-year tenure, he transformed the program into a leading forum for political discourse, interviewing every U.S. president from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama, along with countless senators, cabinet members, and world leaders. His interviews were known for their civility and depth, focusing on substantive policy discussions rather than partisan theatrics. He stepped down from the moderator's chair in 2015, passing the role to John Dickerson, but remained a contributor to CBS News.

Moderator of presidential debates

In 2004, the Commission on Presidential Debates selected Schieffer to moderate the third and final debate between President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry. Held at Arizona State University, the debate was a town hall format focusing on domestic policy, and Schieffer's steady, fair-handed management was widely praised. His performance reinforced his reputation as a trusted arbiter of American political dialogue, a role he had cultivated through his work on Face the Nation and his decades of reporting from the United States Capitol.

Awards and honors

Throughout his career, Schieffer has received many of journalism's highest honors. He is a multiple recipient of the Emmy Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. In 2002, he was honored with the Paul White Award, the highest recognition given by the Radio Television Digital News Association. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and has received honorary doctorates from institutions including Texas Christian University and George Washington University.

Personal life

Schieffer married Patricia Penrose in 1967, and they have two daughters. He is an avid pilot and has written several books, including memoirs like This Just In: What I Couldn't Tell You on TV and Face the Nation: My Favorite Stories from the First 50 Years of the Award-Winning News Broadcast. A lifelong resident of the Washington, D.C. area, he remains active in journalism education, serving on the board of trustees at his alma mater, Texas Christian University, and supporting the Bob Schieffer College of Communication named in his honor.

Category:American television journalists Category:CBS News people Category:1937 births Category:Living people