Jim Lehrer

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Jim Lehrer : biography

19 May 1934 –

James Charles "Jim" Lehrer (http://oxforddictionaries.com/pronounce/american_english/Lehrer,+Jim born 19 May 1934) is an American journalist and the executive editor and former news anchor for PBS NewsHour on PBS, known for his role as a frequent debate moderator during elections. Lehrer is an author of non-fiction and fiction, drawing from his experiences and interests in history and politics.

Early years

Lehrer was born in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Lois Catherine (née Chapman), a bank clerk, and Harry Frederick Lehrer, a bus station manager. He attended middle school in Beaumont, Texas, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School (San Antonio, TX), where he was one of the three sports editors at the Jefferson Declaration. He also graduated with A.A. from Victoria College in Texas and with B.J. from the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri in 1956. Lehrer joined the United States Marine Corps and attributes his service and travels with helping him to look past himself and feel a connection to the world that he would not have otherwise experienced.

Presidential debate moderator

Nicknamed the "Dean of Moderators" by CNN’s Bernard Shaw, Lehrer has moderated 12 presidential candidate debates, including the first presidential debate between senators Barack Obama and John McCain on 26 September 2008. Lehrer has been involved in several debate-related projects, including the Debating Our Destiny documentaries in 2000 and 2008. The documentaries feature excerpts of Lehrer’s exclusive interviews with most of the presidential and vice presidential candidates since 1976.

Lehrer hosted the first United States presidential election debate for the 2012 U.S. presidential general election. He originally had sworn off moderating any debates after 2008, but the Commission on Presidential Debates persisted, and he accepted, interested in a new format. The debate was held at the University of Denver, Denver, Colorado and covered domestic policy issues. Coming out of semi-retirement to moderate his 12th presidential debate, Lehrer came under criticism by some on social media and in the press for his lack of control and open-ended questions. Conversely, he was also praised for letting the candidates have some control in the debate in their own terms.

Personal life

Lehrer is a bus enthusiast. His father was a bus driver and also briefly operated a bus company. As a college student in the 1950s, he worked as a Trailways ticket agent in Victoria, Texas. He is a supporter of the Pacific Bus Museum in Williams, California and the Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He is a collector of bus memorabilia, including depot signs, driver caps, and antique toy buses.

Lehrer is married to the novelist Kate Lehrer. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.

Honors and awards

  • American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow (1991)
  • University of Missouri School of Journalism’s Medal of Honor
  • William Allen White Foundation Award for Journalistic Merit
  • George Foster Peabody Award
  • Fred Friendly First Amendment Award,
  • Emmy Award
  • National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle (1999)
  • Television Hall of Fame (1999)
  • National Humanities Medal (1999)

Career

In 1959, Lehrer began his career in journalism at The Dallas Morning News. Then, he reported for the Dallas Times-Herald, where he was covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 and other events until 1966, was a political columnist for several years, and became the city editor in 1968.

He began his TV career at Dallas KERA-TV as executive director of public affairs, on-air host, and editor of a nightly news program. Then he moved to PBS in Washington, DC to become the public affairs coordinator, a member of Journalism Advisory Board, and a fellow at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Next, Lehrer worked as a correspondent for the National Public Affairs Center for Television (NPACT) where he met Robert MacNeil. In 1973, they covered the Senate Watergate hearings & the revelation of the Tapes broadcast live on PBS. Lehrer also covered the House Judiciary Committee’s impeachment inquiry of Richard Nixon.

In October 1975, Lehrer became the Washington correspondent for the "Robert MacNeil Report" on Thirteen/WNET New York. In 1976, it was renamed "The MacNeil/Lehrer Report". In September 1983, Lehrer and MacNeil launched The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, and after MacNeil’s departure in 1995 was named The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and finally PBS NewsHour in 2009.

Lehrer underwent a heart valve surgery in April 2008, and, while he recuperated, Ray Suarez anchored in his stead until his return on 28 June 2008.

On 12 May 2011, Lehrer announced he would be stepping down as anchor of PBS NewsHour on 6 June 2011, but would continue to moderate the Friday news analysis segments, and would continue to be involved with the show’s production company, MacNeil/Lehrer Productions.