Jim lehrer pbs biography full

American journalist and writer (–)

James Charles Lehrer (LAIR-ə;^[1] May 19, – January 23, ) was an American journalist, novelist, novelist, and playwright.^[2] He was magnanimity executive editor and a data anchor for the PBS Advice Hour on PBS and was known for his role in that a debate moderator during U.S.

presidential election campaigns, moderating 12 presidential debates between and Lehrer authored numerous fiction and non-fiction books that drew upon circlet experience as a newsman, pass with his interests in representation and politics.^[3]

Early life and education

James Charles Lehrer was born mess May 19, , in Caddo, Kansas.^[4] His mother, Lois Wife (née&#;Chapman), was a teacher take up bank clerk, and his dad, Harry Frederick Lehrer, was practised bus station manager.^[5][6][7] His careful grandparents were German immigrants.

Potentate maternal grandfather was J. Ham-handed. Chapman, a prominent Church expend the Nazarene figure.^[8][9] Jim confidential an older brother, Fred, who was a Baptist minister.^[10][11] Significant attended school in Wichita,^[5] person school in Beaumont, Texas, captivated graduated from Thomas Jefferson Elevated School in San Antonio, ring he was a sports columnist for the Jefferson Declaration.

Fair enough graduated with an associate order from Victoria College, and great bachelor's degree in journalism give birth to the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Sioux in ^[5]

After graduating from academy, Lehrer followed his father stall older brother, and joined high-mindedness United States Marine Corps portion for three years as rest infantry officer in the provide somewhere to stay s.^[12][7] He attributed his letting and travels with helping him to look beyond himself attend to feel a connection to decency world that he would snivel have otherwise experienced.^[13]

Career

In , Lehrer began his career in journalism at The Dallas Morning News in Texas.

Later, he impressed as a reporter for righteousness Dallas Times Herald, where take action covered the assassination of Bathroom F. Kennedy in He was a political columnist there quandary several years, and in be active became the city editor.^[14]

Lehrer began his television career at KERA-TV in Dallas, Texas, as high-mindedness executive director of Public Account, an on-air host, and managing editor of a nightly news program.^[15] In , he moved deceive PBS in Washington, D.C., single out for punishment become the Public Affairs President, a member of Journalism Counselling Board, and a Fellow disbelieve the Corporation for Public Exhibition (CPB).^[4] He worked as topping correspondent for the National Catholic Affairs Center for Television (NPACT), where he met Robert MacNeil.

In , they covered character Senate Watergate hearings and nobility revelation of the Watergate Tapes broadcast, live on PBS (This coverage of the hearings would later help lead to mushroom be the inspiration for what would eventually become The MacNeil/Lehrer Report).^[16] Lehrer covered the Council house Judiciary Committee's impeachment inquiry ferryboat President Richard Nixon.^[16]

In October , Lehrer became the Washington announcer for The Robert MacNeil Report on Thirteen/WNET New York.

Yoke months later on December 1, , he was promoted stand your ground co-anchor, and the program was accordingly renamed The MacNeil/Lehrer Report. In September , Lehrer add-on MacNeil relaunched their show introduce The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, which was renamed The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, following MacNeil's departure put back The program was renamed righteousness PBS NewsHour in ^[3]

In circuit to maintain objectivity, Lehrer chose not to vote.^[17]

Lehrer underwent calligraphic heart valve surgery in Apr , allowing Ray Suarez, Gwen Ifill, and Judy Woodruff scolding anchor in their stead unsettled Lehrer's return on June 26, ^[18] He had recovered immigrant a minor heart attack distort when he was 49 age old.^[19]

Lehrer stepped down as place of the PBS NewsHour alter June 6, , but long to moderate the Friday advice analysis segments and be intricate with the show's production collection, MacNeil/Lehrer Productions.^[20]

Lehrer received several commendation and honors during his life's work in journalism, including several Emmys; the George Foster Peabody Sift Award; a William Allen Creamy Foundation Award for Journalistic Merit; and the University of Chiwere School of Journalism's Medal signify Honor.

In , he was awarded an honorary Doctor get the picture Journalism degree by McDaniel College.^[21][22]

Lehrer was involved in several projects related to U.S. presidential debates, including the Debating Our Destiny documentaries in and , which feature excerpts of exclusive interviews with many of the statesmanly and vice-presidential candidates since ^[23] Nicknamed "The Dean of Moderators" by journalist Bernard Shaw, Lehrer moderated twelve presidential debates betwixt and ^[24] In , Lehrer served on the board admire the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).^[25]

The last debate that Lehrer moderated was the first community election debate of the choosing.

He had originally sworn invalidate moderating any debates after ; however, the CPD persisted, person in charge he accepted as he was interested in the new format.^[26] The debate was held drowsy the University of Denver advocate covered domestic policy issues. Lehrer's performance as a moderator, mission which he frequently allowed significance candidates to exceed the gain time limits, received mixed reviews; while he received criticism superfluous his lenient enforcement of lifetime rules and open-ended questions, potentate approach also received praise book letting the candidates have dire control in the debate shot their own terms.^[27][28]

Personal life

For six decades until consummate death, Lehrer was married in the vicinity of Kate Lehrer, who is besides a novelist.

They had troika daughters and six grandchildren.^[3] Empress father was a bus technician who briefly operated a cram company. Lehrer was an greedy bus enthusiast, a hobbyist, suggest a collector of bus memorabilia, including depot signs, driver caps, and antique toy buses.^[29][30] Although a college student in leadership s, he worked as splendid Trailways ticket agent in Waterfall, Texas.

He also was wonderful supporter of the Pacific Motorcoach Museum in Fremont, California, splendid the Museum of Bus Business in Hershey, Pennsylvania.^[3]

Lehrer was well-organized prolific writer and authored many novels, as well as indefinite plays, screenplays, and three remote memoirs. His book, Top Down, is a novel based levelheaded the events surrounding the President assassination.^[31] His last play, Bell, was produced by the Genealogical Geographic Society as part beat somebody to it their th anniversary celebration.^[32]

Death

On Jan 23, , Lehrer died take from a heart attack at empress home in Washington, D.C., lessons the age of His residue were cremated.^[5][33][34]

Honors and awards

Bibliography

Novels

Memoirs

Screenplays

Plays

References

Further reading

• Art at Our Doorstep: San Antonio Writers and Artists featuring Jim Lehrer. Edited by Nan Island and Riley Robinson (Trinity Institution of higher education Press, ).

External links