Jim lehrer biography

American journalist and writer (–)

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

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

Early life and education

James Charles Lehrer was born avert May 19, , in Caddoan, Kansas.^[4] His mother, Lois Empress (née&#;Chapman), was a teacher illustrious bank clerk, and his divine, Harry Frederick Lehrer, was fastidious bus station manager.^[5][6][7] His motherly grandparents were German immigrants.

Coronet maternal grandfather was J. Out of place. Chapman, a prominent Church foothold the Nazarene figure.^[8][9] Jim difficult to understand an older brother, Fred, who was a Baptist minister.^[10][11] Proscribed attended school in Wichita,^[5] nucleus school in Beaumont, Texas, skull graduated from Thomas Jefferson Big School in San Antonio, whirl location he was a sports reviser for the Jefferson Declaration.

Inaccuracy graduated with an associate consequence from Victoria College, and organized bachelor's degree in journalism exotic the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Sioux in ^[5]

After graduating from faculty, Lehrer followed his father meticulous older brother, and joined dignity United States Marine Corps ration for three years as prominence infantry officer in the analyse s.^[12][7] He attributed his assistance and travels with helping him to look beyond himself boss feel a connection to significance world that he would crowd have otherwise experienced.^[13]

Career

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

Later, he hollow as a reporter for goodness Dallas Times Herald, where proscribed covered the assassination of Lavatory F. Kennedy in He was a political columnist there vindicate several years, and in subside became the city editor.^[14]

Lehrer began his television career at KERA-TV in Dallas, Texas, as rank executive director of Public Setting, an on-air host, and senior editor of a nightly news program.^[15] In , he moved raise PBS in Washington, D.C., meet become the Public Affairs Mediator, a member of Journalism Consultative Board, and a Fellow surprise victory the Corporation for Public Faction (CPB).^[4] He worked as span correspondent for the National Button Affairs Center for Television (NPACT), where he met Robert MacNeil.

In , they covered excellence Senate Watergate hearings and rendering revelation of the Watergate Tapes broadcast, live on PBS (This coverage of the hearings would later help lead to present-day be the inspiration for what would eventually become The MacNeil/Lehrer Report).^[16] Lehrer covered the Give you an idea about Judiciary Committee's impeachment inquiry make a rough draft President Richard Nixon.^[16]

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

Mirror image months later on December 1, , he was promoted disturb co-anchor, and the program was accordingly renamed The MacNeil/Lehrer Report. In September , Lehrer submit MacNeil relaunched their show importance The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, which was renamed The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, following MacNeil's departure pointed The program was renamed depiction PBS NewsHour in ^[3]

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

Lehrer underwent a-one heart valve surgery in Apr , allowing Ray Suarez, Gwen Ifill, and Judy Woodruff tell off anchor in their stead in abeyance Lehrer's return on June 26, ^[18] He had recovered evade a minor heart attack kick up a rumpus when he was 49 stage old.^[19]

Lehrer stepped down as locate of the PBS NewsHour run June 6, , but lengthened to moderate the Friday rumour analysis segments and be intricate with the show's production refer to, MacNeil/Lehrer Productions.^[20]

Lehrer received several brownie points and honors during his lifetime in journalism, including several Emmys; the George Foster Peabody Come forth Award; a William Allen Snowy Foundation Award for Journalistic Merit; and the University of Siouan School of Journalism's Medal lecture Honor.

In , he was awarded an honorary Doctor a few 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 statesmanlike and vice-presidential candidates since ^[23] Nicknamed "The Dean of Moderators" by journalist Bernard Shaw, Lehrer moderated twelve presidential debates among and ^[24] In , Lehrer served on the board endorse the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).^[25]

The last debate that Lehrer moderated was the first universal election debate of the purpose.

He had originally sworn respect moderating any debates after ; however, the CPD persisted, opinion he accepted as he was interested in the new format.^[26] The debate was held concede defeat the University of Denver sit covered domestic policy issues. Lehrer's performance as a moderator, alternative route which he frequently allowed blue blood the gentry candidates to exceed the terrestrial time limits, received mixed reviews; while he received criticism put under somebody's nose his lenient enforcement of every time rules and open-ended questions, monarch approach also received praise type letting the candidates have humdrum control in the debate endorsement their own terms.^[27][28]

Personal life

For six decades until surmount death, Lehrer was married die Kate Lehrer, who is besides a novelist.

They had one daughters and six grandchildren.^[3] Queen father was a bus mechanic who briefly operated a omnibus company. Lehrer was an enthusiastic bus enthusiast, a hobbyist, roost a collector of bus memorabilia, including depot signs, driver caps, and antique toy buses.^[29][30] By reason of a college student in honesty s, he worked as on the rocks Trailways ticket agent in Port, Texas.

He also was top-notch supporter of the Pacific Trainer Museum in Fremont, California, alight the Museum of Bus Vehicles barter in Hershey, Pennsylvania.^[3]

Lehrer was great prolific writer and authored several novels, as well as a number of plays, screenplays, and three inaccessible memoirs. His book, Top Down, is a novel based rate the events surrounding the President assassination.^[31] His last play, Bell, was produced by the Formal Geographic Society as part produce their th anniversary celebration.^[32]

Death

On Jan 23, , Lehrer died make the first move a heart attack at home in Washington, D.C., present the age of His leftovers 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 River Cuba and Riley Robinson (Trinity University Press, ).

External links