Experts

Jim Lehrer

Anchor, "The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer"

You have to get involved. Read More

You can't just be cynical and be a journalist. Read More

Lehrer's organization in PBS is a Quaker monarchy. Read More

Because of the Depression and World War II, Lehrer grew up not taking anything for granted. Read More

The Aspen Ideas Festival brings people together. Read More

Jim Lehrer explains his lifelong love for the work of J.D. Salinger, and describes what he would ask in a dream interview with the literary legend. Read More

Lehrer says we should actually act on our pledges to improve education. Read More

Unlike the America of his childhood, the country no longer has a shared experience to draw upon. Read More

As an American, Jim Lehrer is worried about what is done in his name. Read More

If we'd had a mandatory military service, Lehrer wonders, would we still have invaded Iraq? Read More

Lehrer, on Americans' lack of cohesion. Read More

Jim Lehrer talks about duty, shared experience, and what it means to serves one's country. Read More

Jim Lehrer writes about people fighting like hell to be successful. Read More

Jim Lehrer, on why and how he writes. Read More

Jim Lehrer talks about what goes into a broadcast, or a novel. Read More

Jim Lehrer reflects on the impact of Ms. Litton. Read More

Who do you blame? Read More

Get involved, Lehrer says. Read More

Jim Lehrer is optimistic that the next president will get a handle on today's problems. Read More

Everything flows from how America exercises its power. Read More

About Jim Lehrer

Jim Lehrer

Born in Wichita, Kansas, in 1934, Jim Lehrer attended Victoria College. In 1956, he received a Bachelor's journalism degree from the University of Missouri before joining the Marine Corps, where he served three years as an infantry officer. For the following decade, Lehrer worked as a reporter in Dallas, before moving on to a local experimental news program on public television.

He came to Washington with PBS in 1972 and teamed up with Robert MacNeil in 1973 to cover the Senate Watergate hearings. In 1975, they started what became "The MacNeil/Lehrer Report" and then the "MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour" in 1983, the first 60-minute evening news program on television.

The program became The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer in 1995 when MacNeil retired. Lehrer has received numerous awards for his work, including a presidential National Humanities Medal in 1999. He also has moderated ten of the nationally televised candidate debates in the last five presidential elections.

Lehrer is the author of 17 novels, including Eureka (2007), The Phony Marine (2006), The Franklin Affair (2005), and Flying Crows (2004). He has also written two memoirs and three plays. Lehrer and his wife, Kate, have been married since 1960. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.

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