Jim Lehrer

Date of Birth: May 19, 1934

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: January 23, 2020

Biography

Jim Lehrer, born James Charles Lehrer, was a prominent American journalist and author, best known for his role as the executive editor and news anchor for the PBS NewsHour. Lehrer was born in Wichita, Kansas, and began his journalism career in the early 1960s. He served as a reporter for the Dallas Morning News and later the Dallas Times-Herald. Lehrer’s career in television journalism began when he joined KERA-TV in Dallas. He quickly moved up the ranks and became a national figure when he co-anchored the “MacNeil/Lehrer Report” in 1975, which later evolved into the “PBS NewsHour.” Lehrer was celebrated for his calm demeanor, meticulous reporting, and commitment to journalistic integrity. Over his career, he moderated 12 presidential debates, more than any other journalist, earning respect from both sides of the political spectrum. Lehrer was also an accomplished author, having written more than 20 novels, three plays, and several memoirs. He was a recipient of numerous awards, including the National Humanities Medal and the George Foster Peabody Award.

5 Interesting Facts about Jim Lehrer

1. Jim Lehrer served as a Marine Corps infantry officer before starting his journalism career.

2. Lehrer moderated more presidential debates than any other journalist in U.S. history.

3. He co-anchored the “MacNeil/Lehrer Report” with Robert MacNeil, which became the PBS NewsHour.

4. Lehrer was a prolific author, publishing over 20 novels, three plays, and several memoirs.

5. He received numerous awards throughout his career, including the National Humanities Medal and the George Foster Peabody Award.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jim Lehrer

1. “I am very cautious about being too political. I am just not interested in that.”

2. “I have an old-fashioned view that news is not a commodity. It’s information.”

3. “The best way to do news is not to be cynical.”

4. “I have a basic philosophy that I’ve tried to follow during my 40 years in journalism: Tell the truth as best you can and tell it as often as you can.”

5. “I’m in the journalism business, not the opinion business. I try to be a fair-minded observer and teller of the truth.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Jim Lehrer was estimated to be around $4 million.

Children

Jim Lehrer had three daughters with his wife, Kate Lehrer: Jamie, Lucy, and Amanda. His family life was a source of great joy to him, and he often spoke about the importance of family and personal relationships.