Schieffer Honored at National Press Club

The National Press Club honored Bob Schieffer at the 38th Annual Forth Estate Award Dinner Friday. Schieffer, host of Face the Nation and former host of the CBS Evening News, has won seven Emmy Awards and has been inducted into the Broadcasting/Cable Hall of Fame. The event featured a reception, dinner, and a roast featuring Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), former Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA), and CBS News President Sean McManus.

Alan Bjerga, President of the North American Agricultural Journalists and President of the National Press Club, emceed the event. Although the event was a black-tie optional, many guests dressed in western attire at the request of Schieffer, given that he was born and raised in Texas. Past Forth Estate Award winners were in attendance, including Helen Thomas, former member of the White House Press Corps, and Christiane Amanpour, anchor of ABC News’s This Week.

Senator Graham spoke highly of Schieffer and his style of reporting. Graham was surprised that out of all the Republican senators, he was chosen. “He could have chosen out of a group of talented individuals but he chose me,” Graham said. He also took a jab at his colleague, former Senator Nunn, saying that since Schieffer chose him “shows the current state of the Democratic Party”. Graham praised Scheffer for his years of broadcasting by reporting the news in a personal perspective.

In a personal interview with Schieffer after the event, he gave a word of advice to aspiring journalists. “[Journalism] is the best way to spend your life. It is fun. It’s good work and you can really make a difference.”

Kalb Report Starts New Season; Talks Presidential Debates

The Kalb Report kicked off its eighth season Tuesday night, focusing on the history of presidential debates and the role they play in electing the nation’s executive.

Discussing the epoch in U.S. presidential elections following the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debate, host Marvin Kalb was joined by CBS News’ Bob Schieffer, 1960 debate questioner Sander Vanocur, and Janet Brown and Mike McCurry from the Commission on Presidential Debates.

“I honestly don’t think we knew what we were getting involved in,” Mr. Vanocur explained when examining his role in the first televised debate in U.S. history.

At the time, “no one understood the power of television,” Mr. Schieffer responded, but, ultimately, “Kennedy mastered television like Roosevelt mastered radio.“

Presidential debates eventually became institutionalized, the panel concluded, culminating in the creation of a formal, nonpartisan commission in 1987.

When the discussion shifted to media in an era where the Internet plays a key role in public life, Mr. Schieffer stated that he believes “journalists still perform a noble function,” and need to continue their role as gatekeepers.

“You can’t have a football game without a referee,” the longtime CBS correspondent explained. “You can’t have a baseball game without an umpire.”