Bob Schieffer

Bob Schieffer – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Bob Schieffer is an American journalist and television news anchor renowned for decades of political reporting, moderating presidential debates, and shaping public discourse. Read his biography, career highlights, memorable quotes, and lessons from his legacy.

Introduction

Bob Schieffer (born February 25, 1937) is a towering figure in American journalism whose voice brought clarity to politics, power, and public life over more than five decades. As a longtime CBS News correspondent, anchor, and moderator of Face the Nation, Schieffer navigated complex eras of change with steadiness, skepticism, and a dedication to telling truths. His life and work offer a window into how journalism can serve democracy—if practiced with integrity and humility.

Early Life and Family

Bob Lloyd Schieffer was born on February 25, 1937, in Austin, Texas.

He comes from a family of public service. His brother, Tom Schieffer, later became a diplomat and served as U.S. Ambassador to Australia and Japan.

In recognition of his contributions, the Texas Christian University (TCU) journalism school was renamed the Bob Schieffer School of Communication.

Youth and Education

Schieffer earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and English from Texas Christian University in 1959.

After graduation, he served in the United States Air Force for three years as a public information officer, stationed at Travis Air Force Base and later McChord Air Force Base.

Upon completing his service, he joined the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as a reporter. Star-Telegram extras.

He later transitioned from print to broadcast journalism, joining WBAP-TV in Fort Worth and later moving into the national stage with CBS.

Career and Achievements

Rise at CBS & Major Assignments

Schieffer joined CBS News in 1969.

From 1976 to 1996, Schieffer anchored the Saturday edition of the CBS Evening News. 60 Minutes for many years (circa 1973–1996).

In 1991, he began as moderator of Face the Nation, a Sunday public affairs program, and he held that position until 2015. CBS Evening News following Dan Rather’s departure.

During his tenure, Schieffer interviewed every U.S. president from Richard Nixon onward, and many presidential candidates.

Journalism Philosophy & Style

Schieffer has been admired for combining solid reporting, fairness, and an aversion to bombast. He often emphasized the importance of letting people answer questions, careful preparation, and maintaining objectivity. “Remember, it’s not about you.”

He also engaged in musical songwriting later in life, collaborating with the Washington-area band Honky Tonk Confidential. Four of his songs appear on their CD Road Kill Stew and Other News.

Awards, Honors & Publications

Schieffer has received numerous prestigious awards in broadcast journalism, including multiple Emmy Awards, the Overseas Press Club Award, the Paul White Award, and the Edward R. Murrow Award.

He has written several books, such as This Just In: What I Couldn’t Tell You on TV, Face the Nation: My Favorite Stories from the First 50 Years, Bob Schieffer’s America, The Acting President (co-author), and Overload: Finding the Truth in Today’s Deluge of News.

In April 2015, he announced his retirement as moderator of Face the Nation. Bob Schieffer’s “About the News”.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Covering the Kennedy assassination (1963): As a young reporter in Texas, Schieffer played a role in immediate coverage after President Kennedy’s assassination, including working with Marguerite Oswald and coordinating urgent newspaper extras.

• Vietnam war reporting: He was among the first Texas newspaper reporters to deploy to Vietnam to write profiles of soldiers from his region.

• Evolution of broadcast journalism: Schieffer’s career spanned transitions from print to television, from the network era through cable and digital news proliferation. His consistency and credibility became an anchor in change.

• Debate moderation as civic duty: His role moderating multiple presidential debates placed him at the heart of American democracy—serving as a referee between power and public.

• Journalism’s credibility crisis: In times of changing media ecosystems, Schieffer emphasized that journalism is foundational to civic trust and democratic function. His later book Overload addresses challenges in discerning truth in the era of fragmented media.

Legacy and Influence

Bob Schieffer’s legacy is multifaceted:

• Steady voice in turbulent times: Over decades of political upheavals, wars, scandals, and media shifts, Schieffer remained a recognizable, trusted presence.

• Mentorship and inspiration: Many journalists see him as a model: fair-minded, persistent, respectful of sources, readers, and institutions.

• Institutional memory: His long tenure allowed him to accumulate context, perspective, and historical awareness few contemporaries possessed.

• Bridging eras of journalism: He helped carry the craft from the broadcast golden age into 21st-century challenges, always emphasizing fundamentals—questioning, verification, and public accountability.

• Public intellectual voice: Through his books, commentary, and podcasting, he continues contributing to conversations about journalism, democracy, and media ethics.

Personality and Talents

Schieffer is widely regarded as humble, witty, curious, and grounded. In a Vanity Fair interview, he responded to the Proust Questionnaire, revealing his values: he calls his greatest achievements raising daughters who “actually seem to like me,” and his motto is “Just keep on going.” two chords on the guitar.

His approach to journalism is rooted in listening, not spectacle. As he put it: “I want to try to talk like normal people talk, not just stand there and bark at the camera.”

He also battled serious health challenges. He is a survivor of grade III bladder cancer, diagnosed in 2003 and cancer-free from 2004 onward.

In his leisure, he explored songwriting and music, bringing a creative dimension to his persona beyond journalism.

Famous Quotes of Bob Schieffer

Here are several notable and revealing quotations attributed to him:

• “I had the chance to make every possible mistake and figure out a way to recover from it. Once you realize there is life after mistakes, you gain a self-confidence that never goes away.”

• “But if you don’t enjoy doing something, you’ll be miserable no matter how much money you make.”

• “I think journalism is a great way to do public service, to have an impact on your community.”

• “At the White House, everybody works for the same person. They're all part of the same company. But on Capitol Hill, they're all independent contractors. They all work for themselves. That’s a formula for getting news.”

• “A police reporter walks into the worst moment in someone’s life on every single story that he covers … Nobody is ever glad to see a police reporter when he shows up.”

• “The government’s view is that the best time to announce bad news … is late on a Friday …”

• “They’ve asked me to do this temporarily. I don’t know what temporarily means. Life is temporary.”

These quotes reflect his perspective on journalism, ethics, life, and the human side of hard assignments.

Lessons from Bob Schieffer

1. Consistency builds trust.
   Over many years, Schieffer’s steady presence—and refusal to chase sensationalism—earned credibility that transcended headlines.

2. Humility underlies authority.
   He often framed mistakes and learning as part of growth, and repeatedly emphasized that journalism isn’t about ego but responsibility.

3. Let questions guide you, not the spotlight.
   His moderation style and interviewing approach prioritized letting others speak, not dominating the frame.

4. Courage in continuity.
   In an age of media fragmentation, he stayed rooted in fundamentals: verification, context, fairness.

5. Balance public mission with personal life.
   He navigated health challenges, family, and public pressures, illustrating resilience and character under strain.

6. Adapt, don’t abandon, your core.
   While media changed radically, he adapted to new formats and challenges but held onto journalistic principles.

Conclusion

Bob Schieffer’s life is a testament to what journalism as public service can look like: curious, disciplined, compassionate, and unafraid of complexity. From Texas newsrooms to the halls of Washington, from presidential debates to the pages of books, he has shaped how Americans hear, understand, and imagine their society.

As media continues to evolve, his example encourages both journalists and citizens to hope for a future where truth, reflection, and integrity guide our public discourse.