Jim Lehrer

American writer (1934-2020) · United States · On the map · Writers · Died at 85

James Charles Lehrer was an American journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright. He was the executive editor and a news anchor for the PBS News Hour on PBS and was known for his role as a debate moderator during U.S. presidential election campaigns, moderating 12 presidential debates between 1988 and 2012.

Jim Lehrer is read about 97 times a day, in 14 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 4 August 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 60 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2020Died23 January 20202008Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in JournalismAward2007Brigadier General Robert L. Denig Memorial Distinguished Performance AwardAward2006Honorary Doctor of Harvard UniversityAward1999National Humanities MedalAward1993Common Wealth Award of Distinguished ServiceAward1992Weintal Prize for Diplomatic ReportingAward1985Carey McWilliams AwardAward1934Born19 May 1934

People around Jim

Jerry Paris Directed Viva Max! (1969)

Also in Deutsch

Media & music

Photos 2

Lehrer signing copies of his book, Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates, From Kennedy-Nixon to Obama-McCain, at the National Press Club Book Fair in 2011

Awards

Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism2008

Brigadier General Robert L. Denig Memorial Distinguished Performance Award2007

Honorary Doctor of Harvard University2006

National Humanities Medal1999

Common Wealth Award of Distinguished Service1993

Weintal Prize for Diplomatic Reporting1992

Carey McWilliams Award1985

Emmy Award

About this person

Lehrer also wrote numerous fiction and non-fiction books that drew upon his experience as a newsman, along with his interests in history and politics.

Country

United States