A Look at Journalistic Integrity Spanning an Entire Legendary Career
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Scroll or Click A Year Above to Jump Across the Timeline
Scroll or Select A Year Above to Jump Across the Timeline
An Interactive Timeline
The Voice of a Generation
A Look at Journalistic Integrity Spanning an Entire Legendary Career
Scroll or Select A Year Above to Jump Across the Timeline
Explore
February 25
1937
A Texan Born and Raised
Bob was born in Austin, where his dad worked in a lumberyard, but when World War II broke out, the family moved to Fort Worth, where Bob grew up and attended North Side High School. He was sports editor of the school newspaper and editor of the school yearbook.
Bob was born in Austin, where his dad worked in a lumberyard, but when World War II broke out, the family moved to Fort Worth, where Bob grew up and attended North Side High School. He was sports editor of the school newspaper and editor of the school yearbook.
After two years in pre-med, Bob got up the courage to tell his mother he was going to be a reporter. That summer, he switched his major to journalism and got a job at KXOL, a small Fort Worth radio station that played rock 'n roll music and covered local news.
The Newest Anchor for KXOL
After two years in pre-med, Bob got up the courage to tell his mother he was going to be a reporter. That summer, he switched his major to journalism and got a job at KXOL, a small Fort Worth radio station that played rock 'n roll music and covered local news.
Still a TCU student at the time, Bob was being paid $1 an hour for his time at KXOL.
While working at KXOL, Bob drove a panel truck equipped with a police radio. "We covered the three R's: (w)recks, rapes and robberies," he said. "When we got word of such things on the police radio, we raced to the location and broadcast an on-the-scene report. It was thought to be quite a technological achievement."
The Bridge on the River Kwai won the Oscar for Best Picture
1959
A TCU Graduate with a B.A. in Journalism and English
Bob found time to become sports editor of The Skiff student newspaper, but it was not a path to achieving good grades. He said he took nine semesters of Spanish just to get the required four for graduation and eventually getting a C in his final semester.
"The truth of the matter was, by the time I got that job, I always wanted to be a reporter, and my college days were really over. I came out here to do what I needed to do to graduate."
A TCU Graduate with a B.A. in Journalism and English
Bob found time to become sports editor of The Skiff student newspaper, but it was not a path to achieving good grades. He said he took nine semesters of Spanish just to get the required four for graduation and eventually getting a C in his final semester.
"The truth of the matter was, by the time I got that job, I always wanted to be a reporter, and my college days were really over. I came out here to do what I needed to do to graduate."
1963
An Hour Drive with the Mother of the Man who Shot the President
Bob was at the city desk when a woman called and asked for a ride to Dallas. She turned out to be Lee Harvey Oswald's mother. Bob wrote down her address on the west side of Fort Worth, and he and another reporter, Bill Foster, drove her to Dallas. It was Bob's first national scoop.
"Lady, you know, we're not running a taxi service here. And besides, the president's been shot. And she says, 'Yes, I heard it on the radio. I think my son is the one they've arrested.'"
I have yet to match the thrill I got when I would turn up in some out-of-the-way place in Vietnam and tell a 19-year-old kid, 'I'm from the Star Telegram, and your mom wrote me a letter and asked me to look in on you.'
Bob made the jump from print to television in 1966, serving as an anchor at WBAP-TV Dallas/Fort Worth.
"One thing young people have to always keep in mind when deciding what they want to do with their lives is, is it fun? Is it something that I'm interested in? Is it something I enjoy?"
Bob married Patricia Penrose, also a product of Fort Worth and TCU. They arrived in Washington in 1969 and quickly settled into a routine: Bob was on the streets, covering Vietnam War demonstrations, while Pat organized their new home and prepared for the birth of their first child.
"But at thirty-five years and counting, we’re still married. Once we got through the honeymoon, the rest was easy."
Bob Married His Lifelong Love, Patricia Penrose
Bob married Patricia Penrose, also a product of Fort Worth and TCU. They arrived in Washington in 1969 and quickly settled into a routine: Bob was on the streets, covering Vietnam War demonstrations, while Pat organized their new home and prepared for the birth of their first child.
"But at thirty-five years and counting, we’re still married. Once we got through the honeymoon, the rest was easy."
Washington DC
1969
Bob Joins CBS as the Newest Pentagon Correspondent
When CBS decided to replace its Pentagon correspondent, Bob was sent to cover a news conference held by Defense Secretary Melvin Laird and ended up staying at the Pentagon for five years – his first Washington beat. He won his first Emmy Award there for discovering how the Army was minimizing its helicopter losses.
Bob Joins CBS as the Newest Pentagon Correspondent
When CBS decided to replace its Pentagon correspondent, Bob was sent to cover a news conference held by Defense Secretary Melvin Laird and ended up staying at the Pentagon for five years – his first Washington beat. He won his first Emmy Award there for discovering how the Army was minimizing its helicopter losses.
Washington DC
1977
CBS' Newest Anchor for the Saturday Evening News
Bob began anchoring CBS News broadcasts in 1971. Not long after, he was named anchor of the Saturday News, a post he held until 1996. For years, he worked Monday through Friday in Washington, caught an early Saturday morning shuttle to New York, and then returned to Washington on Saturday night after the broadcast.
"The audience for these shows is interested in the topics that Bob’s interested in...They are interested in someone with experience asking good questions with some authenticity. When people run into trouble in these jobs is when they start overthinking that and having too many focus groups and meetings and consultants in conference rooms. It’s not that complicated, you know? And Bob made it uncomplicated."
– David Rhodes, CBS News President
"When Dan moved to 60 Minutes, I would replace him on the Saturday News, a job I would hold for the next twenty years."
Bob was the first reporter to cover all four Washington beats for a single station.
The Pentagon
The White House
Congress
State Department
CBS Names Bob Its Chief Washington Correspondent
Bob was the first reporter to cover all four Washington beats for a single station.
The Pentagon
The White House
Congress
State Department
May
1991
Bob Begins His Tenure as Host of Face the Nation
Face the Nation was Bob's favorite assignment over his more than four decades at CBS News. He anchored the broadcast for 24 years, interviewing world leaders, presidents, and sometimes just people who had been caught up in the news of the day.
Bob Begins His Tenure as Host of Face the Nation
Face the Nation was Bob's favorite assignment over his more than four decades at CBS News. He anchored the broadcast for 24 years, interviewing world leaders, presidents, and sometimes just people who had been caught up in the news of the day.
"Today marks my official debut, as it were, as the official moderator of Face The Nation. Our aim is going to be very simple here, to find interesting people from all segments of American life who have something to say...and give them a chance to say it."
When America Quickly Turned to the Media for Answers
"One thing you can say for America and the American people, they come together in times of crisis like this."
Listen to Bob Reflect on the Impact of 9/11 10 Years Later
September
2006
The Debut of Road Kill Stew and Other News (with Special Guest Bob Schieffer) by Honky Tonk Confidential
"Writing country music songs is a big part of my life. I can’t imagine a life without music."
The Debut of Road Kill Stew and Other News (with Special Guest Bob Schieffer) by Honky Tonk Confidential
"Writing country music songs is a big part of my life. I can’t imagine a life without music."
October 22
2012
Final Presidential Debate: Barack Obama and Mitt Romney
In 2012, Bob moderated the last debate of the season between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. He announced the next month that the 2012 debate would be his last.
Final Presidential Debate: Barack Obama and Mitt Romney
In 2012, Bob moderated the last debate of the season between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. He announced the next month that the 2012 debate would be his last.
"Tonight's debate, as both of you know, comes on the 50th anniversary of the night that President Kennedy told the world that the Soviet Union had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba...it is a sobering reminder that every president faces at some point an unexpected threat to our national security from abroad."
And the Emmy for Outstanding News Discussion and Analysis goes to...
This award was given to Bob for his work in The 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of JFK. This was the last of Bob's eight Emmy awards during his career in news. Roll over the awards below for details on Bob's other Emmys.
1982:CBS Reports – "The Defense of the United States: Ground Zero" Writers
1984:CBS Evening News with Dan Rather – "TV Campaigning" For Segments Outstanding Background / Analysis of a Single Current Story
1995:CBS Evening News with Bob Schieffer – "Rabin Assassination Coverage" Outstanding Instant Coverage of a Single Breaking News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast
1996:CBS Evening News with Bob Schieffer – "Olympic Bombing" Outstanding Instant Coverage of a Single Breaking News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast
2007:CBS Evening News with Bob Schieffer – "Ramadi: On the Front Line" Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast
2008: Lifetime Achievement Award
2013: Television Academy Hall of Fame
2014:Face the Nation – "50th Anniversary of JFK Assassination" Outstanding News Discussion and Analysis
And the Emmy for Outstanding News Discussion and Analysis goes to...
This award was given to Bob for his work in The 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of JFK. This was the last of Bob's eight Emmy awards during his career in news. Roll over the awards below for details on Bob's other Emmys.
1982:CBS Reports – "The Defense of the United States: Ground Zero" Writers
1984:CBS Evening News with Dan Rather – "TV Campaigning" For Segments Outstanding Background / Analysis of a Single Current Story
1995:CBS Evening News with Bob Schieffer – "Rabin Assassination Coverage" Outstanding Instant Coverage of a Single Breaking News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast
1996:CBS Evening News with Bob Schieffer – "Olympic Bombing" Outstanding Instant Coverage of a Single Breaking News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast
2007:CBS Evening News with Bob Schieffer – "Ramadi: On the Front Line" Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast
2008: Lifetime Achievement Award
2013: Television Academy Hall of Fame
2014:Face the Nation – "50th Anniversary of JFK Assassination" Outstanding News Discussion and Analysis
Washington DC
2015
Facing the Nation for One Last Time
"I wanted to be a reporter because I wanted to talk to the people who made the news. 'Face' was the only assignment I ever had where the newsmakers come to you; you don't even have to go to them. I loved every minute of it."
Facing the Nation for One Last Time
"I wanted to be a reporter because I wanted to talk to the people who made the news. 'Face' was the only assignment I ever had where the newsmakers come to you; you don't even have to go to them. I loved every minute of it."
"I'll be honest, I am going to miss being in the middle of things, but the one thing I will never forget is the trust you placed in me and how nice you were to have me as a guest in your home for so many years..."
Washington DC
2016
Bob Returned to CBS for Coverage of the 2016 Presidential Election
For the twelfth time, Bob was back on the presidential campaign trail. He traveled from California to South Carolina, and he provided analysis from both party conventions, as well as all three presidential debates.
Bob Returned to CBS for Coverage of the 2016 Presidential Election
For the twelfth time, Bob was back on the presidential campaign trail. He traveled from California to South Carolina, and he provided analysis from both party conventions, as well as all three presidential debates.
"Lady, you know, we're not running a taxi service here. And besides, the president's been shot. And she says, 'Yes, I heard it on the radio. I think my son is the one they've arrested.'"
"One thing young people have to always keep in mind when deciding what they want to do with their lives is, is it fun? Is it something that I'm interested in? Is it something I enjoy?"
"When Dan moved to 60 Minutes, I would replace him on the Saturday News, a job I would hold for the next twenty years."
"Today marks my official debut, as it were, as the official moderator of Face The Nation. Our aim is going to be very simple here, to find interesting people from all segments of American life who have something to say...and give them a chance to say it."
"Tonight's debate, as both of you know, comes on the 50th anniversary of the night that President Kennedy told the world that the Soviet Union had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba...it is a sobering reminder that every president faces at some point an unexpected threat to our national security from abroad."
"I'll be honest, I am going to miss being in the middle of things, but the one thing I will never forget is the trust you placed in me and how nice you were to have me as a guest in your home for so many years..."
