Bob Schieffer Remembers Jim Lehrer—And His Best Advice on Moderating a Debate

Jan 31, 2020, 11:03 AM


In 1963, I worked as a reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Jim Lehrer worked at the Dallas Times Herald, and we both covered the Kennedy assassination--but it was only after we came to Washington, D.C., that we became good friends. Jim, who died Jan. 23 at 85, was a guy I always looked up to.

So when I was chosen to moderate my first presidential debate in 2004, he was the first person I called. I said, "How do I do this?" and he said, "Remember, it's not about you.