WASHINGTON – Calling himself “one of the luckiest people in the world,” Bob Schieffer, who has been a journalist for more than 50 years and anchor of CBS’ “Face the Nation” for 24 years, announced his retirement Wednesday evening.
Schieffer, 78, gave his retirement announcement at Texas Christian University, where he graduated and whose journalism school is named after him.
“It’s been a great adventure,” he said, according to CBS News. You know, I’m one of the luckiest people in the world because as a little boy, as a young reporter, I always wanted to be a journalist, and I got to do that. And not many people get to do that, and I couldn’t have asked for a better life or something that was more fun and more fulfilling.”
He referred to many of the people who helped him along the way, including editors at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he got his start. “I’ve never believed much in the self-made man theory; I think we all need a little help and I had a lot of help along the way,” he said.
“I can’t think of anything I could’ve done that I could’ve gotten more satisfaction from, and more downright fun. And when you come right down to it, that’s why you ought to choose to do whatever it is you want to do.”
“For me, it was a great life. I’ve often said, if if my life ended tomorrow, I’d have gotten my money’s worth,” Schieffer said. “I never imagined I would have the kind of experiences I’ve had in journalism. And I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world.”
He ended by telling the students, “Always aim high.”
Schieffer has interviewed every U.S. president since Nixon; written four books and won virtually every award in broadcast journalism, including eight Emmys, the overseas Press Club Award, the Paul White Award presented by the TV News Directors Association and the Edward R. Murrow Award given by Murrow’s alma mater Washington State University. In 2008 he was named a living legend by the Library of Congress.
CBS News contributed to this report.
