CBS News' Bob Schieffer Announces He's Retiring This Summer After Almost 50 Years With the Network

Anchor man has been with the network for 50 years

By Lily Harrison Apr 09, 2015 4:22 PMTags
Bob Schieffer CBS

After almost 50 years with CBS News, Bob Schieffer has announced that he will be retiring from his Face the Nation post this summer.

The journalist made the announcement during the annual Schieffer Symposium at his alma matter, Texas Christian University.

"Because [this was] where it all started for me…I wanted you all to be the first to know that this summer I'm going to retire," he told the crowd.

"It's been a great adventure. 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."

The 78-year-old has been with the network for 46 years and has moderated the popular Sunday morning talk show for almost 25 years.

AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File

CBS News president David Rhodes told CNN that it was "entirely Bob's decision" to leave and called him a "reporter's reporter."

In addition to leading Face the Nation, Schieffer is currently also the chief Washington correspondent for CBS News.

According to Rhodes, Schieffer "feels the broadcast is in a really good place right now" given its almost 20-year spike in ratings.

And while Rhodes has yet to speak on who will step in after Schieffer's final show, CNN obtained a note that he sent to staff members shortly after the retirement news went public.

"We'll have more to report soon about the plans for this important broadcast and for the Washington bureau as a whole. An important 2016 campaign season is beginning. But this is Bob's night and I hope we can all celebrate with him the remarkable achievement which is his career here at CBS."

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