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PBS: Longtime NewsHour anchor Jim Lehrer dies at 85

Posted at 11:28 AM, Jan 23, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-23 13:45:50-05

PBS NewsHour anchor Jim Lehrer died Thursday at the age of 85

NewsHour anchor and managing editor Judy Woodruff announced Thursday that Lehrer died peacefully in his sleep at his home.

“I’m heartbroken at the loss of someone who was central to my professional life, a mentor to me and someone whose friendship I’ve cherished for decades,” said Woodruff. “I’ve looked up to him as the standard for fair, probing and thoughtful journalism and I know countless others who feel the same way.”

Lehrer anchored the nightly news for 36 years, helping form what’s known as “MacNeil-Lehrer style of journalism,” named after Lehrer and his partner Robert MacNeil, PBS says.

In 2011, he stepped down from being a full-time NewsHour anchor.

During his time at NewsHour, Lehrer interviewed numerous leading figures and moderated a dozen presidential debates, more than any other person in U.S. history. He also wrote several books, including 20 novels.

He also spent a few years in the Marine Corps in the late 1950s.

Lehrer leaves behind his wife, three daughters and six grandchildren.

Read more about Lehrer from PBS here.