Face the Nation: My Favorite Stories from the First 50 Years of the Award-Winning News Broadcast

by Bob Schieffer

In this engaging memoir of television news and its unique place in history, New York Times bestselling author and Face the Nation anchor Bob Schieffer takes us behind the scenes of the Sunday morning institution that has provided a window on the most memorable events of the last half-century.
With his critically acclaimed memoir This Just In, Schieffer proved himself a natural storyteller, a gifted writer able to capture the workings of television news with remarkable wit and insight. Now Schieffer focuses his keen reporter's eye on 50 years of Face the Nation's live broadcasts and the historic moments the program has captured. From its 1954 debut, an interview with Senator Joe McCarthy the day before the Senate debate that would condemn him, to the broadcast's 1957 groundbreaking interview with a candid and controversial Nikita Khrushchev; from the brilliant analysis of communism made by guest Martin Luther King Jr. to the sometimes stunning, always revealing interviews with each sitting president; from the heroic and moving coverage of the terrorist attacks of September 11 to the revolutionary coverage of the war in Iraq, Schieffer shares unforgettable anecdotes about the guests, the stories and the events captured by the venerable public affairs program.
Marked by the author's candid personal observations and wise, good humor, and featuring a special companion DVD of broadcast highlights created by CBS News for this edition, Bob Schieffer's look at 50 years of Face the Nation shines an entertaining and nostalgic light on America's presidents, culture, foreign policy and domestic affairs.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Journalism, American History, Political Science

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Bob Lloyd Schieffer is an American television journalist. He is known for his moderation of presidential debates, where he has been praised for his capability. Schieffer is one of the few journalists to have covered all four of the major Washington national assignments: the White House, the Pentagon, United States Department of State, and United States Congress. His career with CBS has almost exclusively dealt with national politics. He has interviewed every United States President since Richard M. Nixon, as well as most of those who sought the office.
Schieffer has been with CBS News since 1969, serving as the anchor on the Saturday edition of CBS Evening News for 20 years, from 1976 to 1996, as well as the Chief Washington Correspondent from 1982 until 2015, and moderator of the Sunday public affairs show, Face the Nation, from 1991 until May 31, 2015. From March 10, 2005, to August 31, 2006, Schieffer was interim weekday anchor of CBS Evening News, and was one of the primary substitutes for Katie Couric and Scott Pelley.
Following his retirement from Face the Nation, Schieffer has continued to work for CBS as a contributor, making many appearances on air giving political commentary covering the 2016 presidential election. Schieffer is currently releasing episodes of a new podcast, "Bob Schieffer's 'About the News' with H. Andrew Schwartz".
Schieffer has written three books about his career in journalism: Face the Nation: My Favorite Stories from the First 50 Years of the Award-Winning News Broadcast, This Just In: What I Couldn't Tell You on TV, and Bob Schieffer's America. He co-authored a book about Ronald Reagan, The Acting President, with Gary Paul Gates, that was published in 1989. In his memoir, This Just In, Schieffer credits the fact he was a beat reporter at CBS for his longevity at the network.
Schieffer has 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.
Schieffer was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 2002, and inducted into the National Academy of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 2013. He was named a living legend by the Library of Congress in 2008.
Schieffer is currently serving as the Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center.

Reviews

[Leew49 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a gift, and my first reaction was, "I hope this isn't another collection of anecdotes and whimsical humor." Fortunately, it wasn't. In describing the first 50 years of the ground-breaking news program, Schieffer, who was the host of FACE THE NATION for several years, gives us a surprising insight into how television news covered some of the most consequential events of those times, and how it might have been different. When political figures wanted to be given a list of questions in advance, someone at CBS had to say No. When Lyndon Johnson showed up at the studio with his own list of pre-approved questions, someone had to say No. There was even a debate for a while about whether the networks, because they were regulated by the FCC, should have to submit their questions to the government before interviewing world leaders. We could have lived in a very different world. In addition, Schieffer's book gives a brief but nonetheless fascinating look at such watershed events as McCarthyism and the Red Scare, Fidel Castro's changing image in America, the Civil Rights movement, Viet Nam, the Pentagon Papers, the growing role of women in journalism, the Clinton impeachment, 9/11 and the anthrax scare, and the war in Iraq. Schieffer honestly acknowledges shortcomings in the press coverage in several instances: the frequent questions to Civil Rights leaders about moving "too fast," and early support for the invasion of Iraq, for example. Overall, this was a fascinating and rewarding book. The last few chapters, however, lived down to my expectations, with more detail than I wanted on the production staff, worthy journalists though they undoubtedly are, and a short collection of the dreaded whimsical humor I mentioned at the beginning of this review. All in all, though, a very worthwhile book, and far superior to so many memoirs that spring from the publishing houses these days.

[Mike Maughan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, interesting, and engaging read.

Salt Lake City, UT

A

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook in 20 minutes increments over a couple weeks. The beginning wasn't terrible fascinating to me-- mostly because I don't know if I've ever even watched Face the Nation-- but it got better when the author began detailing news stories and political figures the show has interviewed over the years. Like Castro's interview with hundreds of armed groupies in tow ("Don't worry! We are men of love!") Uhh... right. Or some of the more recent political figures: Al Gore, George W. Bush, etc. I had to return it before I could finish the last chapter-- the library was about to send Castro's men after me-- but I think it would have been one of my favorite chapters.

Oh, and one part that was really interesting: Bob Schieffer said that after 9/11, people were saying that the tragedy had made America a new place... the way people were increasingly kind and patient and trusting of one another in the aftermath; he disagreed, though. He said it was more a matter of reminding America what it once was. I thought that was neat.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was browsing our library's choices for audio books before taking a road trip to Colorado, and this one caught my attention. These were years I lived through and there were spaces of time that I didn't follow the news as closely as I might have and did not listen to Face the Nation. It occurred to me that it would be interesting to review those years from the Face the Nation perspective. It was. Bob Schieffer did not include any actual broadcasts, but he reflected on many of the issues that Face the Nation covered.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love history and broadcast journalism, this book would be very entertaining for you. It followed the highlights of the 1950s to early 2000s news headlines. Listening to it on tape was very enjoyable, however I would not want to read it in a book format because frankly it was sort of a bore. Listening to the story, you heard the excitement in the author's voice. I did not care for disc 5 because it appeared to be more of an ego boast than anything else.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, a detailed insider account from a moderator of the Sunday question show; it was more a history of the program with interesting anecdotes and historical context for the guest that were brought on. It was interesting, nonetheless, and Schieffer for the most part is a good writer (he was always a good reporter). I didn't like the repetition of quotes. Overall, pretty good, with a few good tips for potential journalists.

[David Corleto-Bales · Rating 4 out of 5]

The CBS News host of Face the Nation since 1991, the folksy Texan Schieffer looks at the first 50 years of the venerable news show "Face the Nation" from its inception in 1954, (the first guest was Wisconsin senator Joe McCarthy) through the momentous times in the last half century, the Civil Rights movement, presidential campaigns, Vietnam, Watergate, the shenanigans of Bill Clinton and up to the war in Iraq.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting read, and I enjoyed some of the backstory to different guests on Face the Nation (note, this isn't a show I regularly watch). I thought Bob Schieffer did a good job with the storytelling, and I'll probably try reading another of his books.

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-done retrospective of the No. 2 Sunday news roundup show, behind "Meet the Press." Best part is the early days when the medium was new, the staff was new and things weren't so scripted. Nice that the book CD also came with a DVD of many of the important moments mentioned.

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently read "This Just In - What I couldn't Tell you on TV" by Bob Schiffer and found it to be a delightful book. When I saw this in the library, thought I'd give it a try. It was ok, but I liked the other book better. Its a good review of a lot of our history. Good for that!!!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's like a reader's digest version of the last 50 years of politics in America. Easy read. I plan to read it again to try and retain more.

[Kristyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bob talks about his experiences working on the show, and the importance of hearing people out on the program, to allow for many political viewpoints tp be considered. (not like Fox news)

[Sanjay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting behind-the-scenes stuff that makes for fascinating reading. Love Schieffer anyway so this review might be biased. Will be reading his other book next.

[Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Having not lived throught most of the important events of the last 50 years, it was good to read about them from a journalist's point of view.

[Emilysa · Rating 3 out of 5]

He gave just enough insight to the stories he told to make you (or me, in this case) realize how little I understand about what happened in the last century.

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to on the way back from Utah. He is bit full of himself.

[Tracy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book but boy was I disappointed. This was a complete Bob fest and hmm telling us how great he is.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

The history of the broadcast fascinated me. He includes several commentaries from his years as host. Some brought good memories; others stimulate thinking yet today.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice current history lesson.

[Joann Glasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting to know behind the scenes

[Jesse Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schieffer’s account of Face the Nation interviews from the McCarthy years to 9/11 shows what an important place the Sunday news shows have had in American society and politics since the 1950s.
It’s worth stepping back to reconsider the patterns TV programming has shown over time. Face the Nation used to air Sundays at 2:30pm, says Schieffer. “This was an era before professional football came to television, and Sunday afternoons were devoted to public affairs and cultural programming.” Back then, network executives like Frank Stanton were already trying to figure out how to measure what shows would please audiences more, but at the same time they assumed that “public affairs and cultural programming” had a firm place in the life of the public as a whole. As much as I hate ‘good old days’ nostalgia rhetoric, Schieffer produced that feeling in me there.

Readers of Schieffer’s book can use Google and Youtube to access Face the Nation footage, bringing American history to life. Senator Joseph McCarthy appeared on the first program. Just a short while later, Nikita Khrushchev appeared. Astoundingly, the broadcast was released to Russian audiences as well, giving them the first look at an interview with their own political leader. The show traveled to Cuba to get comments from Fidel Castro, and shortly after US-Cuban relations deteriorated, Che Guavara came on, as well.

Many important interviews document the progress of the civil rights movement, the most important of which was likely Martin Luther King, Jr.’s appearance. We can see prevailing attitudes on screen in such interviews; King is supplied difficult questions and answers them with aplomb. Schieffer also describes how Tran Van Truong, the South Vietnamese Ambassador who resigned in 1963, correctly predicted the likely failure of South Vietnam, only to be questioned by his moderator as to why he thought he would know more than Secretary of Defense Dean Rusk on this matter! (Sadly, I can’t find that footage online, but the WNYC NPR affiliate has preserved an interview with Tran.)

Most relevant of all, US Secretary of State George Schultz appeared on the Sunday shows in the wake of revelations that President Reagan had allowed arms shipments to Iran. Schultz was out of the loop, and Reagan was running the operation from the National Security Council. Schultz worked with moderator Lesley Stahl to help force the White House to stop the shipments and abide by national policy. One can imagine that statesmen in the USA today who hope to limit the deleterious effects of a vindictive and mercurial president must similarly use the press in similarly clever ways.

Schieffer’s anecdotes do seem to run out of steam a bit after this revelation. No ground-breaking interviews fill his pages on Clinton, Gore, 9/11, or George W. Bush. A final chapter on reporters’ experiences during the Iraq invasion reminds us that war reporting is dangerous, yet important work, but the chapter doesn’t come together as well as work by, say, Mark Bowden. Schieffer’s “looking ahead” section, and reviews of his short commentaries with which he ended the show, are useful to remind us of the ethical grounding that has slipped away with cultural changes propelled by smart phones and the 24-hour-news cycle. But that’s not new or unique to this book.

Perhaps what’s finally crucial to any reader interested in American history is to look at the influence of the ‘Sunday talk shows,’ which arguably still hold pride of place for important voices from Washington. Face the Nation and Meet the Press and other such interview shows are spaces where the constant machinations for power get a reminder that it was supposed to be about preserving and managing the republic. In that sense, watching such footage should be considered a civic duty, part and parcel of the study of American history.