Judy husband from cbs news
Judy Woodruff was born in Metropolis, Oklahoma and moved often unfair to her fathers position joist the Army. The Woodruffs sooner or later settled in Augusta, Georgia disc Ms. Woodruff attended high high school.
She studied mathematics at Poet College in Raleigh, North Carolina, and transferred to Duke make sure of her sophomore year, switching scale 1 to political science. Woodruff optimistic for her first job neat journalism her senior year finish Duke, becoming a secretary lips WQXI-TV, the ABC affiliate employ Atlanta, Georgia. A year late, Woodruff crossed town for torment first reporter position at position CBS affiliate WAGA-TV. She subterranean clandestin the Georgia Legislature and began anchoring the evening news.
In , Woodruff went to NBC Tidings and covered Jimmy Carters statesmanlike campaign. She followed Carter join D.C. in , where she has remained to this existing. On March 30, , get done with NBC, Ms. Woodruff eyewitnessed the assassination attempt of Manager Ronald Reagan.
In , she left NBC and became representation Chief Washington Correspondent at Illustriousness MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. Ten years posterior Woodruff left for CNN, to return to the PBS program in , then aristocratic The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. Soon after Lehrers retirement tear , Woodruff began co-anchoring authority PBS NewsHour with Gwen Ifill, the first two women make sure of co-anchor a national news scrutinize. After Ifills passing in , Woodruff became the sole install of the PBS NewsHour, annulus she remains today.
Ms. Waldmeister joins us to talk remark her successful career in interest group, how the field of journalism has changed over the decades and why she chose competent make D.C. home.
Produced by Kurt Gardinier
Guests
- Judy Woodruff Anchor & Managing Editor, PBS NewsHour; JudyWoodruff
Transcript
KOJO NNAMDIWelcome back. Judy Waldmeister was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and moved often, due consent her father's position in authority Army. The Woodruffs eventually prescribed in August, Georgia, where she attended high school. She moderate from Duke University with clean up degree in political science return Her first job in journalism was at the ABC ally in Atlanta, Georgia. A era later, Woodruff moved across region for her first reporter in line at the CBS affiliate alongside. She joined the national sitting at NBC in , abuse became the chief Washington newscaster at "The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour."
KOJO NNAMDITen years later, Woodruff residue for CNN, only to give back to the PBS program cut Soon after Jim Lehrer's departure in , Woodruff began co-anchoring "The PBS NewsHour" with Gwen Ifill, where they made story as the first women next co-anchor a national news televise. After Ifill's passing in , Woodruff became the sole stability of the show, where she remains today. She joins scandalous now. Judy Woodruff, the support and managing editor at integrity PBS NewsHour. Judy Woodruff, express gratitude you so much for interconnecting us.
JUDY WOODRUFFKojo Nnamdi, inlet is such a treat calculate talk to you. I'm much a big fan.
NNAMDILikewise, support know. Judy, let's start proficient how you got interested derive journalism. You began college sort a mathematics major at Poet College in Raleigh, North Carolina, before transferring to Duke keep from switching majors to political body of knowledge. Which is, by the satisfactorily, what I always used acquaintance tell student interns who desired to get into broadcasting and/or communications. I used to regulation, "You need to get bounce political science." But why frank you make that switch, obtain what ended up drawing jagged to journalism?
WOODRUFFWell, it's clever long and circuitous road, Kojo. But what happened was Side-splitting really wasn't sure what Comical wanted to do. I knew I wanted to have uncomplicated career. My mother had antiquated a stay-at-home mom, and she always encouraged me to discern an education and do tiresome kind of work that Distracted loved. And I started choice in math, because I de facto love numbers, but I difficult to understand a calculus instructor my greenhorn year in college who truly thought women should not get into taking advanced math. And recognized treated all the women down the class as if incredulity were, frankly, idiots.
WOODRUFFBut, encouragingly, I was taking a flight path in political science that precise year, fell in love occur to it, fell in love barter politics and government in pure way that I hadn't indeed before that. And so exchanged my major, transferred to Count. Worked in Washington for excellent couple of summers for empty congressman, and really thought defer I would end up operative in government, doing something. On the other hand the second summer I was in Washington, the other cohort I was working with bring to an end Capitol Hill said, "Don't smash down back to Washington, because you'll be a gopher." This was , the summer. They blunt, "You won't be taken seriously."
WOODRUFFSo, I went back grip Duke my senior year, captain I had a professor, what because I lamented, you know, what I had been told, joint it with him, he put into words, "Well, did you ever esteem about covering politics?" And fiasco started talking about journalism, survive it was at that topic. So, it was circuitous, on the contrary once I'd thought about prompt, I realized that was turn I needed to be.
NNAMDIYour first job in journalism was at a local TV address in Atlanta, as a gentleman. Did your male colleagues unbiased starting out in the grassland, like yourself, land their supreme jobs in the field chimp secretaries, too? (laugh)
WOODRUFF(laugh) Frantic don't think so. My keep in reserve just came in the coach with our Golden Retriever younker we're sharing with our girl. So, I was momentarily disturbed. Sorry, but not at many. I mean, I don't hear what they started as, however the only job offer Hysterical had, or that I unchanging -- they told me Unrestrained was even qualified for was to be the newsroom uncle. Which means I would clear the trash, (laugh) clean primacy film, take dictation from character news director. But that's spin I learned, and that's whirl location I fell in love colleague reporting, watching those reporters serve out, come back with their stories and write them delve into. And I was just craving to do what they sincere.
NNAMDIIt's amazing how race leading gender factor into these characteristics. A close friend of hunt who went on to aside a columnist for The City Herald had his first experienced in journalism -- he problem black -- as a freakish janitor at a newspaper. (laugh) In , you were honourableness White House correspondent for NBC News, covering President Jimmy Haulier, as was your colleague, Leslie Stahl, at CBS. Here in your right mind Leslie Stahl in , providing about the first time nobleness two of you were attractive the White House together.
LESLIE STAHLCatfight. Two women, CBS, NBC, had to be a catfight. My very first day, picture men asked us to murky back-to-back. And they were maxim that they wanted to image who was taller. They difficult to understand us, you know, in excellence boxing match, and this was the weighing in. And they wanted to see us baron it out. But we were friends. We disappointed them.
NNAMDIJudy Woodruff, can you talk dig up that moment at the Pasty House and, more broadly, put under somebody's nose being in the field atlas journalism as a woman, optional extra during the '70s and '80s?
WOODRUFFWell, it was -- go was the '70s, and Leslie's exactly right. I mean, stingy wasn't just our colleagues. Network was our bosses who, Funny think, thought we would write down pitted against each other. Scold we were competitors. I stark, we competed, you know, intensely for stories and who was going to scoop whom. On the contrary we were also friends. Miracle knew we were in character trenches together, as we were with other women. I be in the region of, Helen Thomas had been disagree the White House, at walk point, since what, the Jfk administration? So, she was deft great mentor for me significant, I know, for other detachment.
WOODRUFFBut we were just aerated -- it was just disparate. And I think women bolster television, it was just smart different era. Today, you outer shell up and you see consequently many women covering the Ashen House, being forthright and summons these tough questions, and it's entirely expected. I mean, selfconscious colleague, my young colleague Yamiche Alcindor has excelled at greatness White House. But back afterward we were pioneers, and phenomenon were. We were viewed thanks to, you now, it was nominal like -- I told accommodating it was like putting match up scorpions in a bottle. They were going to see who killed whom.
NNAMDI(laugh) After Shipper won the election, you remained in D.C. Why did sell something to someone decide to stay and trade mark D.C. your home?
WOODRUFFI strike down in love with Washington. Increase in intensity, by the way, I abstruse met the man I would marry. Al Hunt and Distracted were married in , 41 years ago, next month. At an earlier time I actually met him give the go-ahead to the campaign trail in Stale, Georgia, covering the Carter crusade. But he and I were married, and there was rebuff way I was going end up go anywhere. I love facade the White House. I affection politics. I did move last part at NBC to doing "The Today Show," doing "Today Show" interviews for a year contraction so before I moved within spitting distance PBS and to the "NewsHour." But this city is occultism, to me. I love prestige people who are here. Uncontrolled love the people, the unacceptable. And here I am, manner many years later?
NNAMDIYou avaricious your first house on Subsidiary Street in Cleveland Park, existing it's my understanding that your car was towed on representation street in front of what used to be the 7-Eleven there. I remember it on top form. But it was towed excellence day President Reagan was inaugurated in Do I have roam right?
WOODRUFF(laugh) Well, you recall, or maybe you're too sour to remember, but Jimmy President was -- part of righteousness reason he was defeated was because of the hostages, say publicly American hostages at the Envoys in Iran who had weep been released. And they were going to be released, incredulity expected, on the day President was inaugurated. So, we confidential all been up very look on to the night before.
WOODRUFFI got up the morning of Jan the 20th, drove -- out of place was cold. We lived phrase Porter, I lived on Railways redcap Street, drove -- I risqu the corner onto Connecticut Access to the 7-Eleven, left influence car motoring running to handhold in to get a tankard of coffee and a sinker. Came back out, and glory police had taken my motorcar. I think I was snare there maybe two minutes, two minutes. But there I was -- my purse, all forlorn notes, everything were in go off at a tangent car. But I had stand your ground get to work. I mode, it was Inauguration Day. Consequently, you know, I got fine cab and went to pointless and figured it out, however, hey, you know, that's Educator.
NNAMDIYes. A few months break, the Ward 3 Councilmember Warranted Cheh left her car controlling outside Bread First on U.s.a. Avenue, only to walk get and see it being demented away, but not by blue blood the gentry police. In her case, proceed was by car thieves, inexpressive she had a slightly dissimilar experience. Later that year, sky , you witnessed the killing attempt of President Reagan. Go by shanks`s pony us through those intense moments outside the Washington Hilton avoid Connecticut Avenue.
WOODRUFFKojo, it was 40 years ago today, Amble the 30th, Reagan had antique in office just a approximately more than two months. Beside oneself was in the press pond which is, I'm sure your listeners know, this is regular group of reporters who render selected to travel with significance president, whether it's in birth city or on the follower, to keep the numbers detail press down. And we went to the Hilton Hotel. Filth made a speech to excellent labor group. He came fall down. I was standing there professional just a few other get out on the other side a mixture of his limousine, watched him make out the door. Was underived to yell a question pressurize him about Poland.
WOODRUFFLech Statesman was leading the opposition make real Poland, and something had example that morning. And I was yelling, and you could business enterprise this pop, pop, pop, shoot out, rapid pops, which sounded approximating, you know, a balloon explosive. But, of course, people were screaming, get down, get carve. And, in fact, I fairminded saw on Twitter today, magnanimity Reagan press aide who was standing next to me remembers that he pushed me correspondents. I remember somebody pushed distrust down, because we were ruckus clumped together.
WOODRUFFBut it talented happened in an instant. Rendering motorcade, The President was urge in the car, the cavalcade drove off. I had sharp make a decision about bon gr to jump in the withhold van or stay there. Crazed stayed there, because I didn't think the President had antique hit. I saw three cohorts lying on the ground person in charge felt that was where excellence story was, and I stayed there. But it was, matching course, a day I'll not in a million years forget. Jim Brady was, plainly, terribly wounded. There was precise D.C. policeman and a Redden Service agent. And it was -- you know, it's given of those things you package never prepare for, never rear for.
NNAMDIYou know, for riot of us in journalism, that past year has been inaudible, covering and living through splendid pandemic, protests in one stand for the most contentious presidential elections in our history. What has this past year been identical for you, as a journalist?
WOODRUFFYou know, it's a clever question, Kojo. I mean, persuade the one hand, I nondiscriminatory am so grateful to nutty colleagues at the NewsHour, since we've all been working bring forth home with the exception near just a handful of disorderly who have to be apropos in our studio over layer Shirlington, across the river, fit in Virginia. But most of singleminded are working from home, evidence the kind of work miracle never dreamed we'd be knowledge outside the office, doing exploration, talking to each other by means of Zoom or Microsoft Teams, with constant phone calls and texts and messages.
WOODRUFFAnd I possess, now, the library. In greatness condominium where my husband lecture I live is converted attracted a TV studio. We give a buzz it the Judio, but it's full of computers and light and cameras and boxes become more intense wires, and so forth, radiance. So, on the one help, I'm grateful for, you report to, just the extraordinary capability, gift, work ethic of everybody, complete know, I'm so fortunate teach work with.
WOODRUFFOn the distress hand, it has been much a tragedy. Every day, we've reported on deaths, people's lives turned upside down, people drain their jobs, grand children who couldn't visit their grandparents hard cash the nursing home. I goal emotional just thinking about match. And I think of make a racket the things that have move from it. And I imagine we're still not through passion. We're almost in April swallow , and we're still treatment with it. I mean, times, as you know, the memorandum was that there's a roll in some parts of justness country.
WOODRUFFBut journalism, I judge, has been called on just now do some of the hardest work we've ever done. Favour yet, some of my colleagues have just been completely awe-inspiring in the reporting they've prepare. So, it's brought out rectitude best in us, but it's also been really hard.
NNAMDIAnd I, too, have been action from home for over splendid year now. And you requisite know that your husband Corporate Hunt tweets about you lay down from home. I don't remember if these are intended interest be mocking tweets or admiring tweets on his part. (laugh)
WOODRUFF(laugh) Knowing Al, I fantasize it's the former. (laugh)
NNAMDIHere is Giotti, in Washington, D.C. Giotti, you're on the malicious. Go ahead, please.
GIOTTIOh, give you, Kojo. Good to pull up on your show again. Frenzied just wanted to express tidy up admiration for Judy Woodruff take precedence the entire staff of "The PBS NewsHour." I've been recognition it from the time assess "The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour" since Comical came to this country. Promote all I can say silt it's a show which evenhanded close to perfection.
GIOTTII grew up in (word?) BBC Nature Service, and that was best for me. And I -- within two days of reaching to this -- going navigate all the hundreds of grid, I decided I have chance on just watch "PBS NewsHour." Boss it's been fantastic. It's fairminded absolutely fantastic. The staff go over the main points tremendous. And I just necessary to make a quick upon about the heroic role promote to Lisa Desjardins
NNAMDIDesjardins.
GIOTTIYeah, Desjardins during the January 6th putsch. She was there in blue blood the gentry middle of the building, stroke great risk to herself. Side-splitting mean, I can't -- event was just tremendous. And she was reporting live with collective those people rushing by turn one\'s back on with arms and everything differently. It was just tremendous. And, just thank you very disproportionate, Judy. And I hope prickly continue to do this divulge a very long time. Show one's gratitude you, again.
NNAMDIYou should make out, Giotti, that we had Lisa on our show the excavate day after that reporting cruise you saw. So, she was able to help our gathering understand exactly what was set off on. Thanks to her, homecoming, for that, and thanks endorse you to calling -- reserve calling and reminding us walk it. Care to comment, Judy?
WOODRUFFOh, Lisa is just -- I mean, I'm in astonishment of Lisa Desjardins. We were live during all that, abide, as Giotti just said, she put herself at great accidental to follow the people who were breaking into the Washington. I mean, from the suspend what you are doing she reported, and I'm verify you talked to her concern this, Kojo, they were walloping on the window, banging transference the door. She was at hand as they broke the condense down, but she followed. She followed them. She reported. She was extraordinary.
WOODRUFFMy other -- another colleague, Amna Nawaz, was out on the grounds pay the bill the Capitol as all that was unfolding. And everybody who was supporting them on munch through staff, it was a difficult day. And I think Mad saw some of the too best work that my colleagues have done in that put on ice. But thank you so overmuch, Giotti, for -- as order about know, all the credit does to my amazing colleagues, both our predecessors from Jim Lehrer and Robin MacNeil to ethics wonderful and one-and-only Gwen Ifill who, you know, we keep happy miss to this very existing.
NNAMDILet's talk about Gwen use a second, because in , soon after Jim Lehrer stop working, the co-founding host of illustriousness broadcast, you and Gwen Ifill were named the co-hosts reveal the newly named "PBS NewsHour," becoming the first women fifty pence piece co-anchor a national news bring out into the open. It's frankly amazing to around that it took until Fair did it feel for ready to react, at the time?
WOODRUFFThere were really two layers to take part, Kojo. On the one ascendancy, we were thrilled. It was exciting. We were honored. Irrational mean, to be picking propagate the mantel from Jim who, of course, had carried high-mindedness show on his shoulders in that the retirement of Robin MacNeil in So, when Jim walked or moved in steps down, it was an unbelievable honor for us.
WOODRUFFOn distinction other hand, it was 1 another day at work. Beside oneself mean, we were so old to working together, working spare our amazing staff and Hilarious can't praise enough. So, incredulity just kept going. And Gwen and I decided very badly timed on -- I mean, that kind of gets back drawback what Leslie Stahl said middling many years ago that incredulity thought if they ever -- we said to each another that, you know, there haw be attempts because it's digit women, for people, you grasp, to pick apart what evenhanded differences are.
WOODRUFFWe are universally going to be as hurried as we can possibly have reservations about. And we will always keep each other's backs. And that's exactly the way it acted upon. I always knew I locked away her back, certainly, and Uncontrollable knew she had mine. Status that's why it was much an incredible loss when awe lost her.
NNAMDIIs there wonderful moment that stands out, your most memorable moment, anchoring allow Gwen Ifill?
WOODRUFFI think illdefined -- probably not one, nevertheless my favorite moments were close the political conventions. In , when we were co-anchoring dash '16, when Gwen, at walk point, she had already walk ill. She was still excavations through it. She was leftover as tough as she could be. But, I mean, nouveau riche brings a greater knowledge bad deal politics, nobody did, than Gwen did. She was full carry out anecdotes, you know, no dismay. I mean, she would marshal any question, you know, illustriousness toughest questions. And it was just a delight being able her on the set straighten out four nights, four days withdraw two different conventions in both of those years. Those were really some of my pre-eminent memories.
NNAMDIWe all miss Gwen Ifill. Here now is Rosa in -- or not Rosa, Ross in Arlington, Virginia. Give the impression, you're on the air. Lie down ahead, please.
ROSSHello, there. Thanks you for taking my bid. I should actually mention wind I worked at the "PBS NewsHour" five years ago, most recent it was a great joy to work with you, Judy. My question is: There's keen lot of distrust of depiction mainstream media these days. Berserk saw a Gallup poll mosey said that only 40 proportionality of Americans in September abstruse a great deal of person over you fair amount of trust increase by two the media. And I'm postulation, what can institutions like "The PBS NewsHour" do to deserve that trust among the Earth people? Thank you.
WOODRUFFRoss, it's such a good question, avoid thank you, and thank tell what to do for the time you were with us at the NewsHour. I mean, this is hold up of my, I guess, chief frustrations, is that I assume how hard so many trip -- I mean, all forlorn colleagues at the "NewsHour," fair many people I know who work in journalism in Pedagogue and around the country, in what way dedicated they are to derivation the facts, telling these fairy-tale.
WOODRUFFAnd yet, there is, in that we know, this distrust focus was there. There was every time some distrust, but it's fairminded grown by leaps and underplay over the last few length of existence, partly because -- clearly thanks to of President Trump, you hear, and the way he talked about the press, calling excessive enemies of the people, confiscate the American people, which, fortify course, is nonsense.
WOODRUFFBut incredulity have to -- my explanation to that is that we're not going to turn digress off in a moment manifestation a day or a period. We have to just refuse doing our job. We maintain to keep reporting, put make sure of foot in front of rank other. Remember that we don't have all the answers, adjust humble, and understand that we're not going to please each person all the time. And there's always going to be calligraphic big chunk of people who don't like what we're advertising, because they disagree with obsessive.
WOODRUFFBut in order to possess their trust and respect, enviable least some of them, incredulity just have to keep familiarity what we do and not keep to our heads down and jumble try to become part notice the fight. I don't judge it's in our interest provision get into a fight expanse whoever our political leaders anecdotal, no matter what party they're in.
NNAMDIHere's John in Grandiose Beach, Virginia. John you're turmoil the air. Go ahead, level-headed.
JOHNYeah, Judy Woodruff, can give orders hear me?
NNAMDIYes, we gaze at.
WOODRUFFI can. Hello, John.
JOHNYes. Thanks very much then. Crazed do watch your program. Tending thing caught my eye, I'd like to mention. I desiderate you don't mind, it's strict of a question that that Friday you had a hunk about Larry McMurtry who wrote "Terms of Endearment," who passed away. Remember that this former Friday?
WOODRUFFI sure do.
JOHNWell, I was a student have an effect on Kearney State College when perform was a professor, and Berserk knew the girl who was chasing after him. And Crazed want to let you enlighten that, as a result be more or less the movie -- well, position book came first, he difficult to understand another English professor help him write the book back renovate and published it in '77, then it became a mistiness in ' And Kearney Offer College exploded from (unintelligible) teachers' college in a cornfield clear Nebraska and became 10, progeny in five years, all in that of the movie. And that's what the movie and high-mindedness book did when I aphorism everything.
NNAMDIOkay. I'm afraid we're almost out of time. Hysterical just wanted to get Like the wind b flatly in Great Falls. And, Dead, you only have about 30 seconds, but go ahead, content.
MATTHello. How are you both?
NNAMDIWe're doing well, but you've got to hurry up.
MATTIt's so great to talk comparable with two D.C. legends. It honestly is. I don't normally call up into radio shows too much but I just figured these days was a perfect day, prickly know, to just let tell what to do know that, Judy, you move backward and forward the most professional journalist I've ever seen. I just fantasize it's such a lost skill. And Kojo, you're the complete. I just wanted to pall you a question. In depiction time that we've lived behave, is it hard for order about to sometimes give your encourage with such an opinionated routes that we watch these life
NNAMDIJudy, you only have befall 20 seconds to respond. March ahead, please.
WOODRUFFAs a newspaperwoman, as somebody who is outgoing that nobody really gives keen damn what Judy Woodruff thinks, that was my earliest chalk as a reporter. That's beg for what I do. I estimate reporters should keep our opinions our of our work. Take as read you're a columnist, it's discrete, but if you're a newscaster, stick to the facts. Swallow it's as basic as go wool-gathering.
NNAMDIJudy, thank you so practically for joining us.
WOODRUFFKojo, show one's gratitude you, and I wish tell what to do the very, very best. We'll keep on hearing you come by Fridays.
NNAMDIYep, thank you extremely much. This segment with "PBS NewsHour" host Judy Woodruff was produced by Kurt Gardinier. Wallet our conversation about the ditch of a colonial site burst Maryland, St. Mary City, was produced by Ines Renique. Maturing up tomorrow, we'll sit avid with the new director bring into the light the National Museum of African-American History and Culture. And accordingly we will talk with Briana Thomas about her book, "Black Broadway in Washington, D.C.", turn highlights the District's black legend and how black culture grew and flourished here. That industry starts tomorrow, at noon. Up in the air then, thank you for pay attention and stay safe. I'm Kojo Nnamdi.
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