2008 Presidential Debate | The University of Mississippi

August 6, 2008

Respected Journalist Jim Lehrer to Moderate Sept. 26 Presidential Debate at UM

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Commission on Presidential Debates announced today that award-winning journalist Jim Lehrer will moderate the first presidential debate of 2008, to be held Sept. 26 at the University of Mississippi and focus on domestic issues.

In the last five presidential elections, Lehrer has moderated 10 of the nationally televised debates among the candidates, including one in 2004. "Jim Lehrer is among the most respected and trusted newscasters in the nation and generally viewed as the premier moderator of conversations addressing serious national and international issues," said Chancellor Robert Khayat. "Ole Miss and Oxford are honored and delighted that Mr. Lehrer will be with us for the first presidential debate, on Sept. 26."

Typically, first debates are the most watched. The first debate of 2004, at the University of Miami in Coral Cables, Fla., drew 62.4 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Historically, debates have attracted audiences similar in size to those of other special broadcasts such as the Academy Awards.

Born in Wichita, Kan., in 1934, Lehrer received degrees from Victoria College and the University of Missouri before joining the Marine Corps. He was a reporter for The Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Times-Herald before beginning his career in public television in Dallas, then in Washington, D.C., where he served as public affairs coordinator for PBS.

In October 1975, Lehrer teamed with Robert MacNeil for the half-hour "Robert MacNeil Report," with Lehrer as the Washington correspondent. Their 1995-96 season marked the 20th year of their journalistic odyssey, as well as MacNeil's departure and Lehrer's stewardship of the program in its current incarnation, "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer."

"I can think of no better choice than Jim Lehrer. He's got a great reputation as a journalist and as a fair and non-partisan television commentator," said Curtis Wilkie, UM Cook Chair and associate professor of journalism. "I can remember other debates that he has moderated, specifically the one at Wake Forest, and recall that he did a first-rate job. He's very seasoned."

Lehrer has won two Emmys, the Fred Friendly First Amendment Award, George Foster Peabody Broadcast Award, William Allen White Foundation Award for Journalistic Merit and the University of Missouri School of Journalism's Medal of Honor. In 1991, he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

He is author of 18 novels, two memoirs and three plays. His most recent novel, "Mack to the Rescue" (University of Oklahoma Press, April 2008), is seventh in a series featuring a ficticious Oklahoma lieutenant governor.

Moderators of other debates are:

Gwen Ifill: vice presidential debate, Oct. 2 at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

Tom Brokaw: second presidential debate, Oct.7 at Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn.

Bob Schieffer: third presidential debate, Oct. 15 at Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.

For more information on Lehrer visit www.pbs.org/newshour/ . For more information about the Sept. 26 debate at Ole Miss, visit www.debate.olemiss.edu .

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