Tom Brokaw Biography

Quick Facts

NAME: Tom Brokaw
OCCUPATION: News Anchor, Journalist
BIRTH DATE: February 06, 1940 (Age: 73)
EDUCATION: University of South Dakota
PLACE OF BIRTH: Webster, South Dakota
Full Name: Thomas John Brohaw
ZODIAC SIGN: Aquarius

Best Known For

Television journalist Tom Brokaw was the anchor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 until 2004.

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Tom Brokaw

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Tom Brokaw. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 03:21, May 20, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/tom-brokaw-9227130.

Harvard Style

Tom Brokaw. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/tom-brokaw-9227130 [Accessed 20 May 2013].

MLA Style

"Tom Brokaw." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 20 2013, 03:21 http://www.biography.com/people/tom-brokaw-9227130.

MHRA Style

"Tom Brokaw," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/tom-brokaw-9227130 [accessed May 20, 2013].

Chicago Style

"Tom Brokaw," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/tom-brokaw-9227130 (accessed May 20, 2013).

CBE/CSE Style

Tom Brokaw [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 20] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/tom-brokaw-9227130.

Bluebook Style

Tom Brokaw, http://www.biography.com/people/tom-brokaw-9227130 (last visited May 20, 2013).

AMA Style

Tom Brokaw. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/tom-brokaw-9227130. Accessed May 20, 2013.

Synopsis

Television journalist Tom Brokaw was the anchor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 until 2004. He covered almost all of the top stories, including the Watergate scandal, the live opening the Berlin Wall and the 2000 Presidential election. After September 11, 2001, he postponed his retirement to cover the attacks. Brokaw retired from NBC Nightly News in 2004 but is still an active journalist.

Quotes

It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference.

– Tom Brokaw

Early Life and Career

Television journalist. Born February 6, 1940 in Webster, South Dakota. The eldest son of a construction worker and a post office clerk, Tom Brokaw graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in political science in 1962. He started as a radio reporter in college, and after graduating he found work as the editor of a morning news program in Omaha, Nebraska. He also served as a news anchor and editor in Atlanta, Georgia, before becoming a KNBC late-night presenter in Los Angeles (1965-73).

As the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) Washington correspondent (1973-6), Tom Brokaw covered several top stories, including the Watergate scandal. He became Today show host (1976-82), leaving to become co-anchor of NBC Nightly News in 1982 with Roger Mudd. Brokaw took over as sole anchor in 1983 and remained in that post until 2004. During his tenure, he reported on the live opening of the Berlin Wall, conducted a historic 1987 interview with Mikhail Gorbachev, and "awarded" the 2000 Election to Al Gore before retracting the following morning. After September 11, 2001, Brokaw postponed his retirement to cover the terrorist attacks. He retired from NBC Nightly News in 2004 and was replaced by Brian Williams.

In addition to his historic reign in the anchor seat, Tom Brokaw has produced many specials for NBC including 2001's "The Greatest Generation Speaks" based on his bestselling book, The Greatest Generation. He has consistently kept busy throughout his retirement; Hosting History Channel documentaries, delivering speeches and eulogys and and serving on the board of directors for several organizations. He returned to the NBC anchor desk on June 13, 2008 in order to announce the unfortunate death of his friend and colleague Tim Russert. Brokaw would act as interim host for Russert's successful Sunday Morning series "Meet the Press," until a suitable replacement could be found. He also hosted the second presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain on October 7, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Brokaw lives on a ranch in Montana with his wife Merideth. The two have been married since 1962 and have three daughters.

NBC Nightly News and Retirement

As the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) Washington correspondent (1973-'76), Tom Brokaw covered several top stories, including the Watergate scandal. He became Today show host (1976-'82), leaving to become co-anchor of NBC Nightly News in 1982 with Roger Mudd. Brokaw took over as sole anchor in 1983 and remained in that post until 2004. During his tenure, he reported on the live opening of the Berlin Wall, conducted a historic 1987 interview with Mikhail Gorbachev and "awarded" the 2000 Election to Al Gore before retracting the following morning.