Veteran news anchor and senior correspondent Tom Brokaw is retiring from NBC News after 55 years, the network said on Friday.
Brokaw covered some of the most memorable events of the past half century, from Watergate to the fall of the Berlin Wall, and for more than 20 years he was the face of the evening news in living rooms across the country as a presenter for NBC News at night.
Brokaw began his career in Los Angeles, where he covered Ronald Reagan’s first candidacy for public office, the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 presidential campaign.
In 1973, he moved to Washington, DC, where he became an NBC News correspondent at the White House during Watergate. He stayed there until 1976 before moving to New York to start hosting TODAY.
NBC NewsWire Stock Photo: NBC News Gene Shalit, Jane Pauley, Tom Brokaw in 1977 (Photo by: NBC / NBC NewsWire)
In 1983, he became the anchor and editor-in-chief of “NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw”, where he led the team for 22 years, according to the statement. He also served as moderator of “Meet the Press” after the death of longtime host Tim Russert, becoming the only anchor to present all three of the network’s major programs.
Brokaw also wrote several books on American history and society in the 20th century, including “The Greatest Generation”.
Brokaw has won many journalism awards, including Peabodys, Duponts, Emmys and the Edward R. Murrow award for his broadcasting work.
In 2016, Brokaw was awarded the French government’s Legion of Honor for his defense of the issues facing veterans. In 2014, Brokaw was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.
Evelyn Floret Stock photo: TV journalist Tom Brokaw on NBC news. (Photo by Evelyn Floret / LIFE image collection via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“During one of the most complex and consequent eras in American history, a new generation of NBC News journalists, producers and technicians is providing America with timely, insightful and extremely important information, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I couldn’t be more proud of them, ”said Brokaw in the written statement.
Born in Webster, South Dakota, Brokaw graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1964 before starting his TV career at KTIV in Sioux City, Iowa. He joined NBC News in 1966.
Brokaw plans to continue writing books and news articles, according to the retirement announcement, and spending more time with his wife, Meredith, three daughters and grandchildren.