Jim Lehrer

On November 22, 1963, Jim Lehrer was a reporter in Dallas covering President Kennedy's visit. Now the executive editor of PBS NewsHour, Lehrer discusses his 21st novel Top Down in which he writes about what would have happened if Kennedy wasn't assassinated on that fateful day in 1963.

The Vice Presidential debate took place Thursday night live in Danville, Kentucky. Brian Lehrer reconveneed his (Mostly) Swing State Radio Network, and was joined by former moderator Carole Simpson of ABC, and PBS' Jim Lehrer, host of this year's first debate.

Listen here: 

We also live chatted with Anna Sale, our swing state colleagues and the politically diverse It's A Free Country bloggers for a witty, communal and informative experience. Watch the debate and read the transcript below!

Jim Lehrer, former PBS News anchor and author of Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates, reflects on the presidential debates he's hosted, including the first Romney-Obama debate last week.

As Republican candidates continued the fight for the nomination this week in another early Republican primary debate, former PBS News anchor Jim Lehrer, no stranger to the moderator's chair, joins us to discuss his career as an interviewer and his new book, Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates, from Kennedy-Nixon to Obama-McCain.

As Republican candidates continued the fight for the nomination this week in another early Republican primary debate, former PBS News anchor Jim Lehrer, no stranger to the moderator's chair, joins us to discuss his career as an interviewer and his new book, Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates, from Kennedy-Nixon to Obama-McCain.

Jim Lehrer will no longer be the main face of PBS' "NewsHour." He was the show's anchor for 36 years, but there has not been a lot of fanfare around his departure. "I didn't want to make a big to-do about it," he says. He reflects on reporting on the Kennedy assassination and what he has learned about politics and history. His new book, "Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates, from Kennedy-Nixon to Obama-McCain" comes out in the Fall; he will continue moderating Shields and Brooks on Fridays. So what's next? "I want to write better books," Lehrer tells us.

A 20-year news quiz looks at some of the biggest stories that Brian has covered - or missed while on vacation - since 1989. Guest quizmasters include WNYC President Laura Walker; Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page; actress Rosie Perez; Wayne Barrett of the Village Voice; author Sarah Vowell; Brian's long-lost ...

A 20-year news quiz looks at some of the biggest stories that Brian has covered - or missed while on vacation - since 1989. Guest quizmasters include WNYC President Laura Walker; Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page; actress Rosie Perez; Wayne Barrett of the Village Voice; author Sarah Vowell; Brian's long-lost ...

You may know Jim Lehrer as a PBS news anchor, but did you also know that he is a prolific novelist? His latest work of fiction mixes baseball, World War Two and romance. It’s called Oh, Johnny.

You may know Jim Lehrer as a PBS news anchor, but did you also know that he is a prolific novelist? His latest work of fiction mixes baseball, World War Two and romance. It’s called Oh, Johnny.