NEW YORK — CBS says veteran newsman Bob Schieffer is retiring this year.
In a memo to staff Wednesday, CBS News President David Rhodes said that the chief Washington correspondent and anchor of "Face the Nation" will retire this summer.
Rhodes said that the 78-year-old Schieffer made the announcement Wednesday night in Fort Worth, Texas, at Texas Christian University's Schieffer College of Communication. Scheiffer graduated from the school and started his career in Texas, at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Schieffer said on Twitter that he was happy to announce his retirement in his hometown.
Great talking journalism at @TCU tonight. Also really happy to be in my hometown, where it all started, to announce my retirement.— Bob Schieffer (@bobschieffer) Apr 08 2015
He joined CBS in 1969 and has been chief Washington correspondent since 1982 and host of "Face the Nation" since 1991. He has moderated three presidential debates--2004, 2008 and 2012--and interviewed every president since Richard Nixon, according to his CBS biography. He has won eight Emmys, the overseas Press Club Award and a bevy of other honors, including being inducted into the National Academy of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 2013.
In his memo, CBS News head Rhodes called Schieffer an inspiration and mentor for many of his colleagues.
"I can't think of anything could have done that I could have gotten more satisfaction from," says @bobschieffer of his career in journalism.— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) April 9, 2015
Plans for "Face the Nation" and for the Washington bureau will be reported soon, Rhodes said.