Tonight, I had the chance to see Jim Lehrer, the creator of PBS’s NewsHour program and former anchor, live at an event hosted by the Commonwealth Club of California. The NewsHour is the only news show I follow regularly because it prioritizes quality journalism and public education over ratings and profits. The format focuses on thoughtful analysis and discussion rather than a race to cram in information. Having enjoyed watching Jim on TV for years and knowing he is a former Marine, I jumped at the chance to see him in person.

After 35 years in journalism, Jim retired this year and wrote a new book based on his experiences hosting presidential debates throughout his career. Interesting trivia: Jim moderated almost one-third of the 35 televised presidential debates in U.S. history, a testament to his reputation and accomplishments.

The program began with host David Kennedy, an emeritus professor of history at Stanford University, highlighting the central dilemma of presidential debates: the contradiction between candidates’ goals of winning votes and journalists’ goals of educating the public. Jim pointed out that by the time debates are televised, most voters already have a general idea of their preferred candidate. The debates are less about policy and more about giving the public a sense of the candidates’ personalities and whether they feel comfortable with them as potential presidents.

Jim is a natural storyteller, and much of the program involved him sharing his experiences. Here are a few interesting historical tidbits that stood out:

• During the first televised presidential debate between Kennedy and Nixon, Kennedy’s campaign manager, knowing Nixon had a slight fever, requested the room temperature be turned up. Both candidates refused makeup, but Kennedy had a natural tan. As a result, TV viewers thought Nixon lost because he looked unwell, while radio listeners thought Nixon won. Since then, debates have strict temperature controls to avoid sweating on camera.
• Out of the 120 questions Jim typically received for town hall debates, he could only select 24, ensuring they represented the demographics of the population. Despite attempts to appear spontaneous, the process was rarely so, and candidates often didn’t answer questions directly.

Later, Jim commented on the future of news programming in the digital age. A few years ago, NewsHour combined its TV and Internet departments to create a unified group. Jim directed that they shouldn’t compete to be the first responders in news—those who report first—because it’s no longer relevant. Instead, they aim to be the second and third responders, analyzing and validating the 24/7 headlines. People still crave substance and quality news analysis, which headline-grabbing news cannot provide.

Jim also drew on his Marine experience during this transition at NewsHour. The news team initially had little understanding of the Internet team’s work and vice versa, leading to resistance. Jim had to assert his leadership, ensuring the unification proceeded smoothly. His respect and recognition by his subordinates were crucial for this change to succeed.

Though Jim is no longer with the NewsHour, the program remains one of the best news shows in the U.S., and I am confident his legacy will endure for a long time.