60^th anniversary background information

Fast facts about the longest-running program in television history

Slide show

60 years of ‘Meet the Press’
A photographic look back at the longest-running program in television history and the guests who graced the broadcast – from Martin Luther King Jr. to Jimmy Hoffa.

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	Ted Kennedy on 'Meet the Press' Nov. 18: Senator Edward Kennedy, who holds the record for the longest time span on "Meet the Press" -- 45 years -- discusses his first appearance on the show, the coaching he received from his older brother, President John Kennedy; and what the program has meant to his family's political dynasty.
	'Meet the Press' and the news cycle Nov. 18: Reporters David Broder and Robert Novak talk about their history with "Meet the Press" and the show's integral role in shaping the Washington news cycle. Broder holds the record for most reporter appearances on the program -- 396. Novak comes in second with a total of 247 appearances.
	A look back at 60 years of 'Meet the Press' Nov. 18: U.S. politics, world events, social change: all the bread and butter of six decades of "Meet the Press." Take a look back at some of the biggest newsmakers and most memorable moments in the program's remarkable history.

Television broadcast debut:
November 6, 1947

Co-Creators of “Meet the Press:”
Martha Rountree and Lawrence Spivak

Moderators of “Meet the Press:”
Martha Rountree – November 6, 1947 – November 1, 1953
Ned Brooks – November 22, 1953 – December 26, 1965
Lawrence Spivak – January 1, 1966 – November 9, 1975
Bill Monroe – November 16, 1975 – September 9, 1984
Roger Mudd and Marvin Kalb – September 16, 1984 – June 2, 1985
Chris Wallace – May 10, 1987 – December 4, 1988
Garrick Utley – January 29, 1989 – December 1, 1991
Tim Russert – December 8, 1991 – present

Expanded to an hour long program:
September 20, 1992

First guest on “Meet the Press:”
James A. Farley, former postmaster general of the United States and former DNC Chair.

First female guest interviewed on “Meet the Press:”
Elizabeth Bentley, a courier for a Communist spy ring was the first woman guest to be interviewed, on September 12, 1948

First Senator on “Meet the Press:”
Sen. Claude Pepper (D-Fla.) on November 24, 1947

U.S. Presidents appearing on “Meet the Press:”
Every U.S. President since John F. Kennedy has appeared on “Meet the Press” during his career.

Number of World Leaders on “Meet the Press:”
There have been over 60 Prime Ministers, Presidents, Premiers, Kings or Chancellors representing 32 countries.

Most Frequent Guests on “Meet the Press:”
Bob Dole/63 appearances
John McCain/50 appearances
Joseph Biden/41 appearances
Richard Gephardt/41 appearances
Richard Lugar/36 appearances

Most frequent journalist appearances on “Meet the Press:”
David Broder of the Washington Post/396 times
Robert Novak of the Chicago Sun Times/247 times

Longest time span between first and most recent appearance:
Sen. Ted Kennedy
First appearance: March 11, 1962
Most recent appearance: January 21, 2007
Time span of: almost 45 years

Parents and children who have both appeared on “Meet the Press:”
Birch and Evan Bayh
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto
Habib Bourguiba and Habib Bourguiba, Jr.
Pat and Jerry Brown
George HW Bush and George W. Bush
John and Lincoln Chafee
Tom and Ramsey Clark
Thomas and Chris Dodd
Gerald and Jack Ford
George Gallup and George Gallup, Jr.
Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi (3 generations)
Al Gore and Al Gore Jr.
Jimmy and James P. Hoffa
King Hussein and King Abdullah of Jordan
Jesse Jackson and Jesse Jackson Jr.
Henry and Edgar Kaiser
Edward and Patrick Kennedy
John, Caroline and John Jr. Kennedy
Robert, Kathleen and Joe Kennedy
Moon and Mary Landrieu
Henry Cabot Lodge and George Cabot Lodge
Guy and Susan Molinari
Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Dr. Vali Nasr
Eleanor, James, Elliott and Franklin Jr. Roosevelt
Lawrence, Judy and Jonathan Spivak
Adlai Stevenson II and III
Stuart and James Symington
Robert Taft Sr. and Robert Taft Jr.
Eugene and Herman Talmadge
Millard and Joseph Tydings
George and Mitt Romney

Husbands and wives who have both appeared on “Meet the Press:”
Howard Baker and Nancy Kassebaum
Ben Bradlee and Sally Quinn
George and Laura Bush
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter
James Carville and Mary Matalin
Bill and Hillary Clinton
Matt Cooper and Mandy Grunwald
Nicholas and Ruth Daniloff
Bob and Elizabeth Dole
Richard “Dick” Goodwin and Doris Kearns Goodwin
Al and Tipper Gore
Alan Greenspan and Andrea Mitchell
Philip and Jane Hart
Tom Hayden and Jane Fonda
Al Hunt and Judy Woodruff
Henry Luce and Claire Booth Luce
Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson
George and Eleanor McGovern
Theodore “Ted” and Barbara Olson
William McMillan and Susan Carpenter-McMillan
Bill Paxon and Susan Molinari
Todd Purdum and Dee Dee Myers
Ronald and Nancy Reagan
Steve and Cokie Roberts
William and Jill Ruckelshaus
Anatoly and Avital Shcharansky

Current “Meet the Press” credit list:
Moderator and managing editor, Tim Russert
Executive Producer: Betsy Fischer
Director: Leigh Sutherland
Producers, Michelle Jaconi and Rebecca Samuels
Production Manager: Betty Nevins
Associate Producer/Researcher: Chris Donovan
Production Assistant: Ellen Van de Mark
Research Assistant: Joey Bell

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60th anniversary background information

Fast facts about the longest-running program in television history

60^th anniversary background information