Bob Kur

Bob Kur, NBC News National Correspondent, was named news anchor for MSNBC in November, 2001.

Kur was on duty the morning of September 11, 2001 when the White House was evacuated in the terror alert. He reported on camera from the White House lawn and by cell phone for NBC News’ “Today” as the White House staff fled the area following the attack on the Pentagon. In the weeks following the terror attacks, Kur provided hourly updates from the White House for MSNBC and CNBC.

Late in 2000, Kur spent several days reporting live outside the United States Supreme Court as the justices made decisions about the disputed Florida vote count in the Presidential election.

After two years on the State Department beat and six years covering the U.S. House of Representatives, Kur was named NBC News National Correspondent following the 1988 Presidential election. In addition to covering breaking news, such as the Oklahoma City bombing and President Clinton’s trips to China, Southwest Asia and the Middle East, Kur reported extensively on the tobacco industry. In 1996, Kur was named news anchor for “Weekend Today,” a post he held for two years. He frequently has filled in on the news desk of “Today.” Kur also has been a substitute anchor on “Weekend Nightly News.” Additionally, Kur has served as a moderator and panelist on “Meet the Press.”

From Israel in 1981, Kur helped cover the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat. He also reported on the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and spent seven weeks in Lebanon reporting on the fighting and subsequent diplomatic activity. In 1993, Kur accompanied Secretary of State Warren Christopher on a round of diplomatic stops in Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Syria. He also reported from NATO headquarters in Brussels when the North Atlantic Treaty Organization voted to prepare for military action against the Bosnian Serbs.

Kur was also a key reporter for NBC News’ campaign coverage. In 1980, he reported on Senator Edward Kennedy’s bid for the Democratic Presidential nomination and he also covered Vice President Walter Mondale. In 1984, Kur covered the race for the Democratic nomination and focused on the campaigns of Jesse Jackson and Senator Gary Hart. After the Democratic convention that year, Kur reported on Geraldine Ferraro’s candidacy for Vice President. In 1988, Kur covered the campaign of Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. Kur spent election year 1992 reporting on voter attitudes for Nightly News in a series he created, “Voice of the People.”

Kur joined NBC in 1973 as a general assignment reporter for WRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C. In 1976, he was named a network correspondent for NBC News in the Cleveland bureau and moved to the Chicago bureau in 1977. Kur was based in the Washington bureau since 1978. Prior to joining NBC, Kur was a researcher/writer/reporter for the program “Martin Agronsky: Evening Edition,” which was seen on many PBS stations. He also was News Director at WTKO Radio, Ithaca, N.Y.

Kur received a bachelor of science degree from Ithaca College in 1970 and a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1971. He is married to Catherine Porter, a producer for ABC News’ “World News Tonight.” They have three children.