Career Timeline of George Stephanopoulos: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how George Stephanopoulos made an impact.

George Stephanopoulos is an American television host, political commentator, and former Democratic advisor. He currently co-anchors Good Morning America and hosts This Week, ABC's Sunday morning current events news program, solidifying his presence in both news and morning television.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1988: Work on Dukakis Presidential Campaign

In 1988, Stephanopoulos worked on the U.S. presidential campaign of Michael Dukakis, drawn to Dukakis's Greek-American background and liberal stance. After the campaign, he became an executive floor assistant to Dick Gephardt.

September 1991: Meeting Bill Clinton

In September 1991, Stephanopoulos met Bill Clinton. This meeting began the journey that led to his role in two presidential campaigns and four years in the White House, all of which is covered in his book.

1992: Communications Director for Clinton Campaign

In 1992, Stephanopoulos became the communications director for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign, marking an early rise to prominence in the Democratic Party.

1992: Leading Member of Clinton's Presidential Campaign

In 1992, Stephanopoulos, alongside David Wilhelm and James Carville, was a leading member of Bill Clinton's U.S. presidential campaign.

December 1996: Departure from the White House

In December 1996, George Stephanopoulos departed from his role as senior advisor for policy and strategy in the Clinton White House.

1996: Resignation from Clinton Administration

In 1996, Stephanopoulos resigned from the Clinton administration shortly after Clinton's re-election. He was among the first within the White House to recognize the potential damage of the Lewinsky affair.

September 2002: Host of 'This Week'

In September 2002, Stephanopoulos became the host of "This Week", marking a significant step in his journalism career.

2003: Keynote Speaker at Columbia College's Class Day

In 2003, George Stephanopoulos returned to his alma mater, Columbia University, serving as the keynote speaker at Columbia College's Class Day.

December 2005: Named Chief Washington Correspondent

In December 2005, ABC News officially named Stephanopoulos "Chief Washington Correspondent", recognizing his growing role in the network's news division.

2005: Offered 'This Week' Host Job to Ted Koppel

In 2005, ABC News executives reportedly offered Ted Koppel the "This Week" host job due to the program's low ratings.

April 16, 2008: Co-Moderation of Democratic Presidential Debate

On April 16, 2008, Stephanopoulos co-moderated a Democratic Party presidential debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The moderators were criticized for focusing on campaign controversies rather than key issues.

2008: Launch of 'George's Bottom Line' Blog

During the 2008 presidential election campaign, Stephanopoulos launched "George's Bottom Line," a blog on the ABC News website, where he provided political news and analysis.

January 11, 2009: 'This Week' Beats 'Meet the Press'

On January 11, 2009, "This Week" beat "Meet the Press" in ratings after Stephanopoulos interviewed president-elect Barack Obama.

December 14, 2009: Starts Co-Anchoring Good Morning America

On December 14, 2009, Stephanopoulos began co-anchoring "Good Morning America".

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December 2009: Offered Diane Sawyer's Job on Good Morning America

In December 2009, Stephanopoulos was offered Diane Sawyer's job on "Good Morning America" by ABC News president David Westin.

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January 10, 2010: Last Broadcast as Permanent Host of 'This Week'

On January 10, 2010, Stephanopoulos had his last broadcast as the permanent host of "This Week" before returning to the show later.

December 2011: Return as Host of 'This Week'

In December 2011, Stephanopoulos returned as host of "This Week" after Christiane Amanpour left the show.

January 7, 2012: Co-Moderation of Republican Debate

On January 7, 2012, Stephanopoulos co-moderated a debate among Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum. He questioned Romney on his stance regarding a 1965 Supreme Court ruling on contraception.

August 2014: Chief Anchor at ABC News

Following Diane Sawyer's departure from World News, Stephanopoulos became the Chief Anchor at ABC News in August 2014, while retaining his roles on GMA and This Week.

February 2016: Withdrawal from Moderating Republican Debate

In February 2016, Stephanopoulos withdrew from moderating a Republican presidential primary debate due to concerns about bias and conflict of interest arising from his donations to the Clinton Foundation.