Jake Tapper is a well-known American journalist, author, and cartoonist. He is prominent for his role as CNN's lead Washington anchor. He hosts two major shows: "The Lead with Jake Tapper" which airs on weekdays and focuses on news, and "State of the Union," a Sunday morning program dedicated to public affairs.
March 12, 1969: Jake Tapper is Born
On March 12, 1969, Jake Tapper, whose full name is Jacob Paul Tapper, was born. He would go on to become a prominent American journalist, author, and cartoonist.
1991: Graduation from Dartmouth College
Jake Tapper graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in history, modified by Visual Studies in 1991.
1992: Campaign Press Secretary and Congressional Press Secretary
Jake Tapper served as a Campaign Press Secretary for Democratic congressional candidate Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky in 1992 and later as her congressional press secretary.
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1994: "Capitol Hell" Comic Strip Launch
Jake Tapper's comic strip, "Capitol Hell," began its run in "Roll Call" in 1994.
December 1997: Jake Tapper's Platonic Date with Monica Lewinsky
In December 1997, a few weeks before the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal became public, Jake Tapper went on a platonic date with Monica Lewinsky.
1997: Work at Handgun Control, Inc.
In 1997, Jake Tapper worked for Handgun Control, Inc., now known as the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
January 1998: Jake Tapper Writes About Monica Lewinsky Date
In January 1998, Jake Tapper wrote about his experience going on a platonic date with Monica Lewinsky for the Washington City Paper.
1998: Full-Time Journalism Career Begins
Jake Tapper began his full-time journalism career in 1998 after writing freelance articles. He worked as a Senior Writer for the Washington City Paper for two years and received a Society of Professional Journalists award for his work there.
1999: Washington Correspondent for Salon
From 1999 to 2002, Jake Tapper worked as the Washington Correspondent for Salon.
2000: "Down and Dirty: The Plot to Steal the Presidency" Publication
Jake Tapper's book about the 2000 presidential election, "Down and Dirty: The Plot to Steal the Presidency," was published.
2001: Host of CNN's "Take Five"
In 2001, Jake Tapper became the host of "Take Five," a CNN news talk show.
2001: Host of "Take Five" on CNN
Jake Tapper hosted "Take Five," a program on CNN where young journalists and commentators discussed politics and pop culture, in 2001.
2002: Entertainment News Specials on VH1
Jake Tapper hosted a series of entertainment news specials on VH1 in 2002, broadening his experience in the entertainment industry.
2002: Nomination for Columbia University School of Journalism Online Award
Jake Tapper's reporting on Enron earned him a nomination for a Columbia University School of Journalism online award in 2002. During this time, he was also among the first journalists to question the Bush administration's claims regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
2002: Contributions to Various Publications and Media Outlets
Throughout 2002, Jake Tapper contributed to several publications, including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and The Weekly Standard. He also wrote for TALK Magazine and VH1 news specials and was featured in "The Best American Political Writing 2002." Additionally, he frequently appeared on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."
2003: Independent Film Shows on the Sundance Channel
In 2003, Jake Tapper hosted shows focused on independent film on the Sundance Channel.
2003: Joining ABC News
In 2003, Jake Tapper's career led him to ABC News, where he covered a wide range of significant events, from his work at the ABC News Baghdad bureau to reporting on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and covering events in Afghanistan.
2003: "Capitol Hell" Comic Strip Ends
Jake Tapper's comic strip, "Capitol Hell," concluded its run in "Roll Call" in 2003.
2005: Edward R. Murrow Award
In 2005, Jake Tapper, as senior White House correspondent for ABC News, contributed to a broadcast of World News Tonight with Peter Jennings that won an Edward R. Murrow Award for best network newscast.
2006: Jake Tapper Marries Jennifer Marie Brown
In 2006, Jake Tapper married Jennifer Marie Brown, a former Planned Parenthood official, in Brown's home state of Missouri.
November 5, 2008: Senior White House Correspondent
The day after the 2008 presidential election, on November 5th, Jake Tapper assumed the role of Senior White House Correspondent at ABC News.
2008: Lead Reporter for the 2008 Presidential Election
During the 2008 presidential election, Jake Tapper served as ABC News' lead reporter, earning recognition for his breaking news coverage and impartiality in interviewing both Republican and Democratic candidates.
July 6, 2009: Mediaite Launch
On July 6, 2009, Dan Abrams launched the website Mediaite, which reports on media figures and ranks television journalists by influence.
July 2010: End of Interim Anchor Role on "This Week"
Jake Tapper's time as interim anchor for ABC's "This Week" came to an end in July 2010 when Christiane Amanpour took over the anchor role.
August 1, 2010: Christiane Amanpour Takes Over "This Week"
On August 1, 2010, Christiane Amanpour officially took over as the anchor of "This Week," replacing Jake Tapper, who had been serving as the interim host.
December 2010: Top Ranking on Mediaite's Influence List
In December 2010, Jake Tapper was ranked number one on Mediaite's list of most influential TV-based journalists in America.
2010: Second Merriman Smith Memorial Award
Jake Tapper received his second Merriman Smith Memorial Award for his reporting on President Obama's request for the resignation of Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis C. Blair.
2010: Merriman Smith Memorial Award
Jake Tapper was awarded the Merriman Smith Memorial Award from the White House Correspondents' Association in 2010 for his presidential coverage under deadline pressure.
2010: Notable Interviews and Contributions to ABC News Programs
Throughout 2010, Jake Tapper conducted several notable interviews, including the first TV interview with CIA director Leon Panetta, as well as exclusive interviews with Vice President Biden, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, retired General Colin Powell, former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Minority Leader John Boehner, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. He regularly contributed to programs such as "Good Morning America," "Nightline," and "World News with Diane Sawyer." In addition to anchoring weekend editions of "World News" and "Good Morning America" and his work on "Nightline," he frequently served as a substitute host for "This Week" and acted as its interim host for a significant part of the year.
August 31, 2011: Guest Bailiff on "Judge John Hodgman" Podcast
Jake Tapper appeared as a guest bailiff on the "Judge John Hodgman" podcast episode "De Plane" on August 31, 2011.
2011: C.J. Rice's Arrest and Trial
In 2011, C.J. Rice was arrested and tried for a shooting, despite his pediatrician, Jake Tapper's father, testifying that Rice was physically incapable of the crime.
2011: Merriman Smith Memorial Award
The White House Correspondents' Association honored Jake Tapper with the Merriman Smith Memorial Award in 2011, recognizing his excellence in presidential reporting under tight deadlines.
2011: Third Merriman Smith Memorial Award
Jake Tapper was awarded his third Merriman Smith Memorial Award for breaking the news that Standard and Poor's was expected to downgrade the United States' AAA rating for government debt.
November 2012: "The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor" Debut
"The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor," a book written by Jake Tapper, was released in November 2012, and it debuted at number 10 on The New York Times Best Seller list for hardback non-fiction.
December 20, 2012: Jake Tapper Joins CNN
On December 20, 2012, CNN announced that Jake Tapper would be joining the network as a chief Washington correspondent and anchor a new weekday program.
2012: Merriman Smith Memorial Award
Jake Tapper received the Merriman Smith Memorial Award from the White House Correspondents' Association for the third consecutive year in 2012, acknowledging his outstanding coverage of the presidency under deadline pressure.
January 2013: The Lead with Jake Tapper Premieres
Jake Tapper's program, "The Lead with Jake Tapper," premiered on CNN in January 2013, marking his start at the network.
2013: The Lead with Jake Tapper Wins National Headliner Awards
"The Lead with Jake Tapper" received three National Headliner Awards in 2013 for its coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing and the Oklahoma tornadoes, highlighting the program's impactful reporting.
2014: Congressional Medal of Honor Society Recognition
In 2014, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society recognized Jake Tapper with the Tex McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism, for his book "The Outpost" and his reporting on military topics.
2014: Sigma Delta Chi Award for Investigative Reporting
In 2014, "The Lead with Jake Tapper" won a Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi Award for Investigative Reporting, recognizing the program's commitment to in-depth journalism.
2014: Introduction to "The Complete Peanuts 1993 to 1994"
In 2014, Jake Tapper wrote the introduction for "The Complete Peanuts 1993 to 1994."
June 2015: Jake Tapper Becomes Host of "State of the Union"
Jake Tapper took on the role of host for CNN's Sunday political show, "State of the Union with Jake Tapper," in June 2015, where he became known for his direct questioning of politicians.
September 2015: Record-Breaking Republican Primary Debate on CNN
Jake Tapper moderated a Republican primary debate in September 2015 that became the most-watched program in CNN's history and the second-most-watched primary debate ever, attracting over 23 million viewers.
September 16, 2015: Republican Primary Debates Moderator
On September 16, 2015, Jake Tapper moderated two Republican primary debates at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, drawing a record-breaking viewership for CNN.
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March 10, 2016: Republican Presidential Primary Debate in Miami
Jake Tapper moderated the Republican presidential primary debate in Miami on March 10, 2016, drawing nearly 12 million viewers and receiving praise for its substantive nature, as noted by Variety.
March 2016: "The Infamous Tapper-Trump Exchange"
In March 2016, Mitt Romney referenced Jake Tapper's questioning of Donald Trump about denouncing support from white supremacists as "the infamous Tapper-Trump exchange," highlighting Tapper's tough stance during the 2016 election.
May 23, 2016: Guest Illustration of "Dilbert"
During the week of May 23, 2016, Jake Tapper guest-illustrated the "Dilbert" comic strip, with the original drawings being auctioned online to raise money for the Homes for our Troops Foundation.
2016: National Headliner Awards for "The Lead"
In 2016, "The Lead with Jake Tapper" won two National Headliner Awards: Best Newscast and Best Coverage of a Major News Event for its coverage of the November 2015 Paris attacks.
2017: Multiple Journalism Awards
In 2017, Jake Tapper received several awards, including the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism, RTDNA's John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award, CJF's Tribute Award, and Moment Magazine's inaugural Robert S. Greenberger Journalism Award.
2017: American Political Science Association Award
In 2017, Jake Tapper was honored by the American Political Science Association for his contributions to the public's understanding of presidential politics through his tough but objective reporting.
2017: Radio Television Digital News Foundation's John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award
In 2017, Jake Tapper was named as the Radio Television Digital News Foundation's John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award winner, which recognizes contributions to journalism and freedom of the press.
2017: Walter Cronkite Award and John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award
Jake Tapper's contributions to journalism were recognized in 2017 with the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Journalism and the John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award.
2017: Los Angeles Press Club President's Award for Impact on Media
The Los Angeles Press Club awarded Jake Tapper its 2017 President's Award for Impact on Media, acknowledging his effective interviewing style and willingness to ask tough questions.
April 24, 2018: "The Hellfire Club" Publication
On April 24, 2018, Jake Tapper's debut novel, "The Hellfire Club," a political thriller set in 1950s Washington, D.C., was published by Little, Brown and Company.
2018: Continued Recognition by Mediaite
Jake Tapper continued to be recognized on Mediaite's annual list of influential journalists, lauded for his accountability reporting and notable 2018 moments.
2018: Merriman Smith Award
Jake Tapper, alongside a team from CNN, won the Merriman Smith Award in 2018 for their reporting on the White House under deadline pressure.
2018: Vetty Award
In 2018, Jake Tapper won a Vetty award in recognition of his coverage of veterans' issues.
2018: Fourth Merriman Smith Memorial Award
Jake Tapper received his fourth Merriman Smith Memorial Award as part of a team that broke the news that President-elect Donald Trump and President Barack Obama had been briefed on the Steele dossier alleging that Russia had blackmail material on Donald Trump.
July 2020: "The Outpost" Film Adaptation Release
The film adaptation of Jake Tapper's book "The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor," directed by Rod Lurie, was released in July 2020.
2020: Emmy Award for "Madua's Blood Gold"
"The Lead with Jake Tapper" won an Emmy Award in 2020 for the report "Madua's Blood Gold," showcasing the program's exceptional storytelling and investigative journalism.
2020: Response to the First 2020 Presidential Election Debate
Jake Tapper's memorable description of the first 2020 presidential election debate as a "hot mess inside a dumpster fire inside a train wreck" brought him significant attention.
January 2021: Expanded Role at CNN
CNN announced in January 2021 that Jake Tapper's role would expand, making him the network's lead anchor for major Washington events, including election nights, further solidifying his prominent position.
May 2021: "The Devil May Dance" Publication
In May 2021, Jake Tapper published "The Devil May Dance," the sequel to his debut novel "The Hellfire Club," continuing the story of characters Charlie and Margaret Marder.
October 5, 2021: Jake Tapper Interviews Monica Lewinsky
On October 5, 2021, Jake Tapper interviewed Monica Lewinsky on his CNN program, "The Lead with Jake Tapper", to discuss their platonic date which occured in December 1997.
October 2022: The Atlantic Cover Story: "This Is Not Justice"
Jake Tapper wrote a cover story for The Atlantic in October 2022 about C.J. Rice, who was serving a lengthy prison sentence for a crime Tapper believed Rice could not have committed, raising concerns about inadequate legal representation.
October 30, 2022: Jake Tapper Cameo in "The Rookie"
On October 30, 2022, Jake Tapper and his son, Jack, made a cameo appearance in the Halloween-themed episode of the television show "The Rookie."
2022: "All the Demons Are Here" Publication
In 2022, Jake Tapper published "All the Demons Are Here," the third book in his "The Hellfire Club" series.
2022: Recognition by Mediaite
In 2022, Mediaite called Jake Tapper "the top dog who could represent the CNN brand."
2022: Emmy Award for "9-Year-Old Afghan Sold into Marriage"
In 2022, "The Lead with Jake Tapper" won an Emmy Award for the story "9-Year-Old Afghan Sold into Marriage," demonstrating the program's dedication to covering critical human rights issues.
December 2023: C.J. Rice's Conviction Overturned
C.J. Rice's conviction was overturned in December 2023 after a long legal battle, partly fueled by Jake Tapper's advocacy and reporting on his case.
2023: High Ranking on Mediaite's Influence List
In 2023, Jake Tapper ranked seventh on Mediaite's list of influential journalists, with his interviewing skills noted as "arguably unrivaled on cable news right now."
March 2024: C.J. Rice Exonerated
In March 2024, C.J. Rice, whose case was brought to light by Jake Tapper's reporting, was exonerated, marking a significant victory for justice and highlighting the impact of Tapper's journalism.
March 18, 2024: C.J. Rice Exoneration Announcement
On March 18, 2024, Jake Tapper broke the news on CNN that C.J. Rice, a man whose case he had championed, had been freed and exonerated by Pennsylvania authorities.
2024: GOP Primary Debate Moderator
Jake Tapper, alongside Dana Bash, moderated a GOP Primary Debate between Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley in 2024, showcasing his continued involvement in covering political events.