Tom Brokaw is a retired American television journalist and author. His career at NBC spanned several decades and included prominent roles on three major news programs: *The Today Show*, *NBC Nightly News*, and *Meet the Press*. He co-anchored *The Today Show* with Jane Pauley from 1976 to 1981, and then became the anchor and managing editor of *NBC Nightly News* for 22 years. Before becoming the weekday anchor, he served as a weekend anchor for *Nightly News*. He is the only person to have hosted all three of the aforementioned flagship NBC News programs. Following his retirement as the *Nightly News* anchor in 2004, he continued to serve as a special correspondent for NBC News.
1912: Birth of Anthony "Red" Brokaw
Tom Brokaw's father, Anthony "Red" Brokaw, was born in 1912.
1917: Birth of Eugenia "Jean" Brokaw
Tom Brokaw's mother, Eugenia "Jean" Brokaw, was born in 1917.
February 6, 1940: Birth of Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw was born on February 6, 1940.
1962: Graduation from University of South Dakota
Brokaw graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1962.
1962: Marriage to Meredith Lynn Auld
Tom Brokaw married author Meredith Lynn Auld in 1962.
1966: Joins NBC News
Tom Brokaw joined NBC News in 1966.
1967: Start of Alfonso Espinosa de los Monteros at Ecuavisa
Alfonso Espinosa de los Monteros joined Ecuavisa in 1967 starting his long career there.
1969: Offered and Declined Nixon White House Position
Brokaw was offered, and declined, a position in the Nixon White House in 1969.
1973: Becomes White House Correspondent and Nightly News Weekend Anchor
In 1973, Brokaw became an NBC White House correspondent and weekend anchor for Nightly News.
1973: NBC Weekend Anchor and White House Correspondent
In 1973, Tom Brokaw became a weekend anchor for NBC Nightly News and the White House correspondent, covering the Watergate scandal.
1976: Becomes Co-host of Today Show
Brokaw began co-hosting the Today Show in 1976.
1976: Co-anchor of The Today Show
In 1976, Brokaw started co-anchoring The Today Show with Jane Pauley.
1981: Succeeded by Bryant Gumbel on Today Show
Bryant Gumbel succeeded Tom Brokaw on the Today Show in 1981.
1981: End of Today Show Co-anchor Role
In 1981, Brokaw left his role as co-anchor of The Today Show.
1982: Death of Anthony "Red" Brokaw
Tom Brokaw's father passed away in 1982.
November 9, 1989: Reports on the Fall of the Berlin Wall
On November 9, 1989, Brokaw was the first English-language broadcast journalist to report on the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
1989: Purchase of Montana Ranch
Tom Brokaw and his wife purchased a ranch near Livingston, Montana, in 1989.
1993: Hosts "Now" with Katie Couric
Brokaw and Katie Couric began hosting the prime-time newsmagazine "Now" in 1993.
1993: Cameo on "Late Show with David Letterman"
Brokaw made a surprise cameo on the first broadcast of "Late Show with David Letterman" in 1993.
1994: "Now" Folded into "Dateline NBC"
In 1994, "Now" was folded into the "Dateline NBC" program.
1996: Statement on Richard Jewell and Olympic Park Bombing
In 1996, Brokaw made a statement about Richard Jewell's suspected involvement in the Olympic Park bombing.
1998: Publication of "The Greatest Generation"
In 1998, Tom Brokaw published his book "The Greatest Generation".
September 11, 2001: Anchors 9/11 Coverage
Brokaw anchored coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
December 1, 2004: Final Nightly News Broadcast
Brokaw's final Nightly News broadcast aired on December 1, 2004.
March 2005: Dan Rather's Ousting from CBS Evening News
Following Tom Brokaw's retirement in December 2004, Dan Rather was ousted from CBS Evening News in March 2005, marking a shift in the television news landscape.
August 2005: Peter Jennings's Death
In August 2005, following Tom Brokaw's retirement and Dan Rather's ousting, Peter Jennings passed away, signifying the end of an era in television news.
2006: Eulogy for Gerald Ford
Tom Brokaw delivered a eulogy at the state funeral of former President Gerald R. Ford in 2006.
June 13, 2008: Announcement of Tim Russert's Death
On June 13, 2008, Tom Brokaw announced the sudden death of Tim Russert, NBC News Washington Bureau Chief, during a break in regular programming.
December 2008: Interim Host of Meet the Press
Tom Brokaw served as the interim host of Meet the Press until December 2008, following the death of Tim Russert.
2008: Testifies About Anthrax Attacks
In 2008, Brokaw testified about the 2001 anthrax attacks.
2008: NBC Analyst and Presidential Debate Moderator
In 2008, Tom Brokaw served as an NBC analyst during the presidential election campaign and moderated the second debate between Barack Obama and John McCain.
2010: Awarded Honorary Doctorate from University of Iowa
Brokaw received an honorary doctorate from the University of Iowa in 2010.
2011: Host of "The Boys in the Hall"
In 2011, Tom Brokaw began hosting "The Boys in the Hall," a baseball documentary series for Fox Sports Net.
2011: Death of Eugenia "Jean" Brokaw
Tom Brokaw's mother passed away in 2011.
September 6, 2012: Hospitalization
On September 6, 2012, Tom Brokaw was hospitalized after appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe due to accidentally taking Ambien.
December 2012: Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert
Tom Brokaw starred in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's annual Christmas concert in December 2012.
August 2013: Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis
Tom Brokaw was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in August 2013.
December 2013: Christmas Concert Broadcast
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert featuring Tom Brokaw was televised nationally in December 2013.
April 2014: Brokaw News Center Dedication
A new broadcast facility, the Brokaw News Center, was opened at Universal Studios Hollywood in April 2014, named in Tom Brokaw's honor.
November 2014: Presidential Medal of Freedom
President Barack Obama awarded Tom Brokaw the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, in November 2014.
December 21, 2014: Cancer Remission Announcement
Tom Brokaw announced that his multiple myeloma was in remission on December 21, 2014.
2014: Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Brokaw received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014.
2015: Publication of "A Lucky Life Interrupted"
Tom Brokaw published his memoir, "A Lucky Life Interrupted," about his battle with cancer in 2015.
March 11, 2016: Eulogy for Nancy Reagan
On March 11, 2016, Tom Brokaw delivered a eulogy at the funeral of former First Lady Nancy Reagan.
2016: Awarded the French Legion of Honor
Tom Brokaw was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 2016.
2017: Revealed Declining Nixon White House Position
In 2017, Brokaw revealed he had declined a position in the Nixon White House.
2018: Sexual Harassment Allegations
In 2018, Tom Brokaw faced allegations of unwanted sexual advances, which he denied, and was defended by several former colleagues.
2019: Publication of "The Fall of Richard Nixon"
Tom Brokaw published his book "The Fall of Richard Nixon: A Reporter Remembers Watergate" in 2019.
January 22, 2021: Retirement from NBC
Tom Brokaw retired from NBC after 55 years on January 22, 2021, marking the end of a long and distinguished career.
2021: Retirement from NBC News
Brokaw retired from NBC News after 55 years in 2021.
May 2023: Alfonso Espinosa de los Monteros' Retirement
In May 2023, Ecuadorian news anchor Alfonso Espinosa de los Monteros retired from Ecuavisa after over 56 years, making him one of the few news anchors in the world with such a long tenure.