History of Walter Isaacson in Timeline

Walter Isaacson is an American journalist and biographer known for his in-depth accounts of influential figures. His notable works include biographies of Henry Kissinger, Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Jennifer Doudna, and Elon Musk. These biographies explore the lives, innovations, and leadership styles of these individuals. Isaacson is currently a professor at Tulane University and an interviewer for the news show Amanpour & Company.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

May 20, 1952: Walter Isaacson's birth

On May 20, 1952, Walter Seff Isaacson was born. He is an American journalist and biographer.

Others born on this day/year

1974: Graduates from Harvard University

In 1974, Isaacson graduated from Harvard University, where he majored in history and literature.

1978: Joins Time magazine

In 1978, Isaacson joined Time magazine, serving in various roles including political correspondent and national editor.

1983: Authors "Pro and Con"

In 1983, Isaacson authored "Pro and Con".

1986: Co-authors "The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made"

In 1986, Isaacson co-authored "The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made" with Evan Thomas.

1992: Authors "Kissinger: A Biography"

In 1992, Isaacson authored "Kissinger: A Biography".

1996: Becomes editor of Time magazine

In 1996, Isaacson became the 14th editor of Time magazine.

July 2001: Becomes chairman and CEO of CNN

In July 2001, Isaacson became chairman and CEO of CNN, replacing Tom Johnson.

January 2003: Steps down as president of CNN

In January 2003, Isaacson announced he would step down as president of CNN to become president of the Aspen Institute. Jim Walton replaced Isaacson.

2003: Authors "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life"

In 2003, Isaacson authored "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life".

2003: Becomes president and CEO of the Aspen Institute

In 2003, Isaacson became the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute.

October 2005: Appointed vice chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority

In October 2005, Isaacson was appointed vice chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority by the Governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco.

December 2007: Appointed chairman of the U.S.-Palestinian Partnership

In December 2007, President George W. Bush appointed Isaacson chairman of the U.S.-Palestinian Partnership.

2007: Authors "Einstein: His Life and Universe"

In 2007, Isaacson authored "Einstein: His Life and Universe".

January 2008: U.S.-Vietnamese Dialogue on Agent Orange project completion

In January 2008, the U.S.-Vietnamese Dialogue on Agent Orange, co-chaired by Isaacson, announced completion of a project to contain dioxin at the Da Nang air base and plans to build health centers.

2008: Appointed to Advisory Committee of the National Institutes of Health

In 2008, Isaacson was appointed to be a member of the Advisory Committee of the National Institutes of Health.

2009: Authors "American Sketches"

In 2009, Isaacson authored "American Sketches".

2009: Appointed chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors

In 2009, President Obama appointed Isaacson chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

2010: Editor of "Profiles in Leadership: Historians on the Elusive Quality of Greatness"

In 2010, Isaacson edited "Profiles in Leadership: Historians on the Elusive Quality of Greatness".

October 24, 2011: Publication of "Steve Jobs" biography

On October 24, 2011, Isaacson's authorized biography of Steve Jobs was published by Simon & Schuster, becoming an international best-seller.

Steve Jobs

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2011: Authors "Steve Jobs"

In 2011, Isaacson authored "Steve Jobs".

Steve Jobs

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January 2012: Ends term as chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors

In January 2012, Isaacson's term as chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors ended.

2012: President of the Society of American Historians

In 2012, Isaacson served as president of the Society of American Historians.

2012: Named one of Time 100

In 2012, Isaacson was selected as one of the Time 100, Time magazine's list of the most influential people in the world.

2012: Wins Gerald Loeb Award

In 2012, Isaacson's book Steve Jobs earned him the Gerald Loeb Award.

Steve Jobs

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2013: Awarded Benjamin Franklin Medal

In 2013, Isaacson was awarded the Royal Society of Arts' Benjamin Franklin Medal.

October 2014: Publication of "The Innovators"

In October 2014, Isaacson published "The Innovators: How a Group of Inventors, Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution."

2014: Authors "The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution"

In 2014, Isaacson authored "The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution".

2014: Appointed co-chair of the New Orleans Tricentennial Commission

In 2014, Isaacson was appointed co-chair of the New Orleans Tricentennial Commission.

2014: Selected for Jefferson Lecture

In 2014, the National Endowment for the Humanities selected Isaacson for the Jefferson Lecture, the U.S. federal government's highest honor for achievement in the humanities. His lecture was titled "The Intersection of the Humanities and the Sciences".

2015: Appointed to the board of My Brother's Keeper Alliance

In 2015, Isaacson was appointed to the board of My Brother's Keeper Alliance.

2015: Recipient of The Nichols-Chancellor's Medal at Vanderbilt University

Walter Isaacson was the 2015 recipient of The Nichols-Chancellor's Medal at Vanderbilt University.

2016: Appointed to the New Orleans City Planning Commission

In 2016, Isaacson was appointed to the New Orleans City Planning Commission.

March 2017: Launches the Trailblazers podcast

In March 2017, Isaacson launched a podcast with Dell Technologies called Trailblazers, focusing on technology's effects on business.

August 2017: Paramount Pictures wins rights to adapt Leonardo da Vinci biography

In August 2017, Paramount Pictures won a bidding war to adapt Isaacson's biography of Leonardo da Vinci, with Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way Productions planning to produce the film with DiCaprio as the star.

October 17, 2017: Publication of Leonardo da Vinci biography

On October 17, 2017, Isaacson's biography of Leonardo da Vinci was published to positive reviews.

November 2017: Aspen Institute names successor

In November 2017, the Aspen Institute named Dan Porterfield as Isaacson's successor.

2017: Authors "Leonardo da Vinci"

In 2017, Isaacson authored "Leonardo da Vinci".

2018: Steps down from Aspen Institute

In 2018, Isaacson stepped down from the Aspen Institute to become a professor of history at Tulane University and an advisory partner at Perella Weinberg Partners.

2018: Appointed co-chair of LaToya Cantrell's transition team

In 2018, Isaacson was appointed co-chair of LaToya Cantrell's transition team.

2018: Joins Amanpour & Company

In 2018, Isaacson was named as a contributor for the Amanpour & Company airing on PBS and CNN.

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March 2019: Joins Arcadia Publishing as editor-at-large

In March 2019, Isaacson became the editor-at-large and senior adviser for Arcadia Publishing.

2020: Jennifer Doudna wins Nobel Prize

In 2020, Jennifer Doudna wins the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work on the CRISPR system of gene editing. Isaacson later wrote a biography about her.

March 13, 2021: "The Code Breaker" Debuts at Number One

For the week ending March 13, 2021, "The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race" debuted at number one on The New York Times nonfiction best-seller list.

March 2021: Publishes "The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race"

In March 2021, Isaacson published "The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race", a biography of Jennifer Doudna. The book debuted at number one on The New York Times nonfiction best-seller list.

2021: Authors "The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race"

In 2021, Isaacson authored "The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race".

September 12, 2023: Publishes biography of Elon Musk

On September 12, 2023, Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk was published by Simon & Schuster. It was later shortlisted for the 2023 Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award.

2023: Authors "Elon Musk"

In 2023, Isaacson authored "Elon Musk".

2023: Receives National Humanities Medal

In 2023, Isaacson received the National Humanities Medal from President Joe Biden.

November 2025: Release of "The Greatest Sentence Ever Written"

In November 2025, Isaacson's book "The Greatest Sentence Ever Written" will be released, focusing on the "We hold these truths" sentence in the United States Declaration of Independence.