Face the Nation

In his newest book, "Face the Nation: My Favorite Stories from the First 50 Years of the Award-winning New Broadcast," Bob Schieffer, chief Washington correspondent for CBS News, discusses the venerable Sunday Morning show and highlights memorable moments.

Schieffer was online to take questions on his new book, the outcome of the 2004 election and politics in general.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

_____________

Detroit, Mich.: Have you ever interviewed someone or, as this year, hosted a debate, and the impression you had of the event was totally different from that of the viewers?

Bob Schieffer: When I hosted the last Presidential debate, I became so focused on the questions that I came away with no idea of who won. It was really a moment of high drama for me to be on the stage with the candidates, but that is not the place to make a judgement on who won. I will have to watch a tape of it one of these days.

_______________________

Willow, Ark.: Is it appropriate for political types to call up the networks and plead/demand/cajole them to make election return projections? Even if it's legit, isn't it tacky?

And should the networks even take those phone calls from political operatives trying to stage the outcome ahead of the outcome? After all, once the results are official, who cares what the campaigns think?

Bob Schieffer: I suppose all is fair in love and politics, but this is just a good example of why reporters have to keep their wits about them and not be influenced by partisans trying to push them one way or the other.

_______________________

Austin, Tex.: It was wonderful to see the selection of your commentaries at the end of the new book. Any chance you'll do another book of commentaries.

Bob Schieffer: We are thinking about doing just that. Thanks for the question.

_______________________

Brandermill, Va.: Face The Nation is a half-hour program, competing with full hour shows such as Meet the Press and This Week. Do you feel time-constrained? I personally appeciate the lack of bells and whistles, but sometimes think that when you have more than two guests, you just don't have enough time to do anybody justice.

Bob Schieffer: It is a real problem for us. Sometimes just when we are getting to the meat of an interview, we have to say goodbye. My dream is to have one hour.

_______________________

Darnestown, Md.: Given that your brother, Tom Schieffer, is a former business partner of President Bush and currently serves in the Bush Administration as Ambassador to Australia, how could you possibly be objective enough to moderate the debate between President Bush and Senator Kerry?

Bob Schieffer: Well, you will have to be the judge. Most people seem to think that I played it right down the middle.

_______________________

Lakeland, Fla.: When it comes to television news, I tend to gravitate toward shows like The Newshour and Frontline, which tend to feature policy wonks. I think that's where more of the substance is. The Sunday talk shows, which I also watch, tend to feature politicians and hacks, who specialize in 30 second sound bites and spin. I have tremendous respect for you and your career as a journalist. Do you feel free to challenge your guests on matters of substance?

Bob Schieffer: The great thing about CBS and Face The Nation is that no one tells me what questions to ask or not ask. If they did, I wouldn't do it.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Who has been the best to interview, the worst, and who would be your "dream" interview?

Bob Schieffer: To interview the President, any sitting President, is always our objective because no matter what a President says it's news.

_______________________

Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.: What electoral college problem? Before the election there were numerous writers complaining about the electoral college. Bush won 53 percent of the EC votes, pretty close to the 51 percent of the popular vote. Do you see a problem with the EC?

Bob Schieffer: Stand by for a flip-flop. I have always believed the electoral college was a good thing--the only way for the small states to get attention. But the week before the last election, I was on the west coast and realized that people in the largest state really had no part in this election and then when George Bush won the popular vote, by nearly 3 million, it made me wonder how John Kerry could have governed if he had won Ohio, which would have given him the Presidency. I know the arguments for the electoral college, but I have reluctantly concluded it has out lived it's usefulness.

_______________________

Anonymous: I'm a bit concerned that the 51-48 percent election results, even with gains in Congress, are being treated by the Republicans and even some jouranalists as a mandate along the lines of those after the landslides of Johnson in 1964 or Nixon in 1972. Last week, Bush kept needling journalists who dared break "the one question rule" about their defying "the will of the people." Of course, he was not at all humbled by the fact that he received fewer voters than his opponent in 2000, so why expect any humility now? Maybe he'll bring the country together like he promised in 2000? I don't expect it.

Bob Schieffer: You may be right. I believe the President does have a chance to heal some of the partisan rancor, but let's wait and see. I think his remarks about inforcing the one question rule were just an attempt at humor.

_______________________

Nashville, Tenn.: I remember election night coverage all the way back to the 60s and remember lots of cutting away for concession and victory speeches by senatorial and gubernatorial candidates. Why do we no not see this much anymore? Thanks

Bob Schieffer: Because the Presidential election was so close we were afraid to cut away to other stories for fear we would miss an important development.

_______________________

Washington, DC: What is the Networks' role in disseminating news now that we have cable channels that are set up to do nothing but report news for 24 hours a day?

Bob Schieffer: I think the main service we can perform is to put the news in context and offer expertise, but you are right our role is changing.

_______________________

Poinciana, Fla.: When can we expect the investigative report on CBS' use of forged National Guard documents?

Bob Schieffer: I am told it will be in a matter of weeks.

_______________________

Washington, DC: Bob:

Surveys continue to show that large numbers of Americans are very mis-infomred about critical issues such as Iraq. For example, analysis of polling shows that significant numbers of those who voted for the President strongly believe in "proven" strong ties between Osama Bin Ladin and Saddam Hussien, and that WMDs in large numbers were found in Iraq. Question: isn't the "news" industry failing the public if public perceptions are so dramatically at odds with emerging facts?

Bob Schieffer: We do our best to report the facts but we cannot force feed them.

_______________________

Virginia: Were you suprised that Israel was not brought up once in any of the debates?

Bob Schieffer: I suppose so, but it was refered to indirectly several times. There is so much attention on Iraq these days that we are not paying as much attention to Isreal as we should but do not worry with Sharon planning to pull out of Gaza and Arafat's health being what it is, Isreal will soon be back in the news.

_______________________

New York, N.Y.: Bob,

How did you go about preparing for last month's debate? Are you aware of how other moderators prepare?

Bob Schieffer: I spent several weeks talking to experts at think tanks, politicians, other reporters and people I trust. On the Monday before the debate, I sat down with our Face the Nation team and began to par down a list of more than one hundred questions I had come up with. It was one of the most interesting experieces I have ever had. I added the flu shot question on the day of the debate because it was the headline story in several news papers.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: Mr. Schieffer:

You are a smart, classy guy. I love the Face the Nation. Your questions are generally penetrating (although, unfortunately, sometimes evaded) and your commentaries are always interesting.

Given Tom Brokaw's upcoming departure from NBC's Nightly News and the seniority of people such as yourself, Dan Rather, and Peter Jennings, I wonder who you see as the "bright lights" among younger journalists. Or, if you don't want to name names, do you have a point of view as to the relative strengths of weaknesses of more senior journalists and those of the "up and coming" generation?

Bob Schieffer: I think there are a lot of good young reporters out there. And some not so young ones, like Wolf Blitzer of CNN. CNN's new hill correspondent, Ed Henry, shows lots of promise, David Gregary and Nora O'Donald of NBC are first rate, and of course at CBS John Robers and Scott Pelly are tops. Ditto, David Martin and Jim Stewart.

_______________________

New York, N.Y.: What do you see as the role of Sunday Morning News shows?

Bob Schieffer: We think our job is to sit key news makers down and get as much information as we can from them about the top story of the week. We think if we can get the information out there our views are smart enough to know what to do about it.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: How is it working with Dan Rather? Does he use his folksy phrases in normal conversation or does he save them for Election Night?

Bob Schieffer: He is as folksy as a Texas square dance on July the fourth. If I could think of a better comparison I would use it, but as Dan would say, "If a bull-frog had side pockets, he would carry a six shooter, and then he wouldn't be afraid of snakes." (or something like that)

_______________________

Whitefish, Mont.: You said the job of the networks was to provide "context." Now, in this complicated world of ours, how the heck does anyone provide context in a half hour? And furthermore, when all three networks mirror most of each other's lineup, how is that context?

Bob Schieffer: Would you pass that on to my boss's and urge them to expand
Face the Nation to one hour.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: It seems like there is a fine line between keeping politicians accountable and doing their opponents' work for them. How do you draw the line and do you think the media can do a better job in this respect?

Bob Schieffer: We can always do a better job. The politicians are there to deliver a message, our job is to report the truth. If we stict to that, we do OK and perform a real public service.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: You always are a good source for reliable news. There has been talk that the USA public isn't prepared for the losses that will be resulting from the attack on Fallujah that has just begun. Do you think Americans know the potential costs the USA forces are about to incur in Iraq?

Bob Schieffer: I certainly hope they do, which is why we have to be so careful not to santitize reports from the battle field. Obviously, we should never show faces of the dead and wounded, nor should we show gore for gore's sake, but if we do not give people an accurate picture of the horror of war they will never know of the sacrifices our young people are being asked to make. Deciding where to draw the line on pictures from the battle field is one of the hardest decisions news editors have to make.

_______________________

San Francisco, Calif.: Mr Schieffer,

Your take on poll numbers? Is the media's fascination with polls damaging? Dangerous? Just simple fun?

Bob Schieffer: The first rule on polls is be very careful in what you make of them. The networks were criticized for what outsiders call the inaccuracy of early polls on election day, but those of us at the networks know never to read anything into the early polls which is why we never give out the early poll numbers. Those who do not understand polling, get these numbers, leap to them, and them try to draw some conclusions from them. Blame them not us on this one.

_______________________

Maryland: Have you ever felt "used" by a guest? Are there any guests you will not have back on the show due to a falling out or your belief that they are not trustworthy? (you don't have to name names if you don't want to)

Bob Schieffer: There are a couple who will never be invited back because they simply refuse to answer questions. I will not give you their names, but we just don't have the time to fool with people who believe they can come on and use Face the Nation as a soap box.

_______________________

New York: How has the Internet changed your job?

Bob Schieffer: The thing to remember about the internet is that it is unedited. We spend a lot of time now knocking down rumors that pop up on the internet. It is a great resource, but always remember to double check anything that you see there.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: Any predictions on Bush cabinet turnover and who the new appointees will be?

Bob Schieffer: We hear Ashcroft is on the way out and Condi Rice wants to leave, apparently Rumsfeld wants to stay and Powell may stay a while, but I have no inside information on who will replace who.

_______________________

Hershey, Pa.: On one of your interviews regarding the outcome of the election, you said that either of these two men would be fine presidents and there would be essentially no problem whichever was elected.

Do you really believe that?

Bob Schieffer: Actually, that is not what I said. I said that both men had the experience and the integrity to be qualified to be President. I said, what concerned me was that whoever was elected would be elected decisivly and that we would know quickly who the next President would be. I think that happened. George Bush won by nearly 3 million votes and John Kerry did not put us through a recount in Ohio. I commend Senator Kerry for that.

_______________________

Glover Park, Washington, D.C.: Bob -- Being that you are a Texan -- where is the best place to get some good ole fashioned Texas BBQ here in D.C.?

Bob Schieffer: I haven't really found a place. My suggestion is to head to Fort Worth and stop at either Angelo's or the Rail Head, and while you are there, try the chicken fried stake at Massey's and the Mexican food at Joe T. Garcia's in Washington. Play safe and stick to Chinese or Italian.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Bob -- I loved your first book and I am looking forward to reading your new one (Amazon here I come!) -- Based on your varied experiences, if you had to pick the top three news stories you have personally covered, which would they be? I thought you experiences in Vietnam on a "personal" level were of the most interest (plus interviewing Oswalds mom! and being thought as part of the Dallas/FW PD)

Bob Schieffer: The biggest stories I have ever covered were the assasination of John F. Kennidy, 9/11, Vietnam and the enrolment of James Meridith at Old Miss. The most interesting think I have ever done was moderating the recent debate.

_______________________

Bryn Mawr, Pa.: Who, specifically, shoud we contact at CBS about expanding Face the Nation to one hour? Is it necessary to go as high as Sumner Redstone for this?

Bob Schieffer: Write to Les Moonves, President of Viacom, 7800 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036.

_______________________

Bob Schieffer: Folks, I am sorry but I have to go out and cover a story. It was great to talk to all of you and you ask good questions. Keep watching Face the Nation. All the best, Bob Schieffer

_______________________