Monday, May 19, 2008

Bob Schieffer had announced that he planned to hang it up after the presidential inauguration. Then the CBS newsman said maybe he'd stick around a little while longer.

Now the network plans to announce today that Schieffer, 71, has signed a "long-term deal" to continue as chief Washington correspondent and "Face the Nation" host.

What happened? With Katie Couric's future uncertain, CBS News President Sean McManus talked one of his most durable stars -- who has already filled in once as interim anchor -- out of leaving. McManus doesn't have an immediate replacement for "Face the Nation." And the two men have become close friends.

What does "long-term" mean? "That means I'll be at CBS for the rest of my life," Schieffer says, adding that he plans to host "Face" for several more years.

"Luckily, I've got my wife here, and when I start to make a fool of myself, she'll tell me that."

-- Howard Kurtz