Jim Lehrer To Return To "NewsHour" After Two Month Recovery From Heart Surgery

Jim Lehrer is set to return to his PBS show "The NewsHour" two months after undergoing a successful heart surgery. In April, PBS announced that Lehrer would be "back at full speed and on the program within a few weeks" following a procedure on a heart valve.

Wednesday, the network announced that Lehrer would be returning on Thursday night and would be anchoring the broadcast "two or three days a week for awhile as he moves toward a full time schedule."

The full statement below:

JIM LEHRER RETURNS TO ANCHOR THE NEWSHOUR ON PBS THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2008

Lehrer absent following a heart valve procedure in late April

Jim Lehrer returns to anchor The NewsHour, tomorrow, Thursday, June 26, for the first time since undergoing a successful heart valve procedure in late April. Lehrer plans to anchor the broadcast two or three days a week for awhile as he moves toward a full time schedule.

Beyond resuming his anchor duties at The NewsHour, Lehrer will head up PBS' live, primetime, gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Democratic and Republican national conventions this summer. NewsHour senior correspondents Gwen Ifill, Ray Suarez, Margaret Warner and Judy Woodruff will join Lehrer in reporting the convention events and developments from Denver (Democratic National Convention; August 25 to 28) and St. Paul (Republican National Convention; September 1 to 4).

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer is seen five nights a week on more than 315 PBS stations across the country (check local listings) and is also available online, via XM and public radio in select markets and via podcast. The program is produced by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, in association with WETA, Washington, DC and Thirteen/WNET in New York. Corporate funding for The NewsHour is provided by Chevron, and Pacific Life, along with major funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies, the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public television viewers.

Comments

[drkazmd65]

Not to sound like some sort of broken record,... but welcome back Mr. Lehrer - and take your time easing back into a busy schedule.

Looking forward to hearing from you again.

[PFHarlock]

Welcome back, Mr. Lehrer. It's nice to know you'll be at the wheel of the News Hour this election season. (I'm the one who sent you the photo of the vintage bus at the aviation museum in Oregon.: )

[markusmarkus]

Welcome back, Jim. You and your team are the best. Nuff sed!

[booksnmore4you]

Welcome back, Mr. Lehrer, and thank you for your exemplary service to the American people.

[nyawker]

Welcome back, Jim Lehrer. The rare post on which we all can agree. Since I cancelled my cable your show is my only TV news source and my blood pressure has never been better. The classiest newscast on television.

[Daly]

Jimmy I hope you are well and perhaps you can moderate the debates; show the Blow Dried what classy means. Peace & Blessings

[Ramirez]

Welcome back Jim Lehrer, and it's good to read that your heart surgery was a success.
Good news all around.

[psgoodguy]

welcome back, jimbo.

[brendanm]

I enjoyed seeing some of the other reporters doing some anchoring work, but they were no Jim Lehrer. I think Lehrer at least several times a week will be nice.

Though I hear Mike Wallace won't be back on 60 Minutes. At least we have groundbreaking reporting from Chris Wallace, his son. I learn things every time I watch that guy; today on FOX, Chris Wallace reported that Obama lost the Pennsylvania primary by "20-30 points" to Hillary Clinton.

[mamacat]

Welcome back!

[pithy]

Was wondering where you were - welcome back!

The News Hour is the only place on TV to get reasoned debate and thorough reporting. I't's so wonderful to see 10-15 minutes given to exploring a topic from a number of different agles, without a lot of people bullying, shouting, and talking over one another

[phillyPete]

Great to hear.
Jim Lehrer and his show are one of the few places to get pure journalism and debate.
Welcome back, Jim.

[RTIII]

Godspeed, Jim...

[macintoshsauce]

I am happy to see that Mr. Lehrer is well again, and I look forward to seeing him on PBS again. News Hour is one of the few remaining true journalistic shows left.

[NoSillyName]

Welcome back, Mr. Lehrer! You have been missed.