Veteran CBS Anchor Bob Schieffer Retires After Decades As A Newsman

Bob Schieffer, a veteran of broadcast television news who anchored the CBS program Face The Nation for almost a quarter of a century, retired Sunday with a final episode that balanced news and nostalgia.

Schieffer has been with the CBS network for 46 years, 24 of which he spent anchoring Face The Nation.

"I'm going to miss being in the middle of things," Schieffer told viewers Sunday morning, "but the one thing I'll never forget is the trust you placed in me and how nice you were to have me as guest in your home over so many years."

The 78-year-old said he first wanted to work in news after seeing his byline in his school newspaper as a student reporter.

"Maybe it's just because I love the news, but at the time I thought every job I ever had was the best job in the world," he said, reflecting on a career that saw him interview world leaders and work under his idol, Walter Cronkite.

Ever the newsman, Sunday's episode saw Schieffer interview former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on his possible plans to seek the Republican presidential nomination, as well as CIA Director John Brennan on national security and the impending expiration of the Patriot Act.

During his reporting career, Schieffer won a suite of awards, including eight Emmys, and was named a "living legend" by the Library of Congress in 2008.

Having served as the CBS network's chief Washington correspondent since 1982, Schieffer is one of the few reporters to have covered the capital's four major "beats:" the White House, the Pentagon, the State Department, and the halls of Congress.

"Face The Nation was here long before I came to CBS. I know I'm leaving it in good hands," he said along side the show's crew and new host John Dickerson, who all farewelled Schieffer with a round of applause.

His retirement was acknowledged by many in the media industry, as well as some of the politicians he spent decades grilling on air.