Diane Sawyer
Born 1945 · Age 81
American television broadcast journalist; longtime anchor and correspondent for CBS News and ABC News, known for Good Morning America, ABC World News, 60 Minutes, 20/20 and the Hidden America documentary series.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Glasgow, Kentucky
Lila Diane Sawyer was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, to Jean W. (née Dunagan) and Erbon Powers 'Tom' Sawyer.
Family moved to Louisville, Kentucky
Soon after her birth Sawyer's family relocated to Louisville where her father became a prominent local politician.
Won America's Junior Miss representing Kentucky
In her senior year of high school Sawyer won the annual America's Junior Miss scholarship pageant (poise/interview and essay on Civil War music).
Seneca High School yearbook editor-in-chief
Served as editor-in-chief of her high school yearbook, The Arrow, and participated in artistic activities.
Touring as America's Junior Miss; promoted Coca-Cola at World's Fair
From 1963–1965 Sawyer toured the country as America's Junior Miss and promoted the Coca‑Cola Pavilion at the 1964–1965 New York World's Fair.
Graduated from Wellesley College (BA)
Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College and completed a semester of law school before pursuing broadcasting.
Began broadcast career at WLKY-TV (Louisville)
Hired immediately after college as a weather forecaster for WLKY-TV in Louisville; later promoted to general assignment reporter.
Father E.P. 'Tom' Sawyer killed in car accident
Her father, a Jefferson County Judge/Executive and local Republican leader, died in a car accident on I‑64; an area state park later named for him.
Moved to Washington, D.C.; joined Nixon White House staff
Unable to find broadcast work in DC, Sawyer interviewed for government jobs and became an assistant to Jerry Warren, later administrative assistant to White House Press Secretary Ron Ziegler and staff assistant to President Nixon.
Assigned to project responding to John Dean Watergate testimony
During John Dean's 1973 Senate Watergate testimony, Sawyer and Larry Speakes were assigned to the staff of Nixon's lawyer J. Fred Buzhardt to attempt to discredit Dean's testimony.
Worked on Nixon–Ford transition team after Nixon resignation
Sawyer continued through Nixon's resignation in 1974 and served on the Nixon–Ford transition team (1974–1975).
Began assisting Richard Nixon with memoirs
Served as a literary/assistive aide to Nixon while he worked on his memoirs (work took place 1974–75; she continued to assist through their publication).
Helped prepare Nixon for David Frost interviews
Assisted in preparing Nixon for the televised interviews with David Frost (Frost/Nixon), a high-profile post‑presidency media event.
RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon published
The Nixon memoirs Sawyer assisted on were published in 1978 (she had followed Nixon to California and contributed to the work).
Joined CBS News as general-assignment reporter
Returned to journalism, joining the Washington, D.C. bureau of CBS News as a general-assignment reporter.
Promoted to CBS political correspondent
In February 1980 Sawyer was promoted to political correspondent and featured on Morning with Charles Kuralt.
Announced as co-anchor of expanded CBS morning show
On May 13, 1981 the president of CBS News announced Sawyer would co-anchor the expanded morning show (60→90 minutes).
Debuted as co-anchor on CBS morning show
Made her on‑air debut as co-anchor of the expanded morning program on September 28, 1981.
Co-anchored CBS Early Morning News (with Bill Kurtis)
From 1982–1984 Sawyer co‑anchored CBS Early Morning News (airing earlier than the main morning show) with Bill Kurtis.
Became first female correspondent on 60 Minutes
In 1984 Sawyer became the first woman correspondent on CBS's prime-time investigative newsmagazine 60 Minutes.
Received Golden Plate Award (American Academy of Achievement)
Sawyer was honored with the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.
Married Mike Nichols
Sawyer married director/producer/actor Mike Nichols; Nichols had three children from previous marriages.
Joined ABC News; co‑anchor Primetime Live with Sam Donaldson
In February 1989 Sawyer moved to ABC News and co-anchored the Primetime Live newsmagazine with Sam Donaldson (1989–1998).
Won Robert F. Kennedy Award (grand prize) for Primetime Live investigation
Britannica notes Sawyer won the RFK grand prize in 1992 for a Primetime Live investigation into racial discrimination.
Inducted into Television Academy Hall of Fame
Sawyer was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in recognition of her broadcast career.
20/20 (co-anchor/ correspondent) and Sunday 20/20 with Barbara Walters
From 1998 Sawyer was a 20/20 correspondent and from 1998–2000 co-anchored 20/20 Wednesday; she co-anchored a Sunday 20/20 with Barbara Walters (1998–1999).
Named co-anchor of Good Morning America
On January 18, 1999 Sawyer became co-anchor of ABC's Good Morning America alongside Charles Gibson.
Won Daytime Emmy Award for excellence in morning programming
Sawyer received a Daytime Emmy Award (2000) recognizing morning programming excellence.
Returned as co-anchor of Primetime (Primetime Thursday)
In 2000 Sawyer resumed co-anchoring ABC's Primetime (Gibson replaced Donaldson as co-anchor).
Named one of 30 most-powerful women in America (Ladies' Home Journal)
Sawyer was included on a Ladies' Home Journal list of the thirty most-powerful women in America.
First to announce plane hit World Trade Center on Good Morning America
On Sept. 11, 2001 Sawyer (with Charles Gibson) began ABC's coverage and was first to tell GMA viewers that a plane hit the World Trade Center; she later reported from ground zero.
Frequently selected for Forbes '100 Most Powerful Women' list
Since 2004 Sawyer frequently appeared on Forbes' annual list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women.
Reported from tsunami-affected Southeast Asia; covered Katrina aftermath
Covered major international events including the 2005 tsunami aftermath in Southeast Asia and reported on Hurricane Katrina's devastation and interviewed President Bush about storm response.
Deep Throat identity revealed; Sawyer sought public denial
In 2005 W. Mark Felt was identified as Deep Throat; prior to that a Nixon confidant had suggested Sawyer was Deep Throat and Sawyer requested and received a public denial from Bob Woodward.
High-profile interview with Mel Gibson after DUI arrest
Sawyer received worldwide attention for an intense television interrogation of Mel Gibson following his 2006 DUI arrest.
Won Emmy Award (outstanding news & documentary achievement)
Received an Emmy Award in 2007 for outstanding news and documentary program achievement (programs & segments).
Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award ('A Call to Action: Saving Our Children')
Granted a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for the 'A Call to Action: Saving Our Children' segment on ABC News.
Forbes reports Sawyer earned approximately $12M (June 2005–June 2008)
Forbes reported that between June 2005 and June 2008 Sawyer made approximately $12 million solely from entertainment income.
A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains (special) — Peabody Award
Sawyer and her team produced the February 2009 special 'A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains', which won a Peabody Award and a RFK Journalism Award.
Announced as successor to Charles Gibson as ABC World News anchor
On September 2, 2009 ABC announced Sawyer would succeed Charles Gibson as anchor of ABC World News (Gibson retiring December 2009).
Left Good Morning America
Sawyer left her co-anchor role on Good Morning America on December 11, 2009 ahead of taking the World News anchor chair.
Became anchor of ABC World News
On December 21, 2009 Sawyer took over as anchor of ABC World News (three days after Gibson's departure).
Ratings boost after early weeks as World News anchor
Ratings initially rose 8% after Sawyer's first four weeks as anchor, averaging approximately 8.8 million viewers.
Created 'Made in America' series for World News
In 2011 Sawyer launched the signature 'Made in America' series spotlighting U.S. manufacturing and jobs.
Reported live from Japan after earthquake, tsunami, nuclear emergency
Sawyer was the only evening news anchor to report live from Japan in March 2011 following the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.
Received Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Brown University
Sawyer was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters by Brown University in recognition of her contributions to journalism.
Deadline Club Award for Strawberry Mansion reporting
In May 2013 Sawyer's reporting from Strawberry Mansion school in Philadelphia earned ABC News a Deadline Club Award.
Announced stepping down as ABC World News anchor
ABC announced on June 25, 2014 that Sawyer would step down from the World News anchor chair in September 2014 and shift to producing specials and high-profile interviews.
Final day as ABC World News anchor
Sawyer signed off as nightly World News anchor on August 27, 2014; she remained with ABC News as a special contributor.
Death of spouse Mike Nichols
Film and theatre director Mike Nichols, Sawyer's husband since 1988, died on November 19, 2014 at age 83.
A Nation of Women Behind Bars (special)
Sawyer produced and reported 'A Nation of Women Behind Bars' (2015), investigating incarceration and its effects on women.
Hidden America: Inside Rikers Island special
Produced and reported a critical look at Rikers Island in 2016, examining history of violence and proposed reforms.
Caitlyn Jenner interview (awards: GLAAD & duPont)
Sawyer's 2017 interview with Caitlyn Jenner won the GLAAD Outstanding TV Journalism Award and the Alfred I. duPont‑Columbia Award.
Named a Disney Legend
In 2019 Diane Sawyer was named a Disney Legend for outstanding contribution to the legacy of Walt Disney.
Key Achievement Ages
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