In my case, I was covering politics in Texas as a newspaper man in the 1960's. Jim Lehrer More Quotes by Jim Lehrer More Quotes From Jim Lehrer I'm an expert on the NewsHour and it isn't how I practice journalism. I am not involved in the story. I serve only as a reporter or someone asking questions. I am not the story. Jim Lehrer asking-questions literature practice I'm not in the judgment part of journalism. Jim Lehrer judgment journalism I have great faith in the intelligence of the American viewer and reader to put two and two together and come up with four. Jim Lehrer literature together two I'm a journalist and that's what I do. Jim Lehrer journalist I'm in the reporting part of journalism. Jim Lehrer journalism literature I'm in the civil discourse business. I think it takes all kinds. And more power to everybody. Jim Lehrer kind literature thinking If people want bells and whistles and all of that, there are bells and whistles available. If they don't want bells and whistles there are places to go where they are not available. Jim Lehrer bells literature people If we don't have an informed electorate we don't have a democracy. So I don't care how people get the information, as long as they get it. I'm just doing it my particular way and I feel lucky I can do it the way I want to do it. Jim Lehrer democracy long people Journalism is caring where the fire-engines are going. Jim Lehrer journalism caring fire Most of the gaffes I've made have not been funny - they've been stupid. Jim Lehrer stupid made funny If we're going to have debates, let's have real debates. Jim Lehrer debate real ifs I now know how Abbot felt when Costello left, how Brinkley felt when Huntley left, how Sears felt when Roebuck left, and, of course, how Dan Rather felt when Connie left. (at Robert MacNeil's retirement dinner) Jim Lehrer Everyone should get their news however they want to and in whatever form they want. I'm not going to sit back in judgment of other people and the way they do it. Jim Lehrer back news people way I am grateful my country forced me to serve my country. Not for my country's sake, but for my own, in that diverse company, I learned to be responsible for others. I learned to be dependent on others. I learned there was more to life than me, me, me, me. Jim Lehrer