Brokaw, regarded as one of the most trusted and respected figures in broadcast journalism today, is currently a special correspondent for NBC News reporting and producing long-form documentaries while also providing commentary during election coverage and breaking news events.

A native of Yankton, S.D., and a 1964 graduate of The University of South Dakota, Brokaw is the former anchor of “NBC Nightly News.” Most recently, he was a correspondent during the network’s coverage of the XXI Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and he traveled across the United States to report on the changing face of the nation in “Tom Brokaw Presents: American Character Along Highway 50” for NBC and USA Network.

As anchor and managing editor of “NBC Nightly News” for 21 years, Brokaw received numerous honors, including the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, the Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement, and he was inducted as a fellow into the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Association of the U.S. Army honored him with their highest award, the George Catlett Marshall Medal, first ever to a journalist; and he was the recipient of the West Point Sylvanus Thayer Award, in recognition of devoted service to bringing exclusive interviews and stories to public attention. His insight, ability and integrity have earned him a dozen Emmys and two Peabody and duPont-Columbia University awards for his journalistic achievements.

The best-selling author of “The Greatest Generation” (1998), “The Greatest Generation Speaks” (1999), “An Album of Memories” (2001), “A Long Way from Home” (2002) and “BOOM! Voices of the Sixties” (2007), Brokaw began his journalism career in 1962 at KMTV in Omaha, Neb. He anchored the late evening news on Atlanta's WSB-TV in 1965 before joining KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. Brokaw was hired by NBC News in 1966 and from 1976-1981 he anchored NBC News’ “Today” program. He has interviewed every president since Lyndon Johnson, has covered every presidential election since 1968 and he was NBC’s White House correspondent during Watergate (1973-1976). In 2008, Brokaw served as interim moderator of NBC’s top-rated Sunday morning public affairs program, “Meet the Press,” after the untimely death of Tim Russert.

“Uncle Sam Needs Us” is sponsored by the W.O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership and the USD Political Science League. For more information about this event, please contact the Department of Political Science at The U by e-mail at Political.Science@usd.edu or by calling (605) 677-5242.

A photograph of Brokaw is available for download at www.usd.edu/urelations/images/Tom_Brokaw.jpg.

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