15 Years of MacNeil-Lehrer (1990)

Millions of people trust Robin MacNeil and Jim Lehrer, the most enduring news team on television.  During 15 years of broadcasts, on the MacNeil/Lehrer Report and the NewsHour, these journalistic partners have witnessed history in the making.  Now they've gathered highlights of their acclaimed career in this remarkable retrospective.  It is an intriguing 'time capsule' of events which have shaped our lives, rich with political and cultural flavor.  With over 4,000 broadcasts to choose from, MacNeil and Lehrer have compiled a wide-ranging program.  As NewsHour commentator David Gergen remarks, it is "a user-friendly guide to the world."  Gergen hosts this retrospective along with fellow political analyst Mark Shields, and their acerbic wit adds the spark of humor.  Gergen and Shields also turn the tables on MacNeil and Lehrer by asking questions of the verteran interviewers themselves.  Their answers reveal insights into important stories, and offer a behind-the-scenes look at the approach which sets them apart.  It is fascinating to watch how MacNeil and Lehrer have handled presidents, prime ministers and people of all stripes. Low key, but unwilling to let guests duck their questions, these two journalists have proven the virtue of in-depth discussion over canned "sound bites."  MacNiel/Lehrer and PBS have defied the conventional rat-a-tat pacing of most of TV news, and have become admired around the world.  The Gallup Poll found that Americans consider this broadcast to be the most trusted news program on TV, and some 12 million people watch it at least once a week.  MacNeil and Lehrer have come to stand for the best of television journalism, and this retrospective shows why.