At the end of a busy day or week, with almost too much news to process, I always appreciated the reasoned, well-researched perspectives of Gwen Ifill and Jim Lehrer on Washington Week and the PBS NewsHour. Gwen died in November of 2016 and Jim Lehrer passed away more recently in January 2020.
In these confusing and distressing times, I sometimes say “I miss Gwen.” I did not know her personally but I mean that I still wish to hear her solid reporting, seasoned viewpoints, and her occasional, droll humor about the interesting foibles of those in the news and those of “we ourselves,” humans living in this crazy time and place. In addition to her keen perceptions about what was going on in our world, she had honed instincts about emergent political and social trends which she watched with a keen eye.
As a professional woman working in the tough town of Washington, DC, I was also concerned to be taken seriously – that my “package of skills” would to be respected enough for me to be heard where appropriate and not written off as “female” or otherwise irrelevant. Gwen’s very polished professional appearance supported her claim for relevance. She seemed to me always “just right” with subtle refined style and color. I was so impressed with the intentionality of her presentation that I once googled, “Who dresses Gwen Ifill?” (Clue: “a great jacket” does wonders to pull a look together.)
I also learned that she and I shared spiritual sources of strength and motivations. Like her, I would begin to “feel flat” mid-week if I had missed my chance on Sunday to worship and sing with my community at church. As little girls who grew up in church (that is, “we were churched”) and who as adults continued to go when no longer compelled to by our parents, we shared that intentional choice and joy. Her faith gave her strength and grace. One of her very last assignments was to cover the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in September 2016. Although she was already very sick, she chose that assignment and performed it with style and joy. The opening and her work were both legacies to the American people, perhaps especially to young African American girls who wondered what and who they could be in the world. During African American History month 2020, the US Postal Service issued a lovely stamp featuring her. A “Forever” stamp for a class act.
I also miss Jim Lehrer because I am very grateful for his journalistic work and wise, stable presence in the media. The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (1995 to 2009) was the accomplishment I knew best and that helped me the most. In 2006, I arrived in Washington as head of a medium size program and new professor at a prestigious graduate school of international studies to help students develop their ability to express themselves articulately in “professional” English (spoken, written). I had shifted fields a bit and was already
feeling a little over my head when I realized there were really NO teaching materials available at this high level of language training. Except Jim Lehrer’s. I needed audio and video with excellent content for listening (then speaking) practice for advanced students from Europe, China, Japan, Africa, and the Middle East. His broadcasts had that. I needed something with clear, engaging content relevant for international studies for them to read, to think about, and then to write responses. His website had that and even offered written transcripts! His impressive dignity, clarity, style helped me step up into a tough new job and more confident voice. In turn, I helped students focusing on international studies, economics, and diplomacy engage with his broadcasts, responding to issues he posed and honing their own voices, opinions . . . and English. And now, there are many, many young diplomats and managers of international organization working around the world whose perspectives and voice were “trained up” by Jim Lehrer. Another class act.
Thank you both.
Susan Olmstead Wang 