Meet the Press - a bit of its history

[Stinky The Clown]

The current format - an involved host on for an hour, is the Russert format. Prior to that, it was a moderator and a panel of the press asking the actual questions. Some of the panel, from time to time, were permanent. The moderator did more moderating than questioning.

The first moderator was a woman - the first and only one to fill that role.

Here's the past moderator list:

Martha Rountree: 1947 – 1953
Ned Brooks: 1953 – 1965
Lawrence E. Spivak: 1966 – 1975
Bill Monroe: 1975 – 1984
Roger Mudd / Marvin Kalb: (co-moderators)1984 – 1985
Marvin Kalb: 1985 – 1987
Chris Wallace: 1987 – 1988 (yup, one and the same!)
Garrick Utley: 1989 – 1991
Tim Russert: 1991 – 2008

[book_worm]

1. I first became aware of the show when Spivak was moderator, I think he also co-created the show.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Yes, he co-founded the show along with Rountree

He was producer at the start and stayed there until he went on the air as moderator.