Cokie Roberts succombs to breast cancer at 75

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Legendary ABC News journalist and political commentator Cokie Roberts died September 17 due to complications from breast cancer. She was 75. Among Roberts’ numerous awards over her decades-spanning career were three Emmys.

We have lost an official “Living Legend.”

It’s with sadness to report that legendary ABC News journalist and political commentator Cokie Roberts died yesterday.

Her death was due to complications from breast cancer. She was 75.

Among Roberts’ numerous awards over her decades-spanning career were three Emmys.

She was been inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame and was cited by the American Women in Radio and Television as one of the 50 greatest women in the history of broadcasting.

“We will miss Cokie beyond measure, both for her contributions and for her love and kindness,” her family said in a statement.

Born in 1943 to Lindy Boggs and Hale Boggs, each of whom served for decades as Democratic members of the House of Representatives from Louisiana, Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs, said she got the name “Cokie” from her older brother, who couldn’t pronounce Corinne. He dubbed her Cokie and thename stuck with her ever since.

Her first job in journalism was at WRC-TV in Washington, DC, where she was host of its weekly public affairs program Meeting of the Minds. After moving with her husband to New York City, she found work in 1967 as a reporter for Cowles Communications.

Eventually Roberts would join PBS’ The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour as a contributor. Her coverage of the Iran-Contra Affair for that program won her the Edward Weintal Prize for Diplomatic Reporting in 1988.

Roberts then landed at ABC News in 1988 as a political correspondent for ABC’s World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, continuing to serve part-time as a political commentator at NPR.

Roberts was considered a true pioneer for women in journalism, according to president of ABC News James Goldston said. In a statement he said Roberts was, “well-regarded for her insightful analysis of politics and policy in Washington, D.C., countless newsmaking interviews, and, notably, her unwavering support for generations of young women — and men — who would follow in her footsteps.”

Below is a video tribute to Roberts put out by ABC News:

ALSO READ: Ric Ocasek, lead singer of The Cars, dies at 75

Roberts was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and was successfully treated. When she was diagnosed, she spoke to The Washington Post about her longtime work urging women to get regular mammograms.

“Fortunately, in the course of my efforts to inform others about the disease, I learned about the benefits of early detection,” she said in a statement at the time, The Washington Post reported. “Now I am the beneficiary of that information.”

She told the Post that her cancer diagnosis didn’t give her a newfound perspective on life, because she already had one.

Colleagues and politicians reacted via Twitter. Here is a smattering.:

When asked by CNN about Roberts’ passing, President Trump, living very much in his “Me First” era, had this to say, “I never met her. She never treated me nicely. But I would like to wish her family well. She was a professional, and I respect professionals.”

Roberts was named an official “Living Legend” by Congress. Additionally, she wrote eight books, largely focusing on the role of women in American history, many of which were New York Times bestsellers.

She is survived by her husband, fellow journalist Steven Roberts, her children, Lee and Rebecca and her six grandchildren.

RIP, Cokie.

SOURCE: ABC NEWS

abc_cokie_roberts_04_lb_151029_hpMain_2_4x3_992

Legendary ABC News journalist and political commentator Cokie Roberts died September 17 due to complications from breast cancer. She was 75. Among Roberts’ numerous awards over her decades-spanning career were three Emmys.

We have lost an official “Living Legend.”

It’s with sadness to report that legendary ABC News journalist and political commentator Cokie Roberts died yesterday.

Her death was due to complications from breast cancer. She was 75.

Among Roberts’ numerous awards over her decades-spanning career were three Emmys.

She was been inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame and was cited by the American Women in Radio and Television as one of the 50 greatest women in the history of broadcasting.

“We will miss Cokie beyond measure, both for her contributions and for her love and kindness,” her family said in a statement.

Born in 1943 to Lindy Boggs and Hale Boggs, each of whom served for decades as Democratic members of the House of Representatives from Louisiana, Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs, said she got the name “Cokie” from her older brother, who couldn’t pronounce Corinne. He dubbed her Cokie and thename stuck with her ever since.

Her first job in journalism was at WRC-TV in Washington, DC, where she was host of its weekly public affairs program Meeting of the Minds. After moving with her husband to New York City, she found work in 1967 as a reporter for Cowles Communications.

Eventually Roberts would join PBS’ The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour as a contributor. Her coverage of the Iran-Contra Affair for that program won her the Edward Weintal Prize for Diplomatic Reporting in 1988.

Roberts then landed at ABC News in 1988 as a political correspondent for ABC’s World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, continuing to serve part-time as a political commentator at NPR.

Roberts was considered a true pioneer for women in journalism, according to president of ABC News James Goldston said. In a statement he said Roberts was, “well-regarded for her insightful analysis of politics and policy in Washington, D.C., countless newsmaking interviews, and, notably, her unwavering support for generations of young women — and men — who would follow in her footsteps.”

Below is a video tribute to Roberts put out by ABC News:

ALSO READ: Ric Ocasek, lead singer of The Cars, dies at 75

Roberts was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and was successfully treated. When she was diagnosed, she spoke to The Washington Post about her longtime work urging women to get regular mammograms.

“Fortunately, in the course of my efforts to inform others about the disease, I learned about the benefits of early detection,” she said in a statement at the time, The Washington Post reported. “Now I am the beneficiary of that information.”

She told the Post that her cancer diagnosis didn’t give her a newfound perspective on life, because she already had one.

Colleagues and politicians reacted via Twitter. Here is a smattering.:

When asked by CNN about Roberts’ passing, President Trump, living very much in his “Me First” era, had this to say, “I never met her. She never treated me nicely. But I would like to wish her family well. She was a professional, and I respect professionals.”

Roberts was named an official “Living Legend” by Congress. Additionally, she wrote eight books, largely focusing on the role of women in American history, many of which were New York Times bestsellers.

She is survived by her husband, fellow journalist Steven Roberts, her children, Lee and Rebecca and her six grandchildren.

RIP, Cokie.

SOURCE: ABC NEWS

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