Mark Knoller, the longtime correspondent for CBS News radio and a veteran political journalist, died in Washington, DC, he was 73 years old.
CBS News confirmed his death on Saturday, noting that he was in poor health and suffered from diabetes.
Knoller was editor -in -chief and radio journalist for CBS News from 1988 to 2020. He was a legend among the journalists of the White House for his status as an unofficial presidential statistician.
“His frustration concerning the absence of a central database of the daily presidential actions inspired him to take the huge burden on him to keep meticulous registers of each presidential act, of movement and statement, fulfilling an immense void in American history”, ” Chip Reid of CBS News wrote in his Necrology to Knoller.
“Mark Knoller was the most working and prolific correspondent of the white house of a generation,” said Tom Cibrowski, president of CBS News and editor. “Everyone in America knew their distinctive voice and their reports per minute on eight presidential administrations.”
Born in Brooklyn, Knoller set out the prospect of a career in journalism as a youngster. He graduated from New York University and began his career as a copy writer, then radio journalist at Wnew Radio. In 1975, he joined the Associated Press Radio Network.
Knoller moved to CBS after a 1988 meeting with the famous producer of CBS News Susan Zirinsky led to a job offer with the eye network. Knoller came first as a editor -in -chief, but after a few years he moved to his dream job, as Reid described it, like a White House correspondent for CBS Radio.
Former CBS News colleagues offered tributes to Knoller.
“Mark Knoller was simply the best, a legendary White House journalist who was a pleasure to be there,” said the main correspondent for CBS News, Norah O’Donnell. “His work was his life. He was kind, funny and always graceful by sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of the presidency. His CBS family adored him, and we will miss our friend. ”
Major Garrett, chief correspondent for the White House of CBS News, said that Knoller had “defined” the role of the White House correspondent.
“Mark was the most devoted, tenacious and clear journalist I have ever had the honor of knowing. As long as I live, I will be among the biggest blessings of my life that I was able to work alongside him,” said Garrett.
Jim Axelrod, chief investigation of CBS News, cited Knoller’s generosity with his colleagues.
“As impressive as Mark Knoller’s scan on the White House and the Presidency, he was only exceeded by his generosity towards his many friends and colleagues,” said Axelrod. “And he always responded with kindness, class and sincere desire to help.”
