'Meet the Press' Hosts Through History

Chuck Todd (2014–Present)

Todd took the helm of "Meet the Press" on Sept. 7, 2014. At the time, NBC News described the journalist as being of the "next generation" and as having a unique ability to deliver "razor-sharp analysis and infectious enthusiasm." Todd is a former editor of the "National Journal’s" The Hotline.

David Gregory (2008–2014)

Gregory assumed the role of "Meet the Press" moderator on Dec. 7, 2008, following the sudden death of Russert from cardiac arrest in June of that year. But he was unhappy in the job, ratings were slipping by 2014, and rumors swirled about his ouster. 

After he left the show, Gregory wrote of his final days:

"My relationship with 'Meet the Press' during that last year was like a marriage that you know is bad but you can’t leave. I was miserable, but I needed to be told the company didn’t support me before I could come to terms with the end. Although NBC backed me initially, the net­work decided late in the summer that it would not com­mit to me in the long term. Clearly, that was the signal that it was time to go."

Tim Russert (1991–2008)

Russert took over the helm of "Meet the Press" on December 8, 1991, and became the longest-serving moderator of the show to date for his 16 1/2 years of interviewing politicians. During that time, he earned widespread acclaim for his meticulous research and fairness in confronting elected officials. He died of a heart attack in June 2008. He was 58 years old.

Garrick Utley (1989–1991)

Utley served as "Meet the Press" moderator from Jan. 29, 1989, to Dec. 1, 1991, according to NBC News records. He was also a host of the network's "Today" show. Utley initially shot to fame by reporting about the Vietnam War and was the first full-time television correspondent covering the war in-country.

Chris Wallace (1987–1988)

Wallace served as "Meet the Press" moderator from May 10, 1987, to December 4, 1988. Wallace went on to have a successful and storied career, even moderating a 2016 presidential debate for another network, Fox News.

Marvin Kalb (1984–1987)

Kalb was a co-moderator of "Meet the Press" with Roger Mudd from Sept. 16, 1984, to June 2, 1985; and then continued on alone for two years until May 4, 1987. Kalb has had a long career in journalism, and recently, current host Chuck Todd sat down with Kalb to talk about "The New Cold War."

Roger Mudd (1984–1985)

Mudd was a co-moderator of "Meet the Press" with Marvin Kalb from Sept.16, 1984, to June 2, 1985. Mudd and Kalb were the only two people to co-moderate the show in its history. Mudd later also served as the co-anchor with Connie Chung on two other NBC news-magazine shows, "American Almanac" and "1986."

Bill Monroe (1975–1984)

Monroe was the moderator of "Meet the Press" from November 16, 1975, to September 9, 1984. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter used a “Meet the Press” interview with Monroe to announce that the United States would boycott the Olympics in Moscow that year to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, according to Monroe's 2011 obituary published in The New York Times.

Lawrence Spivak (1966–1975)

Spivak was a co-creator of "Meet the Press" and served as moderator from January 1, 1966, to November 9, 1975. Spivak was one of the first broadcasters to use panels of reporters to interview national and international leaders — a key component of the show that the other major networks at the time, NBC and CBS, copied to create similar news magazine programs of their own.

Ned Brooks (1953–1965)

Brooks served as moderator of "Meet the Press" from November 22, 1953, to December 26, 1965. Brooks was the second-longest tenured moderator of the program, after Tim Russert.

Martha Rountree (1947–1953)

Rountree was the co-founder of "Meet the Press" and only female moderator of the show to date. She served as the show's host from November 6, 1947, to November 1, 1953. Rountree also had the first female guest on the show on September 12, 1948, according to a history of the show published by NBC News. She was Elizabeth Bentley, a former Soviet spy.