Linda Wertheimer became the first woman to anchor network coverage for both a presidential nomination convention and election night in 1976. A foundational figure in public radio, Wertheimer joined NPR at its inception in the early 1970s, serving as the first broadcast director for ‘All Things Considered’ when it debuted on May 3, 1971. From 1974 to 1989, she served as NPR’s congressional and national political correspondent, covering pivotal events including the Watergate impeachment hearings, the Reagan Revolution, historic tax reform legislation, and the Iran-Contra affair. During her career, she anchored a total of ten presidential nomination conventions and twelve election nights.

She was also recognized with Wellesley’s Distinguished Alumna Achievement Award in 1985. In 1995, Wertheimer co-authored the book, ‘Listening to America: Twenty-five Years in the Life of a Nation as Heard on National Public Radio.’ The same year, she shared in an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton Award for NPR’s comprehensive coverage of the 104th Congress. Her influence was further acknowledged when she was named one of the top 50 journalists in Washington by Washingtonian magazine in 1997 and one of America’s 200 most influential women by Vanity Fair in 1998.

In 2002, Wertheimer transitioned from hosting to become NPR’s first senior national correspondent, continuing to offer her insightful commentary on national and global events. After more than five decades of impactful journalism and foundational contributions to public broadcasting, Linda Wertheimer announced her retirement from NPR in 2024, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the network’s revered ‘Founding Mothers.’