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Schieffer bids farewell on 'Face the Nation'

 
In this photo provided by CBS News, Bob Schieffer, center, is applauded by his successor, John Dickerson, center right, and others after Schieffer’s final broadcast as moderator of “Face The Nation,” Sunday, May 31, 2015, in Washington. (Chris Usher/CBS News via AP) NY115
In this photo provided by CBS News, Bob Schieffer, center, is applauded by his successor, John Dickerson, center right, and others after Schieffer’s final broadcast as moderator of “Face The Nation,” Sunday, May 31, 2015, in Washington. (Chris Usher/CBS News via AP) NY115
Published June 1, 2015

Sunday's broadcast of CBS's Face the Nation began with a clip of a younger — 24 years younger, to be exact — Bob Schieffer on his first day as moderator of the political talk show: "Today marks my official debut, as it were, as moderator of Face the Nation. Our aim is going to be very simple here: to find interesting people from all segments of American life who have something to say and give them a chance to say it."

And Schieffer remained true to the tradition on his final broadcast, giving guests who had something to say — former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, CIA director John Brennan and a panel of journalists — a chance to say it.

Schieffer, 78, signed off for the last time Sunday after nearly five decades on air.

Guests on Sunday's show thanked Schieffer and showed appreciation for his work. Brennan called Schieffer an "icon in the broadcast news industry." "Let me say how much I just respect your service to our country. Face the Nation is the go-to place, and I just appreciate everything you have done," Bush said.

Schieffer thanked his crew, brought them on screen to take a bow, and passed on the show to his successor, CBS News political director John Dickerson.

"I will be honest, I'm going to miss being in the middle of things, but the one thing I will never forget is the trust you placed in me and how nice you were to have me as a guest in your home over so many years. That meant the world to me. And it always will," Schieffer said on his final broadcast. "Thank you."