NEW YORK (AP) – For his first week as moderator of CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, John Dickerson has no intention of playing around with a format consistent for more than half a century.
The CBS News political director replaces Bob Schieffer, who retired last week after 24 years at the Washington-based public affairs program. Unlike some people who enter a job in a whirlwind of new ideas, Dickerson is being cautious and has no qualms admitting it.
“I want to put my own stamp and touch on the show,” he said. “But I don’t know what that is yet.”
Dickerson, a former Time magazine correspondent and a Slate writer who joined CBS six years ago, saw in the archives that Sen. Joseph McCarthy was interviewed on the first “Face the Nation” in 1954. That illustrates a signature he wants to maintain, of booking the most important newsmakers he can each week and diving right in to questions.
His first week’s guests include three men with national aspirations for themselves or their ideas: just-announced GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. He’ll also speak with the head of the House Homeland Security Committee about efforts to fight terrorism.