Share
NEW YORK — Cokie Roberts, the daughter of politicians who grew up to cover the family business in Washington for ABC News and NPR over several decades, died Tuesday in Washington of complications from breast cancer. She was 75.
Roberts was the daughter of Hale Boggs, a former House majority leader from Louisiana, and Lindy Boggs, who succeeded her husband in Congress. Roberts worked in local news and CBS News before joining NPR to cover Congress in 1978. She joined ABC a decade later, not leaving NPR.
She co-anchored the Sunday political show “This Week” with Sam Donaldson from 1996 to 2002.
“Cokie Roberts was a trailblazer who forever transformed the role of women in the newsroom and in our history books,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “Over five decades of celebrated journalism, Cokie shone a powerful light on the unsung women who built our nation, but whose stories had long gone untold.”
Former President Barack Obama said Roberts was a role model for women at a time the journalism profession was still dominated by men, and was a constant over 40 years of a shifting media landscape and changing world.
“She will be missed, and we send our condolences to her family,” Obama said.

Roberts Wrote Books Focusing on the Role of Women in History
Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, called Roberts a talented, tough and fair reporter.
“We respected her drive and appreciated her humor,” the former president said. “She became a friend.”
Roberts, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, kept working nearly to the end. She appeared on “This Week” in August, drawing enough concern about her evident weight loss that she released a statement saying “I am doing fine” and was looking forward to covering next year’s election.
Roberts wrote books, focusing on the role of women in history. She wrote two with her husband, one about interfaith families and “From This Day Forward,” an account of their marriage.
Current ABC News political reporter Jonathan Karl recalled being in awe of Roberts when he first started working at the network.
“When I think of politics, I think of Cokie Roberts,” he said.
Her colleagues said she never became cynical or lost her love for politics. She did force NPR to clarify her role as a commentator when she wrote a column in 2016 calling on “the rational wing” of the Republican party to reject Donald Trump as their presidential candidate.
Mexico’s Sheinbaum Urges US to Avoid Immigration Action at LA Soccer Game
18 hours ago
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Allan Saly
19 hours ago
Fresno Shooting Leaves Man Dead Near Griffith and Hughes
16 hours ago
Iran and Israel Say a New Wave of Iranian Missile Attacks Has Begun. Explosions Heard Over Jerusalem
16 hours ago
Man Found Dead in Bass Lake, Cause Under Investigation
16 hours ago
Mexico’s Sheinbaum Urges US to Avoid Immigration Action at LA Soccer Game
18 hours ago
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Allan Saly
19 hours ago
Fresno Shooting Leaves Man Dead Near Griffith and Hughes
16 hours ago
Iran and Israel Say a New Wave of Iranian Missile Attacks Has Begun. Explosions Heard Over Jerusalem
16 hours ago
Man Found Dead in Bass Lake, Cause Under Investigation
16 hours ago
Mexico’s Sheinbaum Urges US to Avoid Immigration Action at LA Soccer Game
18 hours ago
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Allan Saly
19 hours ago
Vacant Fresno Restaurant Heavily Damaged in Early Morning Fire
14 hours ago
Categories

Vacant Fresno Restaurant Heavily Damaged in Early Morning Fire

Visalia Police Make Arrest in Deadly Hit-and-Run

Fresno Shooting Leaves Man Dead Near Griffith and Hughes

Iran and Israel Say a New Wave of Iranian Missile Attacks Has Begun. Explosions Heard Over Jerusalem
