Additional Coverage:
Mark Knoller, a longtime CBS News correspondent renowned for his meticulous record-keeping of presidential history, has passed away at 73. Knoller, who had been battling diabetes and declining health, died on Saturday.
Remembered by colleagues for his dedication and tireless work ethic, Knoller covered eight presidencies, from George H.W. Bush to Donald Trump’s first term.
“Mark Knoller was the hardest-working and most prolific White House correspondent of a generation,” praised CBS News president and executive editor Tom Cibrowski. “His distinctive voice and up-to-the-minute reporting were recognized across America.”
Knoller meticulously documented every detail of each president’s activities, maintaining comprehensive logs of speeches, travel, outings, and even golf games. He also tracked pardons, vetoes, and states visited. “I keep a daily log of everything the president does,” Knoller once explained.
Remarkably, Knoller generously shared his vast database with anyone who requested it, from fellow reporters and historians to White House staff. CBS News correspondent Chip Reid noted, “This remarkably generous man…believed the public had a right to know.”
Beginning his career in New York, Knoller rose through the ranks of the Associated Press Radio Network before joining CBS News in 1988. He retired in 2020.
Following the news of his death, tributes poured in. CBS News senior correspondent Norah O’Donnell described Knoller as “simply the best,” highlighting his kindness, humor, and willingness to share his encyclopedic knowledge. Other journalists, including ABC’s Jonathan Karl and NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, also lauded Knoller’s professionalism, factual reporting, and impressive historical archive.