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He is married to actress ], with whom he has two daughters. He is married to actress ], with whom he has two daughters.


==Biography== ==Early life==

===Early life===
George Stephanopoulos was born in ], and grew up in Purchase, NY and suburban ], the descendant of ] immigrants. His parents followed the ] faith, and Stephanopoulos, whose father is a Greek Orthodox ] (currently Dean of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York), had long considered entering the priesthood himself. However, when he was a freshman at ], he decided that he would rather pursue a different profession. George Stephanopoulos was born in ], and grew up in Purchase, NY and suburban ], the descendant of ] immigrants. His parents followed the ] faith, and Stephanopoulos, whose father is a Greek Orthodox ] (currently Dean of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York), had long considered entering the priesthood himself. However, when he was a freshman at ], he decided that he would rather pursue a different profession.


{{Cleanup|date=May 2008}} {{Cleanup|date=May 2008}}
===Education=== ==Education==

Stephanopoulos wrestled competitively in high school, though he was a poor wrestler. He reports being a short, chubby kid, and was very awkward in his high school years. While attending ], he says he "came into his own." Stephanopoulos received his ] from Columbia in 1982, where he was a broadcaster for ]. Graduating ] with a degree in political science, Stephanopoulos was the ] of his class. He returned to his alma mater in 2003, serving as Columbia College's Class Day speaker. Stephanopoulos wrestled competitively in high school, though he was a poor wrestler. He reports being a short, chubby kid, and was very awkward in his high school years. While attending ], he says he "came into his own." Stephanopoulos received his ] from Columbia in 1982, where he was a broadcaster for ]. Graduating ] with a degree in political science, Stephanopoulos was the ] of his class. He returned to his alma mater in 2003, serving as Columbia College's Class Day speaker.


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In May 2007, Stephanopoulos received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from ]. Though only an ], its conferral symbolized completion of the law education he promised his parents.<ref></ref> In May 2007, Stephanopoulos received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from ]. Though only an ], its conferral symbolized completion of the law education he promised his parents.<ref></ref>


===Career=== ==Career==


====Early Career==== ===Early Career===


After college, Stephanopoulos joined the staff of ] as a legislative assistant. After college, Stephanopoulos joined the staff of ] as a legislative assistant.
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In 1988, Stephanopoulos worked on the ] campaign. He notes one of the attractions to this campaign was that Dukakis was a Greek-American liberal from Massachusetts.<ref>Stephanopoulos, George, ''All Too Human'', 21</ref> After this campaign, Stephanopoulos became House Majority Leader ] floor man, a position he held until he joined the Clinton campaign. In 1988, Stephanopoulos worked on the ] campaign. He notes one of the attractions to this campaign was that Dukakis was a Greek-American liberal from Massachusetts.<ref>Stephanopoulos, George, ''All Too Human'', 21</ref> After this campaign, Stephanopoulos became House Majority Leader ] floor man, a position he held until he joined the Clinton campaign.


⚫ ===Clinton administration===

⚫ ====Clinton administration====


Stephanopoulos was, along with ] and ], a leading member of the 1992 Clinton campaign. His role on the campaign is portrayed in the documentary film '']''.<ref>http://a.abcnews.com/images/ThisWeek/stephanopolous_t.jpg</ref> At the outset of Clinton's presidency, Stephanopoulos served as the de facto ], briefing the press even though ] was officially the White House Press Secretary. Later, he was moved to Senior Advisor on Policy and Strategy, when Dee Dee Myers began personally conducting the briefings and David Gergen was brought in as the new White House Communications Director. The move was largely viewed as a rebuke to Stephanopoulos' handling of public relations during the first six months of the Clinton Administration. Stephanopoulos was, along with ] and ], a leading member of the 1992 Clinton campaign. His role on the campaign is portrayed in the documentary film '']''.<ref>http://a.abcnews.com/images/ThisWeek/stephanopolous_t.jpg</ref> At the outset of Clinton's presidency, Stephanopoulos served as the de facto ], briefing the press even though ] was officially the White House Press Secretary. Later, he was moved to Senior Advisor on Policy and Strategy, when Dee Dee Myers began personally conducting the briefings and David Gergen was brought in as the new White House Communications Director. The move was largely viewed as a rebuke to Stephanopoulos' handling of public relations during the first six months of the Clinton Administration.
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George Stephanopoulos is also a member of the ].<ref>http://www.bilderberg.org/1997.htm</ref> George Stephanopoulos is also a member of the ].<ref>http://www.bilderberg.org/1997.htm</ref>


====Pundit==== ===Pundit===


After leaving the ] at the end of ]'s term, Stephanopoulos became a political analyst for ] and served as a correspondent on the ABC Sunday talk program '']'', '']'', '']'', along with other various special broadcasts. In September 2002, Stephanopoulos became host of '']'', and ] officially named him "Chief Washington Correspondent" in December 2005. After leaving the ] at the end of ]'s term, Stephanopoulos became a political analyst for ] and served as a correspondent on the ABC Sunday talk program '']'', '']'', '']'', along with other various special broadcasts. In September 2002, Stephanopoulos became host of '']'', and ] officially named him "Chief Washington Correspondent" in December 2005.
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Stephanopoulos is currently the anchor of ABC's Sunday morning program, ''].'' Stephanopoulos is currently the anchor of ABC's Sunday morning program, ''].''


On ], ], Stephanopoulos co-moderated the 21st Democratic Presidential Debate between ] and ] for the 2008 election cycle. Stephanopoulos was joined by colleague ] and the event was broadcast live by ABC News from the ] in ], ].<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/DemocraticDebate/</ref> Both Gibson and Stephanopoulos focused most of the first hour of the debate on issues they claimed had received little attention in previous debates.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/17/AR2008041700013.html, http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/04/17/debate/index.html</ref> Obama was challenged, for, among other things, associating with ], his former pastor, who espouses some positions of ], and with ], a past "supporter" of his<ref>Lasky, Ed. ''American Thinker, ], ]. Retrieved 6-30-2008. "William Ayers has been one of the many friends and supporters of Senator Barack Obama who have given Americans qualms about what Obama's ideology is and what policies he may put into practice as President."</ref><ref>Dobbs, Michael. ''],'' ], ]. Retrieved 06-30-2008. William Ayers donated $200 to Obama's 1998 State Senate campaign.</ref> who had been a member of the ] during the 1970s.
On ], ], Stephanopoulos co-moderated the 21st Democratic Presidential debate between ] and ] for the 2008 election cycle with ]. While the debate received record ratings, the pair were heavily criticized for focusing most of first hour of the debate on controversies that occurred during the campaign rather than issues like the economy and ]. Stephanopoulos acknowledged the legitimacy of the concerns over the order of the questions, but said they were issues in the campaign that hadn't been covered in previous debates.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24189180/ | title=Ratings, criticism big for ABC debate | author=Associated Press | publisher=MSNBC | date=2008-04-17 | accessdate=2008-06-30}}</ref>

Obama was also challenged by a , for his purportedly conspicuous failure to wear an American flag lapel pin. Clinton was challenged for being perceived as untrustworthy. Both were questioned pointedly and at length about their perceived willingness to raise taxes and restrict gun ownership. <ref>http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=4670271</ref> ] of the '']'' wrote, "I understand the complaints, but I thought the questions were excellent. The journalist’s job is to make politicians uncomfortable, to explore evasions, contradictions and vulnerabilities. Almost every question tonight did that."<ref>http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/no-whining-about-the-media/index.html?ref=opinion</ref>


==Stephanopoulos in popular culture== ==Stephanopoulos in popular culture==

] modeled both ]'s character Lewis Rothschild in '']'' and ]'s character ] on '']'' after Stephanopoulos. Fox based his portrayal on Stephanopoulos as well.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} According to Stephanopoulos, his role in the Clinton administration was more like ]'s character ] than Seaborn or Rothschild.<ref>http://www.mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a10130.asp?c=mbennf</ref> ] modeled both ]'s character Lewis Rothschild in '']'' and ]'s character ] on '']'' after Stephanopoulos. Fox based his portrayal on Stephanopoulos as well.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} According to Stephanopoulos, his role in the Clinton administration was more like ]'s character ] than Seaborn or Rothschild.<ref>http://www.mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a10130.asp?c=mbennf</ref>


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==Notes== ==Notes==

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==References== ==References==

*Clinton, Bill (2005). ''My Life''. Vintage. ISBN 1-4000-3003-X. *Clinton, Bill (2005). ''My Life''. Vintage. ISBN 1-4000-3003-X.


Revision as of 03:14, 1 July 2008

For the Canadian television and media personality, see George Stroumboulopoulos.
George Stephanopoulos
George Stephanopoulos
BornGeorge Robert Stephanopolous
(1961-02-10) February 10, 1961 (age 63)
Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)Author, Political Pundit
Spouse(s)Alexandra Wentworth (November 20, 2001 – present)

George Stephanopoulos (born February 10, 1961) is an American broadcaster and political adviser. He is currently ABC News's Chief Washington Correspondent and the host of ABC's Sunday morning news show This Week. Prior to joining ABC News, he was a senior political adviser to the 1992 U.S. presidential campaign of Bill Clinton and later became Clinton's communications director.

He is married to actress Alexandra Wentworth, with whom he has two daughters.

Early life

George Stephanopoulos was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, and grew up in Purchase, NY and suburban Cleveland, Ohio, the descendant of Greek immigrants. His parents followed the Greek Orthodox faith, and Stephanopoulos, whose father is a Greek Orthodox priest (currently Dean of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York), had long considered entering the priesthood himself. However, when he was a freshman at Orange High School, he decided that he would rather pursue a different profession.

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Education

Stephanopoulos wrestled competitively in high school, though he was a poor wrestler. He reports being a short, chubby kid, and was very awkward in his high school years. While attending Columbia College, he says he "came into his own." Stephanopoulos received his bachelor's degree from Columbia in 1982, where he was a broadcaster for WKCR Sports. Graduating summa cum laude with a degree in political science, Stephanopoulos was the salutatorian of his class. He returned to his alma mater in 2003, serving as Columbia College's Class Day speaker.

Stephanopoulos' father had always wanted his son to become a lawyer, if not a priest, so he promised his father that he would attend law school eventually. Initially he took a job with a Congressman from Cleveland, and served as an aide in Washington, D.C. Nevertheless, his father persistently questioned him as to when he would attend law school, so Stephanopoulos agreed to attend law school if he were not offered a Rhodes Scholarship. Though he had been rejected for the scholarship during his senior year at Columbia, Stephanopoulos was successful in his second attempt.

While at Oxford, Stephanopoulos earned a master's degree in theology at Balliol College on his Rhodes Scholarship. He reported spending much of his time trying to root his political leanings in deeper philosophies that he studied while at Oxford.

In May 2007, Stephanopoulos received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from St. John's University. Though only an honorary degree, its conferral symbolized completion of the law education he promised his parents.

Career

Early Career

After college, Stephanopoulos joined the staff of Ed Feighan as a legislative assistant.

In 1988, Stephanopoulos worked on the Michael Dukakis campaign. He notes one of the attractions to this campaign was that Dukakis was a Greek-American liberal from Massachusetts. After this campaign, Stephanopoulos became House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt's floor man, a position he held until he joined the Clinton campaign.

Clinton administration

Stephanopoulos was, along with David Wilhelm and James Carville, a leading member of the 1992 Clinton campaign. His role on the campaign is portrayed in the documentary film The War Room. At the outset of Clinton's presidency, Stephanopoulos served as the de facto press secretary, briefing the press even though Dee Dee Myers was officially the White House Press Secretary. Later, he was moved to Senior Advisor on Policy and Strategy, when Dee Dee Myers began personally conducting the briefings and David Gergen was brought in as the new White House Communications Director. The move was largely viewed as a rebuke to Stephanopoulos' handling of public relations during the first six months of the Clinton Administration.

Stephanopoulos resigned from the Clinton administration shortly after Clinton was re-elected in 1996.

On February 25, 1994 George Stephanopoulos and Harold Ickes had a conference call with Roger Altman to discuss RTC's choice of Republican lawyer Jay Stephens to head the Madison Guaranty investigation, that later turned in to the Whitewater investigation.

His 1999 memoir, entitled All Too Human: A Political Education, was published after he left the White House during Clinton's second term. It quickly became a #1 New York Times best seller. In his book, Stephanopoulos spoke of his depression and how his face broke out into hives due to the pressures of conveying the Clinton White House message. Bill Clinton referred to the book in his autobiography, My Life, apologizing for what he felt in retrospect to be excessive demands placed on the young staffer.

George Stephanopoulos is also a member of the Bilderberg Group.

Pundit

After leaving the White House at the end of Clinton's term, Stephanopoulos became a political analyst for ABC News and served as a correspondent on the ABC Sunday talk program This Week, World News Tonight, Good Morning America, along with other various special broadcasts. In September 2002, Stephanopoulos became host of This Week, and ABC News officially named him "Chief Washington Correspondent" in December 2005.

Stephanopoulos is currently the anchor of ABC's Sunday morning program, This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

On April 16, 2008, Stephanopoulos co-moderated the 21st Democratic Presidential Debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for the 2008 election cycle. Stephanopoulos was joined by colleague Charles Gibson and the event was broadcast live by ABC News from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Both Gibson and Stephanopoulos focused most of the first hour of the debate on issues they claimed had received little attention in previous debates. Obama was challenged, for, among other things, associating with Jeremiah Wright, his former pastor, who espouses some positions of Black liberation theology, and with William Ayers, a past "supporter" of his who had been a member of the Weather Underground during the 1970s.

Obama was also challenged by a woman, Pennsylvanian Nash McCabe (by webcam video), for his purportedly conspicuous failure to wear an American flag lapel pin. Clinton was challenged for being perceived as untrustworthy. Both were questioned pointedly and at length about their perceived willingness to raise taxes and restrict gun ownership. David Brooks of the New York Times wrote, "I understand the complaints, but I thought the questions were excellent. The journalist’s job is to make politicians uncomfortable, to explore evasions, contradictions and vulnerabilities. Almost every question tonight did that."

Stephanopoulos in popular culture

Aaron Sorkin modeled both Michael J. Fox's character Lewis Rothschild in The American President and Rob Lowe's character Sam Seaborn on The West Wing after Stephanopoulos. Fox based his portrayal on Stephanopoulos as well. According to Stephanopoulos, his role in the Clinton administration was more like Bradley Whitford's character Josh Lyman than Seaborn or Rothschild.

Stephanopoulos is also believed to be the model for the character of Henry Burton in Joe Klein's novel Primary Colors. Burton was portrayed in the novel's film adaptation by Adrian Lester.

Stephanopoulos was discussed (but not seen) in the Friends episode "The One with George Stephanopoulos".

In an episode of Will & Grace, a bartender at a gay bar asks Will and Jack: "What's your pleasure?" They respond: "George Stephanopoulos."

Notes

  1. St. John's University - Academics & Schools - ABC's George Stephanopoulos Delivers Commencement Address to More Than 19,000 at St. John's University
  2. Stephanopoulos, George, All Too Human, 21
  3. http://a.abcnews.com/images/ThisWeek/stephanopolous_t.jpg
  4. http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9542062
  5. AllPolitics - Whitewater - Timeline
  6. http://www.bilderberg.org/1997.htm
  7. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/DemocraticDebate/
  8. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/17/AR2008041700013.html, http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/04/17/debate/index.html
  9. Lasky, Ed. "Obama's Terrorist Pal. American Thinker, June 30, 2008. Retrieved 6-30-2008. "William Ayers has been one of the many friends and supporters of Senator Barack Obama who have given Americans qualms about what Obama's ideology is and what policies he may put into practice as President."
  10. Dobbs, Michael. "Obama's Weatherman Connection." Washington Post, February 19, 2008. Retrieved 06-30-2008. William Ayers donated $200 to Obama's 1998 State Senate campaign.
  11. http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=4670271
  12. http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/no-whining-about-the-media/index.html?ref=opinion
  13. http://www.mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a10130.asp?c=mbennf

References

  • Clinton, Bill (2005). My Life. Vintage. ISBN 1-4000-3003-X.
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