Former CNN White House Correspondent Charles Bierbauer Dies at 83
Veteran journalist covered the White House, Supreme Court and presidential campaigns
Charles Bierbauer, who served as CNN's White House correspondent and later became dean of the University of South Carolina's journalism program, has died at age 83. Bierbauer passed away at his retirement home in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, with his family noting that his "generous heart gave out after a good, long life." During his career, he served as president of the White House Correspondents Association, representing journalists covering the executive branch.
Bierbauer's journalism career spanned decades, beginning in his native Pennsylvania before expanding to international reporting. After four years with ABC News, he joined CNN just one year after the network's founding and remained there for two decades. His coverage included the Pentagon, White House, Supreme Court, and numerous presidential campaigns, demonstrating the breadth of his political reporting experience. Bierbauer also hosted CNN's weekly program "Newsmaker Saturday" for ten years.
KEY POINTS
- •CNN veteran journalist dies at 83
- •Covered White House for two decades
- •Later became journalism school dean
Following his broadcasting career, Bierbauer transitioned to academia as the inaugural dean of the University of South Carolina's College of Information and Communications. He led significant initiatives including a childhood literacy program and a multimillion-dollar renovation project that relocated the school to a modern facility. While in academia, Bierbauer maintained his connection to political journalism by hosting a current events program and moderating political debates for candidates seeking state offices.
Bierbauer's colleagues remembered him fondly, with CNN's Wolf Blitzer describing him as "a good friend, colleague, and mentor." Jay Bender, a former attorney for the South Carolina Press Association who worked under Bierbauer, highlighted his "significant" contributions to USC's Journalism School. Bierbauer earned degrees in journalism and Russian from Penn State University and is survived by his wife Susanne Schafer, a longtime military affairs reporter, along with four children, several grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.