Bill Plante, whose tenure as a CBS News White House correspondent spanned the administrations of Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama, has died. Plante was 84 and suffered from respiratory failure on Wednesday, the network said.
On the occasion of his 50th anniversary with CBS, Plante talks about how his work has given him “a fabulous vantage point for history and for watching politics. I love it.” So much so, he has no plans to retire. “I don’t have one of those wall calendars where I’m ‘x’ing’ out the days until I can go to an island somewhere,” Plante jokes.
On Wednesday evening, the Radio Television Digital News Foundation honored Gannett’s David Lougee, NBC News’ Lester Holt, ABC News’ Robin Sproul, CBS News’ Bill Plante and The Associated Press for their commitment to press freedoms at the 24th Annual First Amendment Awards Dinner in Washington.
The recipients of the First Amendment Awards presented annually by the Radio Television Digital News Foundation are Gannett Co.’s David Lougee, NBC News’ Lester Holt, ABC News’ Robin Sproul and the Associated Press’ Gary Pruitt. In addition, CBS News’ Bill Plante will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony takes place in Washington on March 12, 2014.
