5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Diane Sawyer
On December 22, 1945, Lila Diane Sawyer was born in Glasgow, Kentucky to Jean and E.P. "Tom" Sawyer. Her parents moved to Louisville soon after her birth. As Jean taught elementary school and Tom studied law and moved up the Republican political rankings to an eventual judgeship, Diane and older sister Linda seemed destined for great things in bigger cities than Louisville. Linda would go on to become a fashion editor at Vogue, while Diane became a groundbreaking television journalist. In celebration of one of our very favorite Kentucky women, here are 5 facts you probably didn't know about Diane Sawyer.
1. Diane Sawyer was a cheerleader for the The 1963 State Champion Seneca High School Red Hawk basketball team, which boasted future Boston Celtic Mike Redd and future Washington Bullet Wes Unseld.
Diane with her mother Jean and father, County Attorney Tom Sawyer, before the 1963 National Junior Miss pageant.
2. Diane's beauty has always commanded attention. The 5'10 blonde was crowned National Junior Miss in 1963 and Queen of the 47th annual International Flower Show in 1964.
Photo via AP.
3. She earned an undergraduate degree from Wellesley College. She initially planned to follow in her father's professional footsteps, but after one semester at U of L Law, decided she wanted to pursue a career in journalism.
Photo via NY Daily News
4. Diane Sawyer worked as a staff member in the Nixon White House. She drafted several of his speeches, and later collaborated with President Nixon on his memoirs.
5. Ms. Sawyer's journalism career has been groundbreaking. She was the first female correspondent on 60 Minutes, political correspondent for several national political conventions, and has served as an anchor for evening news and morning shows. She has interviewed a wide array of personalities, from heads of state to 9/11 widows to Bruce Jenner.