David Gregory (journalist)
The sharp-suited moderator who steered Washington's most venerable political talk show through a turbulent era of partisan battles.
Born 1970 (age 56)·American television journalist and presenter·Birthday: August 24·Generation X
Biography
David Gregory ascended to the pinnacle of political journalism when he took the moderator's chair at NBC's 'Meet the Press' in 2008. Stepping into a role previously held by giants like Tim Russert, Gregory brought an intense, prosecutorial style to the Sunday morning institution. His tenure spanned the dawn of the Obama administration, the rise of the Tea Party, and increasingly fractious political debates, where his persistent, sometimes combative questioning became a signature. Before leading the flagship program, he was a White House correspondent during the George W. Bush years, known for his direct and probing style in the briefing room. After his time at 'Meet the Press,' he transitioned to a role as a political analyst, offering commentary shaped by his deep experience at the center of the national conversation.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
David was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the moderator of NBC's 'Meet the Press' from 2008 to 2014.
- Reported as a White House correspondent for NBC News during the presidency of George W. Bush.
- Joined CNN as a political analyst following his departure from NBC.
Did You Know?
He is a trained classical pianist and once considered a career in music.
He famously held up a high-capacity ammunition magazine during a live debate on gun control in 2012.
He authored the children's book 'How's the Baby?' for his son.
“The press is not here to be liked. It's here to be heard.”
