Remembering Susan Stamberg: A Trailblazing Voice of NPR
Susan Stamberg, a towering figure in American public radio and a self-described “founding mother” of National Public Radio, has died at the age of 87. NPR announced Thursday that Stamberg, who broke barriers as the first woman to host a national news program, passed away, though a cause of death was not immediately provided. Her distinctive voice and conversational style shaped the sound of NPR from its earliest days, leaving an indelible mark on broadcast journalism.
Breaking Barriers on “All Things Considered”
Stamberg’s remarkable journey with NPR began in the early 1970s, joining the nascent network shortly after its launch in 1970. In 1972, she stepped into the host’s chair for “All Things Considered,” NPR’s flagship evening news program, a role she held for 14 transformative years. At a time when national news programs were exclusively helmed by men, Stamberg faced the unique challenge of forging her own path in an uncharted landscape.
The “New Sound” of Radio
In an oral history interview with Oregon station KLCC in January, Stamberg recounted how she initially tried to emulate the authoritative male voices of the era, even attempting to lower her own pitch. However, a pivotal moment arrived when program manager Bill Siemering encouraged her to simply “be herself.” This simple directive sparked a revolution in broadcast delivery. As Stamberg explained, “everybody else, the women, were trained actors, and so they came with a very careful accents and very careful delivery. They weren’t relaxed and natural.” By embracing her natural cadence and “obvious New York accent,” she helped create a “new sound” for radio — one characterized by warmth, authenticity, and intellectual curiosity that became synonymous with NPR.
The “Founding Mothers” of NPR
Beyond her individual contributions, Stamberg famously coined the term “founding mothers” to acknowledge the foundational roles she and three other pivotal women — Cokie Roberts, Nina Totenberg, and Linda Wertheimer — played in establishing NPR. “I got tired of hearing about Founding Fathers, and I knew we were not that, so we were obviously Founding Mothers, and I was going to put that on the map,” she stated, emphasizing their collective impact in building the network from the ground up, often with limited resources, such as “All Things Considered” relying on just five reporters to fill its daily 90-minute slot.
Continuing to Innovate
Following her tenure at “All Things Considered,” Stamberg continued to innovate. She hosted “Weekend Edition Sunday” where she inaugurated the much-loved Sunday puzzle feature with crossword editor Will Shortz, fulfilling her vision of the program as a radio equivalent of a comprehensive Sunday newspaper. She later served as a cultural correspondent for “Morning Edition” and “Weekend Edition Saturday,” interviewing thousands of individuals across her career. Her subjects ranged from prominent political figures like Nancy Reagan and President Jimmy Carter to cultural icons such as Annie Leibovitz, Rosa Parks, and James Baldwin, alongside less recognized but equally fascinating figures like White House chefs and Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes professionals.
A Legacy of Unparalleled Contributions
In a testament to her interviewing prowess, Stamberg hosted a groundbreaking two-hour radio call-in program with then-President Jimmy Carter from the Oval Office in 1979. Notably, the listeners’ questions were not screened beforehand, a rare instance of direct, unfiltered presidential engagement with the public. For her unparalleled contributions, Stamberg was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame, recognized for her “conversational style, intelligence, and knack for finding an interesting story.” In 2020, her legacy was further cemented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Personal Life and Enduring Impact
Born Susan Levitt in Newark, New Jersey, in 1938, Stamberg spent her formative years in Manhattan. She met her husband, Louis Stamberg, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is survived by her son, Josh Stamberg, and her two granddaughters, Vivian and Lena. Stamberg retired from active broadcasting in September, concluding a career that spanned over half a century and irrevocably shaped the landscape of American public radio.
