Mark Knoller, the veteran CBS News radio correspondent who served as an unofficial presidential statistician for eight administrations, died on Saturday, August 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. He was 73.
CBS News confirmed Knoller’s death, noting he had been in ill health and suffered from diabetes. The Brooklyn-born journalist worked as an editor and radio reporter for CBS News from 1988 to 2020, establishing himself as a legend among White House journalists.
Tom Cibrowski, CBS News president and executive editor, described Knoller as “the hardest-working and most prolific White House correspondent of a generation.” Cibrowski noted that Americans knew Knoller’s distinctive voice and his up-to-the-minute reporting across eight presidential administrations.
Knoller became renowned for his meticulous record-keeping of presidential activities. CBS News’ Chip Reid wrote that Knoller’s frustration over the lack of a central database of daily presidential actions inspired him to take upon himself the enormous burden of keeping detailed records of every presidential act, movement and utterance, single-handedly filling an immense void in American history.
After graduating from New York University, Knoller began his career as an intern and copy boy at WNEW Radio, where he later became a weekend reporter. In 1975, he joined the Associated Press Radio Network before moving to CBS in 1988.
A 1988 meeting with famed CBS News producer Susan Zirinsky led to Knoller’s job offer with the network. He initially worked as an assignment editor but moved after a few years to his dream job as a White House correspondent for CBS Radio, according to Reid.
Former CBS News colleagues paid tribute to Knoller’s dedication and character. Senior correspondent Norah O’Donnell called him simply the best, describing him as a legendary White House journalist who was a delight to be around. She noted that his work was his life and that he was kind, funny, and always gracious in sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of the presidency.
Major Garrett, CBS News’ chief Washington correspondent, said Knoller defined the role of White House correspondent. Garrett described him as the most devoted, tenacious, and clear-eyed journalist he had ever known, stating that working alongside Knoller would count among his life’s greatest blessings.
Jim Axelrod, chief correspondent and executive editor for CBS News’ “Eye on America,” highlighted Knoller’s generosity toward colleagues. Axelrod indicated that while Knoller’s knowledge of the White House and presidency was impressive, it was surpassed only by his generosity toward friends and colleagues. He noted that Knoller always answered with kindness, class, and a sincere desire to help.
Throughout his 32-year career at CBS News, Knoller covered multiple presidential administrations, earning recognition for his comprehensive documentation of presidential activities. His unofficial role as presidential statistician filled a crucial gap in historical record-keeping that no official government database provided.
Knoller’s colleagues described his CBS family as adoring him, with many noting they would miss their friend. His distinctive voice became familiar to radio listeners across America as he delivered breaking news and detailed reports from the White House.
The veteran correspondent’s commitment to accuracy and thoroughness in documenting presidential activities created an invaluable resource for historians, journalists, and the American public. His meticulous approach to recording every detail of presidential actions, movements, and statements established him as an authority on presidential history.
