Award, roast for Schieffer

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For one night, Bob Schieffer wasn't covering the big news in Washington; he was the news. The silver-haired anchor couldn't have been more pleased to be the leading story for once.

The veteran CBS correspondent picked up the Helen Thomas Award for Excellence in Journalism Wednesday night from the American News Women's Club (ANWC). All he had to do to claim it was endure some good-natured roasting.

The ANWC's 12th annual gala at the sparkling new Mandarin Oriental Hotel was so tucked away in Southwest Washington that many guests spent much of the cocktail hour trying to find it.

A bevy of broadcasting's heavy hitters nevertheless found their way -- thanks to expert drivers, no doubt -- including CBS anchor Dan Rather, PBS' Jim Lehrer, Gloria Borger (Mr. Schieffer's former partner on "Face the Nation") and CNN's Judy Woodruff, the evening's emcee.

"There must be some dirt we can dig up on him," Miss Woodruff said as she began turning up the temperature on the roast.

Everything proved fair game, from the horned frog mascot of Mr. Schieffer's alma mater, Texas Christian University, to his Fort Worth reporter roots.

Sen. Lindsey Graham got in a few meaty digs, especially over Mr. Schieffer's work covering President Clinton's sexual peccadilloes.

"He kept asking me if there were any photos," the South Carolina Republican said.

Sen. Joseph Biden trotted out his own "top 10" list featuring nuggets we won't find in either Mr. Schieffer's broadcasts or his book, "This Just In: What I Couldn't Tell You on TV." One of the funniest: "He hasn't worn a pair of pants on 'Face the Nation' since 1994."

NBC reporter David Gregory brought down the house with his spot-on impersonation of Tom Brokaw, his absent anchor.

"It's never a good sign when they start throwing events like this for you," Mr. Gregory said in near-perfect Brokaw-ese. "It's [darn] near close to the end."

Mr. Rather discovered the hard way the truth of the show-business adage "never follow someone really funny." The anchor's homespun humor, like his taunt that Mr. Schieffer was more East Coast snob than rough-and-tumble Texan, couldn't match the competition.

Mr. Schieffer also was lauded for being among the best in his business.

"He's tough, and he's decent," Mr. Biden said during the pre-dinner reception. "That's a nice combination, and rare."

The guest of honor was quick to defend the news media against those who say it isn't doing a good enough job in an increasingly troubled world.

"Sure we make mistakes, but in a totalitarian government, there's only one source of information -- the government," said Mr. Schieffer, wearing a yellow rose and unimpeachable smile as he greeted well-wishers. "I'm proud of what we do."

-- Christian Toto