Brian Williams

Good-looking and quick-witted, this veteran news anchor started out as a White House intern under President Jimmy Carter before embarking on a career in broadcast journalism. After working as a reporter for a number of local East Coast stations, Williams landed in New York City on CBS. In 1993 he jumped ship to NBC and the next year became the network's chief White House correspondent. Over the next decade, he gained fame, Emmys, his own eponymous show on MSNBC, and the public's trust while covering myriad high-profile stories, including the deaths of Princess Di and John F. Kennedy Jr., and September 11. His charm and intelligence also made him a sought-after and surprisingly amusing talk-show guest. When NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw finally retired in 2004, the adaptable Williams effortlessly slid behind his desk.