Tom Brokaw is an American broadcast journalist best known for anchoring NBC Nightly News for more than two decades. Born on February 6, 1940, in Webster, South Dakota, he attended the University of South Dakota and graduated with a degree in political science. He then began his journalism career in the early 1960s, working for local television stations in South Dakota, Nebraska, and California before joining NBC News in 1966.

At NBC, Brokaw served as a White House correspondent and later co-hosted Today. In 1982, he became anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, a position he held until 2004. During that time, he covered major historical events, including the end of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the September 11 attacks. After stepping down as anchor, Brokaw remained with NBC as a special correspondent until his retirement in 2021. 

Beyond broadcasting, Brokaw is an accomplished author whose books often focus on American history and culture. His 1998 bestseller, The Greatest Generation, popularized the term for Americans who grew up during the Great Depression and fought in World War II. He has been married to author Meredith Auld since 1962, and they have three daughters.