Walter Isaacson Original Airdate: April 5, 1998

Louisiana native Walter Isaacson is best known as the Managing Editor of TIME Magazine, the most popular newsmagazine in America. Born in 1952 in New Orleans, Isaacson was exposed from a young age to the political intrigue and colorful personalities of the city. An outstanding student, he was named a Rhodes Scholar and graduated from both Harvard and Oxford Universities. The erudite Isaacson got his start in journalism in the 1970s covering New Orleans politics for the Times Picayune/States-Item. In 1979, he joined TIME as a published reporter, and went on to gain national attention and exposure through his coverage of Ronald Reaganís 1980 campaign.

From 1993-96, Isaacson served as editor of New Media for Time, Inc., during which time he also developed the website "Pathfinder," the cable modem service "Road Runner," and an interactive television service in Orlando called "The News Exchange." He was named Managing Editor of TIME Magazine in January 1996. In addition to his journalistic writings, Isaacson has also published a biography of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, was co-author of The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made, and plans to write a biography of Benjamin Franklin.