( CNN ) -- Jim Lehrer is hosting his 12th presidential or vice-presidential debate Wednesday night . His background includes decades of print and television journalism , as well as a stint in the military . Here are some things you might not know about Lehrer : . -- Co-founder and executive editor of what is now called `` PBS NewsHour '' ; he stepped back from daily anchor duties in May 2011 . -- Has presided over 11 presidential and vice-presidential debates , beginning in 1988 . -- Wrote `` Tension City : Inside the Presidential Debates , From Kennedy-Nixon to Obama-McCain . '' -- Has compared moderating a presidential debate to `` walking on the blade of a very sharp knife . '' -- Has been involved in journalism for 53 years , first at newspapers in Dallas , and for 37 years at `` NewsHour '' in its various forms . -- Interviewed President Bill Clinton the day the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke and admitted he did n't pick up on Clinton 's use of the present tense when he said , `` There is no improper relationship . '' -- Has won numerous awards , including two Emmys , a George Foster Peabody Award , the National Humanities Medal and the National Press Club 's Fourth Estate Award . -- Has also written 20 novels , two memoirs and three plays . -- Born in Wichita , Kansas , in 1934 . -- Bachelor 's degree in journalism , University of Missouri , 1956 . -- U.S. Marine Corps , 1956-59 . -- Married since 1960 ; three daughters , six grandchildren . -- Underwent a heart valve procedure in April 2008 that was deemed `` a complete success . '' Full coverage of the first 2012 presidential debates . Leaving the PBS anchor chair . iReport : What questions would you ask ? Source : PBS .
The veteran journalist has moderated the previous debates . Wrote a book on the history of the presidential debates . Married 52 years ; 3 daughters , six grandchildren . Admitted dropping the ball when Clinton talked about Monica Reyes .