He was the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004, where he hosted all three of the network's major shows, including The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and Meet the Press. He currently serves as a special correspondent for NBC News and works on documentaries for other outlets.
Brokaw is also the author of several books on American history and society, including the The Greatest Generation (1998). In 2014 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.