Sam Donaldson Biography, Net Worth, Wife, Family, Is He Dead? Fast facts

It’s fair to say that the word legendary is coming into the world today. If there was one person who fit that description perfectly, it would definitely be Sam Donaldson. In an impressive journalism career spanning nearly half a century, Sam was the face of ABC News, serving as White House correspondent to three different US presidents.

the biography

Born March 11, 1934 in El Paso, Texas; Sam grew up on a family farming colony in Chamberino, New Mexico. Sam often talks about how he got kicked out of the New Mexico Military Institute other than attending regular high school like other teenagers due to his stubbornness.

He graduated from the New Mexico Army Institute in 1951 and joined the United States Army as an artillery officer in 1956, becoming a captain in 1959. Upon completion of his military assignment, he s enrolled at what is now the University of Texas at El Paso, then known as Texas Western. College where he studied telecommunications.

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His first broadcasting job was for a CBSKRLD-TV affiliate in Dallas, Texas in 1959. Sam quit the job out of boredom and the need to get out of town. He moved to New York in an attempt to land a job in the television broadcasting industry and initially did not find employment as he expected.

His time in Washington DC began in 1961 when he received an offer to join WTOP-TV, a CBS affiliate. On WTOP-TV, he covered President Kennedy’s funeral in 1963, Goldwater’s presidential campaign in 1964, the Senate passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Medicare Bill in 1965.

In October 1967, he had his stroke of luck when he was hired by ABC News as a Washington correspondent. In 1968 and 1969, he covered the Democratic and Republican party conventions. He was also ABC’s chief correspondent for the Vietnam War and the Watergate Scandal.

In 1972, he covered George McGovern’s presidential campaigns and Jimmy Carter’s candidacy in 1976. When Jimmy Carter won the election, Sam Donaldson was appointed chief White House correspondent for ABC in 1977. He held this position until the administration of Ronald Reagan.

Sam Donaldson was the Sunday anchor of ABCEvening News from its inception in 1979 until August 1989. In 1989, he left his post as White House correspondent and anchor of World News Sunday and was named co-host of Primetime Live.

With the evolution of classic media into more internet and digital-enabled forms, Sam adapted his art after 10 years with Primetime Live he began anchoring [email protected], the first live internet-only newscast, from 1999-2001. For the next six years, beginning in 2004, he hosted Politics Live on the ABC News Now digital network. Sam Donaldson resigned from his position at ABC News in February 2009.

Net value

For a career spanning 46 years, Sam Donaldson is as accomplished as journalism can be. He worked for ABC, working his way up to the peak of his career. He received many awards during his active days, including the Paul White Award, Radio Television Digital Television Association. In 1997, Sam won the Edward R. Murrow Award at Washington State University. He also amassed 4 Emmy Awards, 3 Peabody Awards and the DePont Award in 2000. He has an estimated net worth of $40 million.

women

Sam Donaldson married Patricia Oates in 1954 with whom he had his first son Samuel Donaldson III. Sam and Patricia divorced in 1962. His second marriage was to Billie Kay Butler; The union lasted 16 years and they had three children. Thomas Donaldson, Robert Donaldson and Jennifer Donaldson. Sam’s marriage to Billie fell apart in 1980.

Later in life, Sam would blame the divorce on himself saying he never had time for birthdays, anniversaries and other family activities. At the height of his powers, he left his home at 6:30 a.m. and returned at 1:00 a.m. – this is not the ideal recipe for a successful marriage.

Sam married Janice C. Smith in 1983 and divorced in 2014 after being together for 29 years. They had no children together. In the same year (2014), Sam married Sandra Martorelli, whom he reportedly saw while married to Janice Smith.

Family

Sam’s father, Samuel Donaldson, was a farmer in New Mexico while his mother Chloe (née Hampson) was a schoolteacher. Not much is known about Sam Donaldson’s siblings other than his brother Tom, who died in 1968.

Is Sam Donaldson dead?

For someone who has been in the national conscience for nearly half a century, upon his retirement, rumors of his passing began to swirl. In 1995, Sam had a health scare when doctors removed a melanoma from the lymph nodes to treat the cancer. After treatment, Sam dedicated his time and resources as an ambassador in the fight against cancer.

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Quick Facts About Sam Donaldson

• Sam Donaldson was the pioneer of ABC’s popular Sunday Evening News.
• He was a White House correspondent at ABC for three terms covering three different US presidents; Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
• During his work, he had many calls for danger. In 1981, he stood just three feet from President Reagan during the assassination attempt.
• Sam’s father, Samuel Donaldson Snr, died of a heart attack before Sam was born, leaving his upbringing to his mother, Chloe.
• Member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity at the University of Texas at El Paso.