Ex-Clinton Aide To Anchor ABC Show

ABC has appointed George Stephanopoulos to anchor the Sunday news program "This Week." The former Clinton aide urged those who question his objectivity to watch him with an open mind.

"This Week" dominated Sunday mornings a decade ago but now struggles in the long shadow of NBC's Tim Russert.

Stephanopoulos, already a panelist on the program, will replace Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts shortly after Labor Day.

Roberts announced earlier this spring that she was quitting, after media reports circulated that Stephanopoulos was in line for the job. Donaldson will report for ABC's "Nightline" and the network's newsmagazines.

Behind television veteran David Brinkley, ABC spent many years atop the Sunday morning pack. In 1997, the year after Brinkley retired, "This Week" and NBC's "Meet the Press" were virtually neck-and-neck in the ratings.

So far this season, "Meet the Press" averages 4.7 million viewers each week, or 46 percent more than "This Week's" 3.2 million. CBS' "Face the Nation," with a little more than 3 million viewers, occasionally beats ABC for second place.

Stephanopoulos, since being hired at ABC News in 1996, has tried a variety of commentator, anchor and reporting roles before settling into covering the political world he knows well.

He is the latest in a long line of TV personalities to come from politics. Russert was a top aide to former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo. Fox News Sunday host Tony Snow wrote speeches for the first President Bush. "Hardball" host Chris Matthews worked for former House Speaker Tip O'Neill.

As a former spin doctor for the Clinton campaign and presidency, Stephanopoulos' political role was more visible than most.

"I think I've shown in my work and will continue to show that I'm a tough but fair interviewer," Stephanopoulos said. "I'm not going to bring any bias to the table. I'm going to do what I can to make sure that people have the full picture.

"The questions are fair," he said. "I just hope that people will watch with a fair mind."

It remains to be seen whether Stephanopoulos' background will handicap ABC's ability to get top GOP interview guests in a TV format where the networks compete heatedly.

A spokesman for the Republican National Committee said he's willing to give Stephanopoulos a chance.

"We look forward to working with him," said Kevin Sheridan. "Obviously, everyone knows his past. He's a true liberal and doesn't hide the fact. We're hoping he grows into the role of prime-time journalist."

The "This Week" roundtable, where four correspondents swap opinions, will remain. So will conservative commentator George Will, who joins Stephanopoulos as half of the roundtable.

ABC will name one more permanent member and the fourth slot will rotate from week to week. Washington correspondents Terry Moran, Claire Shipman and Linda Douglass are among the reporters who have tried out.