His audience is down about 35 percent since he took over the anchor chair in 1983.

The next shot was Virginia in the anchor chair.

But he never got very comfortable in the anchor chair, and a year later, he jumped at the chance to rejoin law enforcement.

Ahern retired from the anchor chair on December 1, 2004.

He returned to the anchor chair at channel 12 from 1970 until he stepped down to run for Congress in 1974.

Jack Cafferty joined the anchor chair a few months later.

Ms. Couric is perhaps the biggest celebrity journalist to reach the anchor chair.

"The need to express himself outside of that anchor chair was more apparent to him than he ever imagined it would be."

He famously took off for 10 summer weeks in 2001, a move widely considered to be a prelude to his decision to leave the anchor chair.

"That's why I find it hard to climb those stairs and get into the anchor chair anymore."