Kevin Klose, Former NPR President and CEO, Dies at 85

Kevin Klose, who led NPR for nearly a decade and oversaw a period of major financial and programming growth, died Wednesday morning. He was 85.

The cause of death was complications from Alzheimer's disease, according to a confirmation from WBUR CEO Margaret Low, who was also described in some reports as a family friend.

A Distinguished Career Before NPR

Before leading NPR, Kevin Klose built a lengthy career in journalism and international broadcasting.

He worked as a national and foreign correspondent and senior editor at The Washington Post, where he served as Moscow bureau chief.
He later served as president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

A Decade of Leadership at NPR

Klose became NPR's sixth permanent president in December 1998 and led the organization for nearly a decade.

Programming and Structural Expansion

NPR expanded its programming, introducing new shows such as Day to Day in partnership with Slate magazine and The Tavis Smiley Show.
StoryCorps segments were added to Morning Edition.
He professionalized the network's leadership structure and established more competitive pay for hosts.
In 2000, Klose arranged an hour-long, live call-in show hosted by former All Things Considered host Robert Siegel with then-newly elected Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A Transformational Bequest

Klose cultivated a relationship with philanthropist Joan B. Kroc.
In 2003, Kroc left a bequest to NPR. The value was reported at the time as over $200 million.
According to NPR, these funds were used to establish a major NPR presence in Southern California, create new reporting positions, expand foreign coverage, and create an endowment. One report also mentioned funding a new bureau in New York.

Life After NPR

After his tenure at NPR, Klose served as dean of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. He later returned to lead Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty for a two-year period.

Colleagues Remember His Impact

Following the news of his death, colleagues offered statements reflecting on his legacy.

WBUR CEO Margaret Low stated: "Long before it was on the tips of everyone's tongue, Kevin talked about the importance of quality journalism in a healthy democracy."
Former All Things Considered host Robert Siegel said: "There used to be a belief in some quarters that the job of president of NPR was too large to handle, except for the example of Kevin Klose."

In a 2003 interview with Current newspaper, Klose said, "Gathering news and getting it out to other people — it's absolutely essential for our democracy."

Legacy and Personal Moments

Klose's family intends to create the Kevin Klose Memorial Fund for Independent Journalism.

An incident recalled from February 1, 2003, describes Klose coming to NPR's studios during live coverage of the space shuttle Columbia disaster to assist staff with logistics. After the broadcast, he told staff, "You helped your country today."

This story was reported by NPR Correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by NPR Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editor Vickie Walton-James. One source noted that, in accordance with NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no corporate official or news executive reviewed the story before publication.