Juan Williams Biography
Juan Williams is an American Emmy-Award Winning anchor and author working for FOX NEWS as a senior political analyst. He joined the FOX NEWS news team in 1997, after previously working for National Public Radio.
Juan Williams Career
Williams was awarded a scholarship to enroll at Oakwood Friends School, a Quaker institution located in Poughkeepsie, New York. During his time at Oakwood, he achieved the position of “student clerk” for his senior year, served as the editor of the school newspaper, and actively participated in sports. Upon completing his studies at Oakwood in 1972, he proceeded to Haverford College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1976. He contributed to The Washington Post for a span of 23 years. However, a controversy arose when, shortly after he wrote a column defending Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas against allegations of sexual harassment by Anita Hill.
It was disclosed that several female employees at the Post had filed sexual harassment charges against Williams himself. In response to the situation, the newspaper took disciplinary action against him and published an apology from him. He then joined NPR in 2000, initially hosting the daily afternoon talk show “Talk of the Nation” and later serving as a senior national correspondent. In 2009, NPR’s president and CEO, Vivian Schiller, requested that Fox News stop identifying him as an NPR host after controversial remarks he made on The O’Reilly Factor. He had commented on Michelle Obama and expressed concerns about people in Muslim garb on airplanes. NPR terminated Williams’ contract on October 20, 2010, citing remarks inconsistent with their editorial standards and practices.
In addition, they also claimed that he had undermined his credibility as a news analyst. Schiller stated that news analysts should not take personal public positions on controversial issues. The termination sparked debates about whether NPR fired Williams for the comments made on Fox News and raised concerns about a perceived double standard in the network’s handling of opinionated statements by its reporters and analysts. Some observers questioned whether the firing was linked to the specific forum (Fox News) rather than the content of his remarks. Williams and others criticized NPR for what they perceived as a double standard compared to other reporters who had made opinionated statements. The incident drew parallels to the Shirley Sherrod case, that he, like Sherrod, had his words taken out of context, leading to job loss.
While he expressed unsettling feelings about Muslims, he argued against using such fears to curtail the rights of Muslims, maintaining that Muslims in general should not be blamed for the actions of extremists. Schiller later apologized for her comment about his feelings towards Muslims. He has been a Fox News Contributor since 1997, contributing to various shows such as “Special Report with Bret Baier,” “FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace,” and formerly co-hosting “The Five” until May 5, 2021. On that date, he announced his decision to move from the New York office to the D.C. office to spend more time with his family. He has also made appearances on “The O’Reilly Factor” and occasionally served as a guest host in Bill O’Reilly’s absence.
Following his termination from NPR in October 2010, Fox News offered him a new three-year contract worth $2 million, which included an expanded role at the network. This role featured a regular guest-host position on Friday nights on “The O’Reilly Factor.” The new contract represented a substantial raise for him. He has received acclaim for his contributions to television documentary writing, earning an Emmy Award. Notable documentaries include “Politics: The New Black Power,” “A. Philip Randolph: For Jobs and Freedom,” “Civil Rights and The Press,” “Riot to Recovery,” and “Dying for Healthcare.” In 1988, he co-authored the book “Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years, 1954–65” with the Blackside production team, serving as a companion to the first season of the PBS series “Eyes on the Prize.” His 2003 book, “This Far by Faith,” also accompanies a PBS series.
Additionally, he is a contributor to various national magazines such as Fortune, The New Republic, The Atlantic Monthly, Ebony magazine, TIME, and GQ. He frequently appears on television programs including ABC’s Nightline, Washington Week on PBS, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. He has been a speaker at the Smithsonian’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision. This was a pivotal moment in ending legal segregation in public schools. The United States Census Bureau selected him as the moderator for its first program in the 2010 effort. In recognition of his contributions, he has received honorary doctorates from Lafayette College, Wittenberg University, Long Island University, and other institutions.
Juan Williams Salary
Williams earns an annual salary of about $47,000-$120,000.
Juan Williams Net Worth
Williams has an estimated net worth of about $1 Million – $7 Million which he has earned through his career as an author.
Juan Williams Age
Williams was born on April 10, 1954, in Colon, Panama, United States. He is 70 years old as of 2024, and he celebrates his birthday on the 10th of April every year.
Juan Williams Height and Weight
Williams stands at a height of 6 feet 1 inches tall however, information about his weight has not been disclosed.
Juan Williams Family
Williams is the son of Alma Géraldine and Rogelio L. Williams. He also has two siblings.
Juan Williams Wife and Children
Williams is married to Susan Delise and they tied the knot on July 1978. Together they have been blessed with three children, whom they named; Rae, Antonio (“Tony”) and Raphael (“Raffi”). Additionally, he is the grandfather of twin girls, Pepper and Wesley. He resides in Washington D.C. together with his family.
Tony, the elder son, had a political background, serving as a Senate page and intern for GOP Senator Strom Thurmond from 1996 to 1997. Later, he worked as a speechwriter and legislative correspondent for Republican Senator Norm Coleman from 2004 to 2006. In 2006, Tony ran for a seat on the Council of the District of Columbia, but was unsuccessful in the election, losing to Tommy Wells.
The younger son, Raffi, pursued studies in anthropology and played lacrosse at Haverford College, the same institution his father attended in Pennsylvania. Raffi has held various roles, including working for the House Rules Committee and serving as the communications director for Michigan Republican Dan Benishek’s successful 2012 congressional campaign. Additionally, he worked as a deputy press secretary for the Republican National Committee and later served as press secretary to former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson.
What Happened To Juan Williams?
Williams has been the liberal voice on the chatfest for nearly seven years. He recently announced his decision to leave the show, citing the program’s plans to return to in-person studio appearances and his personal experience with COVID-19 last winter. Although he is departing from the talk show, he will continue to serve as a Fox News political analyst. The co-hosts of “The Five,” airing on weekdays at 5 p.m. EDT/2 p.m. PDT, are set to return to the show’s studio located in Fox News’ New York headquarters starting Tuesday.
In the absence of Williams, rotating liberal hosts will temporarily fill his spot until a permanent replacement is named. He will continue his association with Fox News as a political analyst, working from Washington, D.C., where he resides. In expressing his gratitude, Williams thanked the audience for their viewership of “The Five.”
Juan Williams FOX NEWS
While working for FOX NEWS Williams co-works alongside: