There are few American journalists more revered than Lesley Stahl. According to her network bio, Stahl joined acclaimed CBS newsmagazine 60 Minutes in 1991, with her career having been characterized by "political scoops, investigations, surprising features, and award-winning foreign reporting," all of which contributed to a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 2003 for overall excellence in reporting.

Prior to 60 Minutes, Stahl served as CBS News' White House correspondent — "the first woman to hold that job" — during the presidencies of Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. In a 2006 interview for the Television Academy, Stahl zeroed in on the single greatest trait that's guided her career in broadcast journalism: tenacity. "I think I knew by instinct ... that the door kicking part of was necessary, the idea that you make a hundred calls instead of just 50, and that you don't take no for an answer," she said. That philosophy held true in October 2020, when her refusal to allow President Donald Trump to dodge her "tough" questions led him to prematurely pull the plug on the contentious interview.

Loyal viewers of 60 Minutes have watched Stahl for decades, yet there's a lot about her life they probably don't know. Read on to discover the untold truth of Lesley Stahl.