By Rep. Dick Gephardt

Being on “Face the Nation” was always a good experience. It’s a very thoughtful program.

The thing you really like about the show is Bob Schieffer. They’ve had other hosts in their 50 years-Howard K. Smith, Lesley Stahl, Martin Agronsky and others-but the one I’ve done the most programs with is Bob Schieffer. I don’t think there’s a more decent person covering Washington than him.

Sure he asks tough questions. He doesn’t throw you softballs. But he has a good sense of humor. Before each show, we might be yukking it up. He’s just a tremendously pleasant person to be around. And the fact that he has covered all aspects of Capitol Hill, the White House and the government is also important. I can’t think of anyone else who is more informed.

“Face the Nation” is a little bit different way of getting information out there to the public. I don’t know how much of the citizenry watches, but for those who do, they get something that is more than the interviews we often do, where they are looking for one big sound bite. And that stems back to Bob Schieffer as well. He makes it a good opportunity to talk about the issues affecting all of us.

Rep. Richard A. “Dick” Gephardt is retiring from Congress at the end of this term after representing the 3rd District of Missouri, including South St. Louis, since 1977 and serving as leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives from 1989-2002. He has appeared on “Face the Nation” 22 times.