Jeff Greenfield Bio, Age, Height, Wife, Family, Affairs, Career, Books, Net Worth

From drafting Robert F. Kennedy’s most haunting speech the day after Martin Luther King’s assassination to becoming one of America’s most decorated political journalists, Jeff Greenfield has spent six decades at the epicenter of American power. The five-time Emmy winner has analyzed every presidential election since 1968, authored 13 books including bestselling alternate histories, and navigated personal scandals involving his daughter’s affair with CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin—all while maintaining his status as the “best in the business” according to the Washington Journalism Review.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Birth & Family Background
Born Henry Jeffrey Greenfield on June 10, 1943, in New York City, he grew up in Manhattan’s intellectual milieu. His father, Benjamin Greenfield, was a lawyer; his mother, Helen E. Greenfield, was a homemaker. The family was Jewish and middle-class, instilling in young Jeff a strong work ethic and intellectual curiosity. He has one sister, Janet Greenfield Elmo.

Bronx High School of Science
Greenfield graduated from the prestigious Bronx High School of Science in 1960, one of New York’s elite specialized high schools known for producing scientific and intellectual leaders. This rigorous academic foundation prepared him for the competitive worlds of law and journalism.

University of Wisconsin–Madison (1960–1964)
At Wisconsin, Greenfield majored in history and graduated with honors in 1964. He served as editor-in-chief of The Daily Cardinal, the university’s student newspaper, gaining early journalism experience. He was also inducted into the Iron Cross, a secret society at the university.

Yale Law School (1964–1966)
Greenfield graduated with honors from Yale Law School in 1966, where he was a Note and Comment Editor of the Yale Law Journal. This legal training would prove invaluable throughout his career, particularly in analyzing Supreme Court nominations and constitutional crises.

Career Journey

Early Political Career (1967–1979)

Robert F. Kennedy Speechwriter (1967–1968)
Fresh out of law school, Greenfield landed one of the most coveted positions in American politics: speechwriter for Senator Robert F. Kennedy. He worked in RFK’s Senate office and on his 1968 presidential campaign. His most significant contribution came on April 5, 1968—the day after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination—when he assisted with Kennedy’s impromptu speech, “On the Mindless Menace of Violence,” delivered in Cleveland.

New York Mayor John Lindsay (1968–1970)
Following RFK’s assassination, Greenfield served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor John Lindsay, helping navigate one of the most turbulent periods in the city’s history.

Political Consultant David Garth (1970–1977)
Greenfield spent seven years working with legendary political consultant David Garth, learning the mechanics of campaigns and media strategy that would inform his later journalism career.

Journalism Career (1979–Present)

PBS & Early Television (1968–1979)
Greenfield first appeared on television in 1968 on William F. Buckley’s Firing Line. He hosted PBS’s We Interrupt This Week and served as anchor for the national public television series CEO Exchange for five seasons, featuring in-depth interviews with high-profile chief executive officers.

CBS News (1979–1983)
Greenfield’s network career began as a media commentator for CBS News, covering the 1980 Republican and Democratic national conventions and the presidential election.

ABC News (1983–1997)
For 14 years, Greenfield served as political and media analyst for ABC News, appearing primarily on Nightline and delivering weekly commentaries for World News Sunday. He covered the Iran-Contra hearings, the Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas Supreme Court confirmation battles, and virtually every major domestic political story of the era.

CNN (1998–2007)
As senior analyst at CNN, Greenfield was the lead analyst for coverage of primaries, conventions, presidential debates, election nights, presidential funerals, and Supreme Court nomination hearings. He also reported on media, culture, and trends. He guest-hosted Larry King Live and moderated CNN town hall meetings.

Return to CBS News (2007–2011)
Greenfield returned to CBS News as senior political correspondent in May 2007, contributing to CBS Evening News with katie couric, The Early Show, CBS News Sunday Morning, and CBSNews.com until April 2011.

PBS Need to Know (2010–2013)
From May 7, 2010, to June 28, 2013, Greenfield hosted PBS’s Need to Know, a weekly news magazine covering public affairs.

Current Work (2013–Present)
Greenfield contributes political commentary to NBC Nightly News, writes columns for The Daily Beast and POLITICO Magazine, and serves as a contributing correspondent for PBS’ NewsHour Weekend. He has also taught courses on political media at USC’s Center for the Political Future.

Notable Coverage Milestones

Personal Life

Marriage to Carrie Carmichael (1968–1993)

Greenfield’s first marriage was to Carrie Carmichael, an author. They married on May 11, 1968, and had two children together before divorcing in February 1993 after 25 years of marriage.

Children:

• Casey Greenfield (daughter): Yale Law School graduate, former Gibson Dunn associate, now runs boutique family law firm Greenfield Labby LLP. Married to screenwriter Matt Manfredi (2004–2006).
• David Greenfield (son): Keeps a low public profile.

Marriage to Karen Anne Gannett (1993–Divorced)

Just two months after his first divorce, Greenfield married Karen Anne Gannett, a television news producer, on April 24, 1993. This marriage also ended in divorce, though the exact date is not publicly confirmed.

Marriage to Dena Sklar (2002–Present)

In June 2002, Greenfield married Dena Sklar (also known as Diane Schloss Sklar), a real estate broker and former associate director at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. They maintain dual residences in Santa Barbara, California, and New York City. As of 2026, they have been married for 23 years.

The Casey Greenfield-Jeffrey Toobin Scandal

The most publicized aspect of Greenfield’s personal life involves his daughter Casey and CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin. In 2008, Toobin—then married to Amy McIntosh and 13 years Casey’s senior—began an affair with Casey Greenfield, then a fact checker at Glamour magazine.

Key Events:

• 2008: Casey becomes pregnant with Toobin’s child
• 2009: Casey gives birth to son Rory (full name: Roderick Henry Greenfield)
• Toobin’s Response: Initially offered to pay for an abortion; when Casey refused, he told her she would “regret it” and shouldn’t expect help
• Legal Battle: Casey sued for paternity and child support; DNA test confirmed Toobin’s paternity
• Court Order: Manhattan Family Court ordered Toobin to pay child support, which he initially resisted paying in full
• Current Status: Toobin now sees Rory a few times a month; Rory served as an usher at his half-sister’s wedding in 2018

The scandal resurfaced in 2020 when Toobin was fired from The New Yorker for masturbating on a Zoom call, and again in 2024 when media outlets revisited the affair. Throughout, Jeff Greenfield has maintained a dignified silence, though the situation created an awkward dynamic given that both men worked for CNN.

Career Stats & Achievements

Awards:

• 5 Emmy Awards:
• Two for reporting from South Africa (1985, 1990)
• One for profile of H. Ross Perot (1992)
• One for profile of Robert Kennedy
• One additional Emmy (year/category varies by source)
• TV Guide All-Star Team: Named best political commentator (twice)
• Washington Journalism Review: Cited as “the best in the business” for media analysis
• Sidewise Award Nomination: Then Everything Changed finalist for Alternate History, Long Form (2011)

Career Statistics:

• Years covering national conventions: 1988–present (every convention since 1988)
• Presidential elections covered: 1968–2020 (14 consecutive elections)
• Networks worked for: PBS, CBS, ABC, CNN, NBC
• Books published: 13 (as author or co-author)
• Columns syndicated: 150+ newspapers (Universal Press Syndicate, 15 years)

Physical Statistics

Quotes

On politics and truth:
“Well, politics is war, and in war, truth is the first casualty.”

On political characters:
“In politics, Bugs Bunny always beats Daffy Duck. Daffy’s always going berserk, jumping up and down, yelling. Bugs’s got that sly smile, knows he’s going to win.”

On alternate history:
“What would the world be like if events had happened differently?”

On teaching:
“Over the years, the appearance of Google and YouTube has made teaching political and media history easier and easier.”

Books by Jeff Greenfield

Favorites

Salary & Net Worth

Estimated Net Worth: $931,515 – $1 Million

Income Sources:

• Journalism Salary: Estimated $93,193 annually (PBS/NBC contributor fees)
• Book Royalties: 13 books including bestsellers
• Speaking Fees: Estimated $10,000–$25,000 per engagement
• Teaching: USC Center for the Political Future fellowship
• Syndicated Columns: Formerly 150+ newspapers

Greenfield’s net worth is modest compared to television personalities with similar longevity, reflecting his career in public broadcasting and political journalism rather than commercial entertainment. His financial profile is typical of serious journalists who prioritize influence over income.

Interesting Facts

1. RFK’s Speech: Greenfield helped draft Robert Kennedy’s “On the Mindless Menace of Violence” speech, delivered the day after MLK’s assassination—considered one of the greatest political speeches of the 20th century.
2. Iron Cross Society: Was inducted into the Iron Cross secret society at the University of Wisconsin, a prestigious honor society.
3. CEO Exchange: Hosted 5 seasons of PBS’s CEO Exchange, interviewing top business leaders before becoming a full-time political analyst.
4. Toobin Connection: His daughter’s affair with Jeffrey Toobin created a unique situation where both men were CNN analysts simultaneously, though they rarely appeared together.
5. Alternate History Pioneer: His 2011 book Then Everything Changed helped popularize alternate history as a genre for mainstream political readers.
6. Convention Streak: Has covered every national political convention since 1988—more than 35 years of continuous convention coverage.
7. Law Degree: Despite his journalism career, Greenfield has never practiced law formally, though his Yale Law training informs his legal analysis.
8. Grandfather of Seven: Has seven grandchildren, including Rory, his daughter Casey’s son with Jeffrey Toobin.
9. Dual Coast Living: Maintains residences on both coasts—Santa Barbara for relaxation, New York for work.
10. Music Buff: His listed favorite songs span classic rock, Motown, and folk-rock, reflecting his generation’s musical tastes.

Did You Know Already?

• Greenfield’s first novel, The People’s Choice (1995), was optioned for film by director Penny Marshall, though it was never produced.
• He has won five Emmy Awards but is not a household name like some of his CNN colleagues—a reflection of his serious, analytical style.
• Greenfield’s daughter Casey named her son Rory “Roderick Henry Greenfield”—Roderick is her law partner Scott Labby’s middle name, and Henry is her father’s first name.
• He was a syndicated columnist for 15 years, appearing in over 150 newspapers through Universal Press Syndicate.
• Greenfield has taught courses on political media at USC, where students praised his ability to use Google and YouTube to illustrate historical events.
• His book If Kennedy Lived was optioned for development as a mini-series, though it has not yet been produced.
• Greenfield appeared on Firing Line with William F. Buckley as early as 1968—before his network career began.

Social Media Links

• Official Website: www.jeffgreenfield.net
• Twitter/X: @greenfield64 (occasional posts)
• Facebook: Limited personal presence
• LinkedIn: Professional profile for speaking engagements
• Publisher: Available through Penguin Random House for book inquiries

Note: At 82, Greenfield maintains minimal social media presence, preferring traditional media and his website for public communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Jeff Greenfield?
Jeff Greenfield was born on June 10, 1943, making him 82 years 7 months old years old as of 2026.

Who is Jeff Greenfield’s wife?
Jeff Greenfield is currently married to Dena Sklar (also known as Diane Schloss Sklar), a real estate broker. They married in June 2002. He was previously married to Carrie Carmichael (1968–1993) and Karen Anne Gannett (1993–divorced).

What is Jeff Greenfield’s net worth?
Jeff Greenfield’s estimated net worth is between $931,515 and $1 million, derived from his journalism career, book royalties, speaking fees, and teaching positions.

Did Jeff Greenfield work for Robert F. Kennedy?
Yes. Greenfield served as a speechwriter for Senator Robert F. Kennedy from 1967 until Kennedy’s assassination in 1968. He helped draft RFK’s famous “On the Mindless Menace of Violence” speech delivered the day after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.

Who is Casey Greenfield?
Casey Greenfield is Jeff Greenfield’s daughter from his first marriage to Carrie Carmichael. She is a Yale Law School graduate and runs the boutique family law firm Greenfield Labby LLP. She gained public attention for her affair with CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, with whom she has a son named Rory (born 2009).

How many books has Jeff Greenfield written?
Jeff Greenfield has authored or co-authored 13 books, including the national bestseller The People’s Choice (1995), Then Everything Changed (2011), and If Kennedy Lived (2013).

What awards has Jeff Greenfield won?
Greenfield has won five Emmy Awards—two for reporting from South Africa (1985, 1990), one for a profile of H. Ross Perot (1992), one for a profile of Robert Kennedy, and one additional Emmy. He has also been named to TV Guide’s All-Star team twice and cited by the Washington Journalism Review as “the best in the business.”

Is Jeff Greenfield related to Jeffrey Toobin?
No, they are not related. However, there is a complicated connection: Toobin had an affair with Greenfield’s daughter Casey, resulting in a son named Rory. Both Greenfield and Toobin worked as analysts for CNN during overlapping periods.

Conclusion

Jeff Greenfield’s six-decade career represents the gold standard of American political journalism—from the tragic idealism of Robert Kennedy’s campaign to the chaotic reality of the Trump era. His ability to navigate print, broadcast, and digital media while maintaining analytical rigor has earned him five Emmys and the respect of peers who call him “the best in the business.”

Yet his legacy is complicated by the very human dramas that have unfolded alongside his professional triumphs. The scandal involving his daughter and Jeffrey Toobin reminds us that even the most disciplined journalists cannot control the narratives of their own families. Through it all, Greenfield has maintained the dignity and analytical distance that have defined his public persona.

As he enters his ninth decade, Greenfield continues to write, teach, and commentate, bridging the gap between historical perspective and contemporary political analysis. In an era of partisan shouting, his measured, lawyerly approach to journalism—rooted in the speechwriting traditions of RFK and the constitutional framework of Yale Law—offers a reminder that political commentary can be both passionate and precise.

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