Betsy Woodruff is a well-known journalist who works as a national political reporter for Politico and a contributor to MSNBC. She has covered various topics related to federal law enforcement, campaigns, and Capitol Hill. She is also married to another prominent journalist, Jonathan Swan, who reports for Axios.
However, many people often wonder if Betsy Woodruff is related to another famous journalist, Judy Woodruff, who is the anchor of PBS NewsHour and a veteran of political reporting. The two share the same surname and profession, which has sparked speculation about their possible family ties.
So, who is Betsy Woodruff related to? Is she Judy Woodruff’s daughter or relative? Here is the truth behind the rumors.
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Betsy Woodruff and Judy Woodruff are Not Related
The short answer is no, Betsy Woodruff and Judy Woodruff are not related by blood or marriage. They are both journalists, but they have different backgrounds and families.
Betsy Woodruff was born on October 31, 1989, in Columbia, Missouri. She is the daughter of Scott Woodruff and Jane Tharp Woodruff. Her father is a financial advisor and her mother is a former bookstore assistant. She has two siblings, Chris Woodruff and Jane Woodruff. She graduated from Hillsdale College in 2012 with a BA in English.
Judy Woodruff was born on November 20, 1946, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is the daughter of William H. Woodruff and Anna Lee Woodruff. Her father was a chief warrant officer in the U.S. Army and her mother was a housewife. She has three siblings, Anita Woodruff, Ray Woodruff, and Nancy Woodruff. She graduated from Duke University in 1968 with a BA in political science.
Betsy Woodruff and Judy Woodruff have never met in person, but they have exchanged emails and expressed admiration for each other’s work. According to Betsy Woodruff, Judy Woodruff is “an incredible journalist” and “a role model for tons of young women who want to write about politics.” According to Judy Woodruff, Betsy Woodruff is “a terrific reporter” and “a credit to the profession.”
Betsy Woodruff is Also Not Related to Bob Woodruff
Another common misconception is that Betsy Woodruff is related to Bob Woodruff, who is an ABC News correspondent and co-anchor of World News Tonight. Bob Woodruff is also not related to Judy Woodruff, despite sharing the same surname and profession.
Bob Woodruff was born on August 18, 1961, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He is the son of Robert Norman Woodruff Jr. and Frances Ann Dawson. His father was a real estate agent and his mother was a banker. He has four siblings, David Woodruff, Jim Woodruff, Mike Woodruff, and Cathryn Cranston. He graduated from Colgate University in 1983 with a BA in political science and from the University of Michigan Law School in 1987 with a JD.
Betsy Woodruff has stated that she is not related to Bob Woodruff either. She has joked that she wishes she was because he is “a great reporter” and “a really nice guy.”
Conclusion
Betsy Woodruff is a successful journalist who has made a name for herself in the field of political reporting. However, she is not related to Judy Woodruff or Bob Woodruff, who are also prominent journalists with the same surname. The three are only connected by their common profession and passion for journalism.