She was appointed political correspondent by 1974, and in 1976 became the first woman to anchor NPR's coverage of a presidential nomination convention and of an election night. She continued in her role as a political correspondent through 1989, at which point she became a host of All Things Considered, a role in which she would continue for thirteen years. With Wertheimer hosting, the program's audience grew to record levels, from six million listeners in 1989 to nearly 10 million listeners by 2001, making it one of the top five shows in U.S. radio.
In 1974, she was appointed political correspondent; in 1976, she became the first woman to anchor NPR's coverage during a presidential nomination convention and election night. She continued her role as a political correspondent until 1989, when she took on hosting duties for All Things Considered, a position she held for thirteen years. With Wertheimer co-hosting, the program's audience increased from six million listeners in 1989 to nearly ten million by 2001, placing it among the top five radio shows in the U.S.