Chuck Todd said on "Meet the Press" that Comey's testimony "may well join those rare historic moments when the whole country stops to watch. Think Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954. Watergate hearings in 1973. Oliver North's testimony in the Iran Contra hearings in 1987, and of course Anita Hill at the Clarence Thomas hearings in 1991."

The broadcast networks are gearing up to make it a national moment, with special reports anchored by their news stars — George Stephanopoulos on ABC; Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Norah O'Donnell on CBS; and Lester Holt, Savannah Guthrie and Chuck Todd on NBC.