Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is interviewed Thursday by Charles Gibson in Fairbanks, Alaska, in this photo provided by ABC News.

Thursday’s ABC News interview with Sarah Palin not only was a test of her media skills, but also of the reputation of ABC News anchor Charles Gibson.

No other nominee in memory for such high national office has spent a week under a “no interview” blanket, including such news-making vice presidential candidates as Geraldine Ferraro and Dan Quayle.

In the fiercely competitive world of network news, bagging the exclusive interview with the foremost newsmaker of the moment is called “the get” and ABC got it – and is playing it big.

Palin’s one-on-one meetings with Gibson will dominate the ABC airwaves for two days with segments scheduled to air on “World News,” “Nightline,” “Good Morning America” and a special edition of “20/20” tonight at 9.

“World News” was based out of Fairbanks, Alaska, on Thursday and will originate from Palin’s hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, today.

In Thursday’s “World News” segment, the focus was on international affairs.

Asking Palin a quick series of questions, Gibson took little opportunity to explore Palin’s views in depth. He accepted largely at face value her responses, which didn’t stray far from the positions of her running mate, John McCain.

While ABC News before the interview trumpeted her response to a question about whether the U.S. might have to go to war with Russia if it invaded a NATO ally – her response was “perhaps so. I mean that is the agreement” – the most awkward moment came when Gibson asked her if she supported the “Bush doctrine.”

Palin paused, then asked Gibson which aspect of the Bush doctrine he meant.

It became clear that Palin didn’t know that “Bush doctrine” is shorthand for the idea that it is acceptable for the U.S. to attack another country before that country has attacked the United States. It is perhaps the most debated aspect of the decision to invade Iraq, a country that hadn’t attacked the United States.

Gibson didn’t call attention directly to Palin’s lack of knowledge. Instead, he worked an explanation of the Bush doctrine into his next question.

McCain’s campaign had kept Palin away from interviewers since her nomination, even on the Sunday morning talk-show circuit, complaining initial media coverage was intrusive.

In Gibson, Palin faced a news veteran with deep Washington experience and one who has interviewed the last seven presidents. Gibson, 65, has been with ABC News since 1975.

But Gibson also was criticized for his handling, with colleague George Stephanopoulos, of the April debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, which many critics said focused on trivial issues.

Gibson’s handling of the Palin interviews is sure to be closely examined as well.

“He needs to ask the questions that elicit a response that lets the people of America understand what would this woman do if she were leading the country,” said Thomas Oppel, a political strategist from New Hampshire and president of All Points Communication.