Chris Matthews
|
|
CMatt.jpg
Christopher John Matthews (born December 17, 1945) hosts a nightly, hour-long talk show called Hardball with Chris Matthews on the American cable television channel MSNBC.
Matthews is a graduate of Holy Cross College, and did graduate work in economics at the University of North Carolina. Then he served in the Peace Corps in Swaziland as a trade development advisor.
As a Democrat, Matthews has worked for several Democratic politicians. He was a presidential speechwriter for four years during the administration of Jimmy Carter. He served as a top aide to long-time Speaker of the House of Representatives Tip O'Neill for six years. He worked in the U.S. Senate for five years on the staffs of Senators Frank Moss and Edmund Muskie before running for U. S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
Matthews worked as a print journalist for 15 years, spending 13 years as Washington Bureau Chief for The San Francisco Examiner (1987 – 2000), and two years as a nationally syndicated columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle.
Hardball features pundits and elected officials as guests whom Matthews doesn't hesitate to interrupt; often to disagree (i.e., playing "hardball" and forcing them to answer his questions).
Comedian Darrell Hammond performs a popular impersonation of Matthews on Saturday Night Live, portraying Matthews as hyper, aggressive and encouraging of and excited by his guests' most outlandish statements. Matthews has said he finds the impression amusing.
Despite working for Democrats, Matthews has said, "I'm more conservative than people think," and "I've voted Republican many times, (including) George W. Bush in 2000." - October 3, 2003, Hardball
His book Hardball is regarded by liberals and conservatives as an excellent guide to political tactics.
Books
- Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told By One Who Knows The Game (1988, ISBN 0684845598)
- Kennedy and Nixon: The Rivalry that Shaped Postwar America (1996, ISBN 0684832461)
- Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think (2001, ISBN 0684862352)
- American: Beyond Our Grandest Notions (2002, ISBN 0743240871)
External links
- MSNBC biography (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3080432/)
- Hardball website (http://hardball.msnbc.com/)
- Peace Corps biography of Chris Matthews (http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2021023.html)