Chris Matthews facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Matthews
Matthews at the 2011 Time 100 Gala
Born	Christopher John Matthews (1945-12-17) December 17, 1945 (age 79) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education	College of the Holy Cross (BA) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Harvard University
Occupation	News anchor political commentator
Years active	1994–2020, 2021-present
Employer	NBCUniversal, Comcast
Television	Hardball with Chris Matthews
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Kathleen Cunningham ​ (m. 1980)​
Children	3
Relatives	Jim Matthews (brother)

Christopher John Matthews (born December 17, 1945) is an American political commentator, a former TV talk show host, and a writer. He is well-known for hosting his show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, on MSNBC. This show aired from 1997 until March 2020. He decided to retire from the show in 2020. In 2022, he returned to MSNBC as a political expert.

Early Life and Education

Chris Matthews was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother was from an Irish Catholic family, and his father had English and Scots-Irish roots. Chris and his siblings were raised in the Catholic faith.

He went to La Salle College High School. In 1967, he graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He also studied economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Later, he was a visiting fellow at Harvard University's Institute of Politics.

From 1968 to 1970, Matthews served in the United States Peace Corps in Swaziland. He worked there as an adviser to help with trade development.

Chris Matthews' Career

Working in Politics

Matthews interviewing Rudy Giuliani in 2008

When Chris Matthews first moved to Washington, D.C., he worked as an officer for the United States Capitol Police. He then worked for several Democratic members of Congress.

In 1974, he tried to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania, but he did not win. Matthews was a speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter during his time in office. After that, he worked for six years as the Chief of Staff for Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill. In this role, he was involved in many important political discussions with the Reagan Administration.

Matthews has sometimes said he is more conservative than people might think. He even voted for George W. Bush in the 2000 election. Some people have said that his TV show panels often included more guests from the right side of politics.

Newspaper Journalist

Matthews signing autographs in 2008

Chris Matthews worked in print journalism for 15 years. For 13 of those years, he was the Washington, D.C., bureau chief for the San Francisco Examiner. He also wrote a nationally syndicated column for the San Francisco Chronicle.

He reported on major world events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the first election in South Africa where all races could vote. He also covered the Good Friday Peace Talks in Northern Ireland. Matthews reported on American presidential elections from 1988 until he retired in 2020.

Author and Books

Chris Matthews has written eight books that have become bestsellers. His books often focus on politics and important historical figures.

Some of his popular books include:

• Hardball: How Politics is Played, Told by One Who Knows the Game (1988)
• Kennedy & Nixon: The Rivalry that Shaped Postwar America (1996)
• Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero (2011)
• Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked (2013)
• Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit (2017)

His book Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero was on The New York Times bestseller list for 12 weeks. Critics praised the book for its storytelling and for describing the political world.

Television Talk Show Host

Matthews in 2015

In 1997, Chris Matthews started his own weeknight talk show called Hardball with Chris Matthews. It first aired on America's Talking and then moved to MSNBC. On Hardball, he interviewed political experts and elected officials.

He also hosted The Chris Matthews Show, which was a weekend show that ran from 2002 to 2013. This show featured four journalists discussing political topics, with Matthews as the host.

During the 2008 Presidential election, Matthews showed strong support for Barack Obama. He famously said he felt "a thrill going up my leg" when hearing Obama speak.

In 2009, while discussing healthcare reform, Matthews said, "Well, I'm a liberal, too." However, in 2012, he described himself as a "centrist" (someone with moderate political views) during an episode of Hardball. Some people questioned this, pointing out his frequent criticisms of right-wing figures.

In 2013, Matthews signed a new contract with MSNBC. He decided to stop hosting The Chris Matthews Show to focus more on Hardball, writing books, and making documentaries. The last episode of The Chris Matthews Show aired in July 2013.

On March 2, 2020, Chris Matthews announced his retirement from Hardball. He returned to MSNBC in September 2022 as a political analyst.

Personal Life

Matthews at Quinnipiac University Commencement 2005

Chris Matthews has been married to Kathleen Matthews since 1980. Kathleen used to be a news anchor. She later worked as an executive for Marriott International. They have three children: Michael, Thomas, and Caroline.

One of his four brothers, Jim Matthews, is a Republican and a former county commissioner in Pennsylvania.

In 2002, Matthews was hospitalized with malaria. He caught the illness during one of his trips to Africa that year.

Awards and Honors

Chris Matthews has received several awards for his work. These include:

• The Pennsylvania Society's Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement (2005)
• The Abraham Lincoln Award from the Union League of Philadelphia
• The David Brinkley Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism
• The John F. Kennedy Memorial Award
• The 2016 Tip O'Neill Irish Diaspora Award

He has also received over 30 honorary degrees from many universities and colleges.