Chris Matthews facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Matthews
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Matthews at the 2011 Time 100 Gala
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| Born |
Christopher John Matthews
December 17, 1945 |
| Education | |
| Occupation |
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| 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 person who shares opinions on politics. He is also a retired talk show host and author. Matthews hosted his popular weeknight talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, on MSNBC. This show ran from 1997 until 2020. He announced his retirement on his last episode. This decision followed a claim about comments he had made to a guest. Matthews returned to MSNBC in 2022 as a political analyst.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up in Philadelphia
Chris Matthews was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother was Mary Teresa, and his father was Herb Matthews, a court reporter. Chris and his siblings were raised in the Catholic faith. His father's family had English and Scots-Irish roots.
School and College Years
Matthews went to La Salle College High School. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1967. 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.
Serving in the Peace Corps
From 1968 to 1970, Matthews served in the United States Peace Corps. He worked in Swaziland as an adviser for trade development.
Chris Matthews' Career
Working in Politics
When Matthews first moved to Washington, D.C., he worked as an officer. He was part of the United States Capitol Police. After that, he worked for four Democratic members of Congress. These included Senators Frank Moss and Edmund Muskie.
In 1974, Matthews tried to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He did not win this election. Matthews also worked as a speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter. For six years, he was the Chief of Staff for Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill. In this role, he was involved in many important political discussions.
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Matthews has said he is "more conservative than people think." He even voted for George W. Bush in the 2000 election. Some people have called him the "most conservative voice" on MSNBC. He has also been criticized for having guests who lean to the right.
In 2008, Matthews hinted that he might run for the United States Senate in Pennsylvania. He spoke with staff from Barack Obama's campaign about this. However, in January 2009, he decided not to run for the Senate.
A Journalist's Journey
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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 column for the San Francisco Chronicle for two years. He reported on major world events. These included the fall of the Berlin Wall and the first all-races election in South Africa. He also covered the Good Friday Peace Talks in Northern Ireland. Matthews covered American presidential elections from 1988 until his retirement in 2020.
Becoming an Author
Chris Matthews has written eight books that became bestsellers. These books often focus on politics and famous political figures.
Some of his well-known 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. The Washington Post said Matthews was good at showing the Irish Catholic culture that shaped Kennedy. The Boston Globe called him a "compelling storyteller."
Hosting Talk Shows
In 1997, Matthews started his own talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews. It first aired on America's Talking and then moved to MSNBC. The show featured political experts and elected officials as guests.
The Chris Matthews Show was another show he hosted. It aired on weekends from 2002 to 2013. This show was a political discussion with four journalists and Matthews as the host.
In 2004, at the Democratic National Convention, Matthews famously said he had "just seen the first Black president." During the 2008 Presidential election, he showed strong support for Barack Obama. He once said, "I felt this thrill going up my leg."
In 2009, while talking about healthcare reform, Matthews stated, "I'm a liberal, too." However, in 2012, he described himself as a centrist on Hardball. Some people questioned this, pointing out his frequent criticism of right-wing figures. Others noted he also criticized some liberals, like Hillary Clinton.
In 2013, Matthews signed a new contract with MSNBC. He announced he would stop hosting The Chris Matthews Show to focus on Hardball, writing books, and making documentaries. The last episode of The Chris Matthews Show aired on July 21, 2013.
In December 2018, Matthews interviewed U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard. She said she was thinking about running for President.
On March 2, 2020, Matthews announced his immediate retirement from Hardball. He mentioned claims of inappropriate comments that had followed him for years. After his resignation, many colleagues and others wished him well. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard noted his willingness to "criticize the neocon pro-war agenda."
In September 2022, Matthews returned to MSNBC. He now appears as a political analyst on the "Morning Joe" program.
Personal Life
Chris Matthews has been married to Kathleen Matthews since 1980. Kathleen was a news anchor before becoming an executive at Marriott International. In 2015, she ran for a House seat in Maryland but did not win.
Chris and Kathleen have three children: Michael, Thomas, and Caroline. One of his four brothers, Jim Matthews, is a Republican and a former county commissioner.
In 2002, Matthews was hospitalized with malaria. He caught the illness during one of his trips to Africa that year.
Matthews has given commencement speeches at several universities. These include Ohio State University in 2014 and Merrimack College in 2015. He is also a senior fellow at the Kettering Foundation, a research group that does not take sides in politics.
Awards and Honors
Chris Matthews has received several awards for his work. In 2005, he received The Pennsylvania Society's Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement. He also won the Abraham Lincoln Award and the David Brinkley Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism. Other honors include the John F. Kennedy Memorial Award and the 2016 Tip O'Neill Irish Diaspora Award.
Matthews has also received over 30 honorary degrees from various universities and colleges. These are special degrees given to people to honor their achievements.
See also
In Spanish: Chris Matthews para niños
