Jack Germond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Germond
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Germond in 1992
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| Born |
John Worthen Germond
January 30, 1928 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | August 14, 2013 (aged 85) |
| Education | University of Missouri (BA, BS) |
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| Known for | Panelist on The McLaughlin Group |
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| Children | 4 |
John Worthen Germond (born January 30, 1928 – died August 14, 2013) was an American journalist and writer. He was also known as a political pundit, which means he was an expert who shared his opinions on political topics. His career lasted for more than 50 years! Germond wrote for newspapers like the Washington Star and the Baltimore Sun. Many people also knew him as a regular guest on the TV show The McLaughlin Group. He also wrote a popular newspaper column called "Politics Today" with Jules Witcover for nearly 25 years.
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Jack Germond's Early Life
Jack Germond was born in Boston, Massachusetts. After serving in the U.S. Army as a paymaster, he went to the University of Missouri. There, he earned degrees in both journalism and history.
Jack Germond's Journalism Career
Germond started his writing career in 1951 at the Evening News in Monroe, Michigan. In 1953, he moved to the Rochester Times-Union. Later, from 1969 to 1973, he led the Washington office for Gannett, a big news company.
In 1974, he joined the Washington Star newspaper. He became a national editor and wrote a syndicated column. A syndicated column means his articles were published in many different newspapers at the same time. When the Washington Star closed down, he moved to the Baltimore Sun.
Germond on Television
Jack Germond also appeared on television. He started on Meet the Press in 1972 and The Today Show in 1980.
He became a very well-known face on The McLaughlin Group when it started in 1982. On the show, he often shared a "liberal voice," offering different opinions from more conservative guests like Pat Buchanan and Robert Novak.
Saturday Night Live Parody
The McLaughlin Group was so popular that it was even made fun of on the comedy show Saturday Night Live in the early 1990s. In these funny skits, famous comedians Chris Farley and John Goodman played Jack Germond.
Germond left The McLaughlin Group in 1996. He felt the discussions on the show were not as good as they used to be. He also found it frustrating when the host, John McLaughlin, controlled the conversations too much. After leaving, he appeared as a guest on another PBS show called Inside Washington.
Germond retired in 2000. However, in 2011, he wrote some articles about the 2012 presidential election for The Daily Beast, which is an online news website.
Jack Germond's Personal Life
Jack Germond married Barbara Wippler in 1951. They had two daughters named Mandy and Jessica before they divorced. In 1995, Germond married Alice Travis. Alice used to be a secretary for the Democratic National Committee, a major political group. Jack also became a stepfather to Alice's two children, Abby and David, from her previous marriage.
Jack Germond passed away at his home in Charles Town, West Virginia, on August 14, 2013. He was 85 years old.
