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Chris Matthews biography

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Journalist and political commentator Chris Matthews is best known as the talk show host of MSNBC's Hardball and The Chris Matthews Show.

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Matthews also makes routine appearances as a commentator on other MSNBC and NBC news shows. Recently, he and fellow political talk-show host Rachel Maddow teamed up to anchor MSNBC’s primetime convention coverage. The pair joined forces again to cover Election Night 2012.

Although Matthews is a political commentator and author,

his views have made it difficult for the public to clearly categorize him. While he often espouses liberal views, Matthews doesn’t hesitate to play the devil’s advocate when grilling his Democratic guests. Matthews is known to confront Democrats and Republicans alike with hard-hitting questions that challenge their actions, words and intentions.

Books

Over the course of his professional life, Matthews has written several best-selling books. His first book, Hardball: How Politics Is Played, Told by One Who Knows the Game, was published in 1988 and later became the namesake of his show Hardball. Matthews’ other books include Kennedy & Nixon: The Rivalry That Shaped Postwar America (1996), Now Let Me Tell You What I Really Think (2001), America, Beyond Our Greatest Notions (2002), Life’s a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation and Success (2007) and The Hardball Handbook: How to Win at Life (2009). In 2011 Matthews published an up-close-and-personal biography of J.F.K., titled Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero.

Personal Life

Matthews married his wife Kathleen in 1980. Kathleen is a former news anchor and the executive vice president of Marriott International. The couple has three children, including a son named Michael, who helped his dad work on former President Bill Clinton’s global initiative in Africa.

Matthews is a diabetic and requires regular doses of insulin. After experiencing related health complications, with his wife’s encouragement Matthews quit smoking and drinking and lost 35 pounds—all while under the scrutiny of the public eye.

© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.

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