Television Personality. Host of the provocative political commentary show "The McLaughlin Group" on PBS from 1982 to his passing. At the age of 18, he entered Weston College in Weston, Massachusetts, which later became the theological seminary of Boston College, to prepare for the priesthood. He entered the Jesuit order of the Catholic Church in 1947, was ordained as a priest in 1959, and went on to earn two master's degrees (philosophy and English literature) from Boston College. After his ordination, he taught at Fairfield College Preparatory School, a Jesuit prep school in Connecticut. He took time off from teaching to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University. He wrote his thesis on the Anglo-Catholic poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. He then became a writer and later assistant editor for the Jesuit current affairs publication, "America", in New York City, New York. Disagreements with the editor of the magazine led to his departure in 1970 after which he moved back to Providence, Rhode Island. In 1970 he ran as a Republican for the United States Senate seat that was held by Democrat John O. Pastore and lost. Through his friendship with Pat Buchanan, he became a speechwriter for President Richard Nixon. He later left the Jesuit order after being told to move back to Boston. In 1982 he founded the political debate show "The McLaughlin Group" which featured him as moderator and two conservatives and two liberals discussing current political issues. He also hosted "John McLaughlin's One on One" from 1984 to 2013. He continued to host "The McLaughlin Group" on PBS affiliates until his passing.
Television Personality. Host of the provocative political commentary show "The McLaughlin Group" on PBS from 1982 to his passing. At the age of 18, he entered Weston College in Weston, Massachusetts, which later became the theological seminary of Boston College, to prepare for the priesthood. He entered the Jesuit order of the Catholic Church in 1947, was ordained as a priest in 1959, and went on to earn two master's degrees (philosophy and English literature) from Boston College. After his ordination, he taught at Fairfield College Preparatory School, a Jesuit prep school in Connecticut. He took time off from teaching to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University. He wrote his thesis on the Anglo-Catholic poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. He then became a writer and later assistant editor for the Jesuit current affairs publication, "America", in New York City, New York. Disagreements with the editor of the magazine led to his departure in 1970 after which he moved back to Providence, Rhode Island. In 1970 he ran as a Republican for the United States Senate seat that was held by Democrat John O. Pastore and lost. Through his friendship with Pat Buchanan, he became a speechwriter for President Richard Nixon. He later left the Jesuit order after being told to move back to Boston. In 1982 he founded the political debate show "The McLaughlin Group" which featured him as moderator and two conservatives and two liberals discussing current political issues. He also hosted "John McLaughlin's One on One" from 1984 to 2013. He continued to host "The McLaughlin Group" on PBS affiliates until his passing.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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