Political commentator and columnist Mark Shields dies at 85

Brooks tweeted his 2020 tribute to Shields in The New York Times, calling it “an attempt to capture one of the finest and beloved men” he had ever recognized.

“We’ve had thousands of disagreements over the years, but never a second of acrimony,” Brooks wrote within the piece. “Mark radiates a generosity of spirit that improves all who come within his light.”

Judy Woodruff, “PBS NewsHour” anchor and managing editor, tweeted that she was ”heartbroken” to share the information and famous Shields’ spouse Anne was at his facet at his loss of life.

“Mark Shields had a magical combination of talents: an unsurpassed knowledge of politics and a passion, joy, and irrepressible humor that shone through in all his work,” Woodruff mentioned in a press release. “He beloved most politicians, however may spot a phony and was all the time daring to name out injustice. Along with Jim Lehrer and Robin MacNeil, he personified all that’s particular within the PBS NewsHour.“

For a long time, she mentioned, Shields “wowed us with his encyclopedic knowledge of American politics, his sense of humor and mainly his big heart.”

The Weymouth, Massachusetts, native graduated from the University of Notre Dame and served within the U.S. Marine Corps, in keeping with “PBS NewsHour.” He started his profession in Washington as a legislative assistant and speechwriter for Wisconsin Sen. William Proxmire in 1965, in keeping with “PBS NewsHour.” Three years later, Shields joined New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential marketing campaign and later labored on quite a few campaigns. In 1979, he started writing a column at The Washington Post that was later distributed by Creators Syndicate.

Shields was a moderator and panelist on CNN’s “Capital Gang” from 1988 to 2005 and a daily panelist on “Inside Washington,” which aired on PBS and ABC, from 2005 till 2013. He additionally wrote “On the Campaign Trail,” an account of the 1984 presidential marketing campaign.

Niece Carolyn Ryan, managing editor of The New York Times, tweeted: “So sad to tell you that my uncle, Mark Shields, died this morning. He was a special guy: full of heart and wisdom and love. Love of politics, sports, and so many people.”

Knowing and working with Shields was a privilege, “PBS NewsHour” Chief Correspondent Amna Nawaz tweeted.

“Truly one of a kind. Mark’s intellect, wit, and heart were unmatched,” she wrote. “I left every single conversation I ever had with him smarter and smiling.”