On Saturday, June 18, political journalist and commentator Mark Shields died of renal failure. He was 85 years old when he died. Judy Woodruff, the host of Newshour, verified the story in a tweet that said,
“I am sad to report this…the @NewsHour’s beloved long-time Friday night commentator Mark Shields, who for decades dazzled us with his encyclopedic knowledge of American politics, sense of humor, and, most importantly, his great heart, has died at 85, with his wife Anne by his side.”
Everything there is to know about Mark Shields
Mark Stephen Shields, born on May 25, 1937, is best known for his political analysis and commentary on PBS NewsHour since 1988. Until 2013, he was a frequent participant on the political roundtable program Inside Washington, as well as a moderator and panelist on CNN’s weekly political chat show Capital Gang. The native of Weymouth, Massachusetts, graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1959. He entered the US Marine Corps in Florida in 1960 and rose to the rank of lance corporal before being discharged in 1962.
He moved to Washington in 1965 and served as an assistant to Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire before joining Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in 1968. He also worked on the presidential campaigns of Edmund Muskie and Morris Udall, and he was Sargent Shriver’s political director.
Along with Mayor Kevin White’s re-election campaign in 1975, he oversaw state and municipal campaigns in other states. In 1979, he began writing a column for The Washington Post as an editorial writer. Shields also taught US politics and journalism at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. Mark was a Kennedy School of Government fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics.
In 1988, he began appearing as a political pundit on PBS NewsHour. The program is now carried on around 350 PBS member stations and is well-known for its coverage of current events and concerns. Judy Woodruff confirmed Shields’ departure from the program in 2020. However, Woodruff also noted that Shields will continue to appear on the NewsHour on occasion during major political events. Mark also published On the Campaign Trail, a book on the 1984 presidential campaign.
Twitter users pay tribute
Mark Shields became well-known among the general public as a result of his appearance on the PBS NewsHour. Following his passing, many shared their sorrow on Twitter.
The brilliant, kindly, original, hilarious and shrewd Mark Shields (1937-2022): pic.twitter.com/6WFSNp4L0Z
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) June 18, 2022
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.❤️ pic.twitter.com/LUcpCf15By
— carolynryan 🏳️🌈🏓 (@carolynryan) June 18, 2022
Shields’ wife, Anne Hudson Shields, daughter Amy, and two grandkids survive him. His family members have yet to issue an official statement, and more information about his funeral has yet to be released.
