Outside the Beltway

Bob Beckel, 1948-2022

The Democratic strategist and longtime talking head is gone at 73.

James Joyner · Tuesday, February 22, 2022 · 1 comment

Fox News (“Bob Beckel, former co-host of ‘The Five,’ dead at 73“):

Bob Beckel, a Democratic strategist and former co-host of “The Five,” has died at age 73.

Beckel first joined Fox News in 2000 as a contributor providing political analysis and rejoined the network in 2011 as one of the original hosts of “The Five.”

Columnist Cal Thomas posted on Facebook about Beckel’s death.

When “The Five” premiered in July 2011, it was only supposed to have a five-week run to temporarily fill the timeslot. Instead, the show stuck around and has become one of the highest-rated shows in all cable news.

Beckel was there during the inception of “The Five” with Dana Perino and Greg Gutfeld, who still co-host the long-running program.

Sean Hannity paid tribute to his “dear friend” Monday night, saying “he and I got along great” despite their politics, saying he “had a key to my house” and that Hannity’s own children would call him “Uncle Bob.”

“He was always full of joy, happiness, light, sunshine. He loved God and Jesus and we miss him already. God bless you, God speed, Bob Beckel,” Hannity said.

Laura Ingraham called Beckel an “old-time liberal who you could fight with… but we always had a laugh afterward.”

Prior to appearing on television as a liberal analyst and pundit, Beckel had an extensive career in politics.

From 1977-1980, Beckel worked for the U.S. State Department, serving as the youngest Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Carter Administration.

Beckel also served as the national campaign manager for former Vice President Walter Mondale’s presidential campaign, where he oversaw the successful race for the Democratic nomination.

I’m not sure I ever watched an episode of “The Five” but remember Beckel mostly for his run on CNN’s “Crossfire” where I found him decidedly less likable than Michael Kinsley and the other “from the left” co-hosts. His CNN tenure isn’t even mentioned in most of the obits or his Wikipedia page.