Bob Beckel married, divorce, salary, net worth, affair, nationality, girlfriend, gay

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Bob Beckel was born on November 15, 1948, in New York City. An American political analyst, commentator, and former political operative, Beckel’s career spanned politics, media, and authorship.

<h2>Early Life and Education</h2>

Beckel was the eldest <a href="/biography/bob-beckel">son</a> of Ellen Gilliland Beckel and Cambridge <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Beckel">Graham Beckel</a>. His father was the author of Workshops for the World: The United Nations Family of Agencies. His younger brother, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Beckel">Graham Beckel</a>, pursued a career in acting.

Raised in Lyme, Connecticut, Bob Beckel attended Wagner College in Staten Island, New York, where he played on the football team. During his college years, he volunteered for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy">Robert F. Kennedy</a>’s presidential campaign, igniting his lifelong involvement in politics. After graduating in 1971, Beckel joined the Peace Corps and served in the Philippines.

Later in life, Beckel joined the faculty of George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he taught courses on presidential politics.

<h2>Political Career</h2>

Beckel's first major foray into national politics began with his work on the 1972 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy">Robert Kennedy</a> campaign. Following his Peace Corps service, he held roles in political consulting and joined the U.S. State Department in 1977 under the Carter administration.

In 1984, Beckel was appointed campaign manager for Democratic presidential <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Mondale">nominee</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Mondale">Walter Mondale</a>. He is credited with crafting the now-famous “Where’s the Beef?” line that was used to criticize <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Hart">rival</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Hart">Gary Hart</a>’s policy proposals, helping <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Mondale">Mondale</a> win a key primary debate moment.

Beckel later managed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Blinken">Alan Blinken</a>’s 2002 Senate campaign in Idaho. However, he stepped down after it became public that he had contacted law enforcement over an attempted extortion by someone he met online—an incident that drew media attention but no formal charges against Beckel.

<h2>Media Career and Work with Fox News</h2>

Beckel transitioned into a media career, becoming a well-known liberal voice on the predominantly conservative Fox News Channel. He served as a co-host on the roundtable talk show The Five, where he offered left-leaning commentary amid a panel of largely conservative co-anchors.

In 2015, Fox News terminated Beckel’s contract following an extended absence due to back surgery. Reports suggested his dismissal was related to his recovery and prolonged time away, although Beckel later revealed that a non-disparagement agreement prevented either side from speaking critically following his departure. He pointed out contradictions in Fox’s public statements, humorously noting that “one of their editors must have missed the memo.” Beckel also publicly disclosed that he had developed a dependency on pain medication following his surgery, ultimately entering rehabilitation for treatment.

Beckel was briefly hired by CNN after leaving Fox News and returned to The Five in January 2017. However, his tenure was short-lived; he was dismissed again five months later over racially insensitive comments made to a colleague, a move that reignited public discourse over workplace culture in media.

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<h2>Podcasting and Broadcast Appearances</h2>

Following his second departure from Fox, Beckel pursued independent media, launching the podcast Beckel’s Bob Cast in February 2018. His show focused on political commentary and candid conversations drawn from his decades of political experience.

Over his broadcasting career, Beckel appeared on various prominent programs, including Crossfire Sunday alongside <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Snow">Tony Snow</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynne_Cheney">Lynne Cheney</a>, CBS News, and Good Morning America. He was also a frequent <a href="/biography/bob-beckel">guest</a> on high-profile news programs like Meet the Press, Face the Nation, and Nightline. In addition, he co-hosted Buchanan & Company on Mutual Radio.

<h2>Writing Career and Political Commentary</h2>

Beckel co-authored the book Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That is Destroying America with conservative commentator and longtime <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Thomas">friend</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Thomas">Cal Thomas</a>. The duo also wrote a regular column in USA Today, also titled “Common Ground,” which presented opposing political views in a point-counterpoint format with the aim of fostering bipartisan understanding.

His memoir, I Should Be Dead, chronicled his personal struggles with addiction, alcoholism, and near-death experiences, including a gunshot wound and car accidents. The book offered an unflinching look at the toll of substance abuse and his path toward recovery, reflecting the candor that often characterized Beckel’s public commentary.

<h2>Personal Life and Challenges</h2>

Beckel was open about his personal battles, frequently acknowledging his history of alcoholism and drug use. “I’m a recovering <a href="/biography/bob-beckel">addict</a>, and cocaine was my drug of choice,” he once stated on national television. His openness lent credibility to his later advocacy for addiction recovery and mental health awareness.

In 1992, he married Leland Ingham, with whom he had two children. The couple divorced in 2002. Beckel cited the pressures of his career and personal struggles as contributing factors to the dissolution of the marriage.

Outside of politics and media, Beckel co-owned a political consulting and lobbying firm, Beckel Cowan. He also had a brief cameo as himself in Season 8 of the television drama 24, showcasing a lighter side to his public persona.

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