John Worthen Germond (January 30, 1928 – August 14, 2013) was an American journalist, author, and pundit whose career spanned over 50 years. Germond wrote for the Washington Star and the Baltimore Sun, and was a longtime panelist on the television discussion show The McLaughlin Group. Together with Jules Witcover, Germond also co-wrote "Politics Today," a five-day-a-week syndicated column, for almost a quarter-century.

Early years

Germond was born in Boston, Massachusetts. After serving in the U.S. Army as a paymaster, Germond graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism and history.

Career

Germond began his career in 1951 writing for the Evening News in Monroe, Michigan. In 1953, he moved to Gannett's Rochester Times-Union, and he was chief of Gannett's Washington bureau from 1969 until 1973. Germond left the program in 1996, citing a decline in the show's discourse and frustration with John McLaughlin's heavy-handed moderation. He was later featured as a panelist on the PBS program Inside Washington.

Germond retired in 2000. In 2011, he wrote several pieces on the 2012 presidential election for The Daily Beast, an online-only publication.

Personal life

Germond married Barbara Wippler in 1951. They had two daughters, Mandy and Jessica, before divorcing.

Bibliography

With Witcover

  • Blue Smoke & Mirrors: How Reagan Won and Why Carter Lost the Election of 1980, Viking Press (1981)
  • Whose Broad Stripes and Bright Stars? The Trivial Pursuit of the Presidency 1988, Warner Books (1989)
  • Mad As Hell: Revolt at the Ballot Box 1992, Warner Books (1992)

Solo

References

  • Official Random House list of his books