Fred Barnes (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Frederic W. Barnes is an American
political commentator. He is the executive editor of the news publication The Weekly Standard
and regularly appears on the Fox News Channel
program Special Report with Bret Baier. He was previously co-host (with Mort Kondracke
) of The Beltway Boys
, which once regularly aired on the Fox News Channel.
in Alexandria
in 1960. He spent two years in the U.S. Army. Then attend the University of Virginia
where he studied history
. Barnes graduated from the University of Virginia and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University
.
After spending several years as a journalist with The Charleston News and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina
, he became a reporter for the Washington Star
in 1979. Barnes covered the Supreme Court
and the White House
for the Star before moving to the Baltimore Sun. He was the national political correspondent at the Baltimore Sun. For ten years from 1985 to 1995, he was senior editor and White House
correspondent for The New Republic
. He also wrote the "Presswatch" media column for the American Spectator. He was a panelist on the public affairs show The McLaughlin Group
from 1988 to 1998, where he was often referred to by the show's host as Freddy "the Beadle
" Barnes.
In 1984, Barnes was chosen to be one of three panelists quizzing then-President
Ronald Reagan
and challenger Walter Mondale
in the first nationally-televised debate of the 1984 presidential campaign.
Barnes has made cameo appearance
s in the Hollywood films Dave, Getting Away with Murder
, Independence Day
and My Own Private Idaho
. He has thrown out the first pitch for a Boston Red Sox
baseball game at Fenway Park
.
Though having gone to separate high schools, Barnes was a friend of fellow Fox News personality Brit Hume
in high school, and at The University of Virginia.
, Rebel in Chief. He is a member of the board of the Institute on Religion and Democracy
. As a member of The Falls Church
, he and his family voted to disaffiliate the congregation from the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political commentator. He is the executive editor of the news publication The Weekly Standard
The Weekly Standard
The Weekly Standard is an American neoconservative opinion magazine published 48 times per year. Its founding publisher, News Corporation, debuted the title September 18, 1995. Currently edited by founder William Kristol and Fred Barnes, the Standard has been described as a "redoubt of...
and regularly appears on the Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
program Special Report with Bret Baier. He was previously co-host (with Mort Kondracke
Mort Kondracke
Morton M. Kondracke is an American political commentator and journalist. He gained great visibility via a long stint as a panelist on The McLaughlin Group. Kondracke worked for several leading publications, serving for twenty years as executive editor and columnist for the non-partisan Capitol...
) of The Beltway Boys
The Beltway Boys
The Beltway Boys was an internationally syndicated American weekly television show. The title referred to the Capital Beltway — the circumferential freeway surrounding Washington, D.C. — and to the two journalists who hosted the show: Mort Kondracke and Fred Barnes...
, which once regularly aired on the Fox News Channel.
Early life and journalism career
The son of an Air Force officer, Barnes graduated from St. Stephens SchoolSt. Stephen's and St. Agnes School
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School is an independent Episcopal coed private college preparatory school in Alexandria, Virginia. The school was created from the 1991 merger of St. Agnes School with St. Stephen's School . The school consists of three campuses within a 1.5 mile radius...
in Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
in 1960. He spent two years in the U.S. Army. Then attend the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
where he studied history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. Barnes graduated from the University of Virginia and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
After spending several years as a journalist with The Charleston News and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, he became a reporter for the Washington Star
Washington Star
The Washington Star, previously known as the Washington Star-News and the Washington Evening Star, was a daily afternoon newspaper published in Washington, D.C. between 1852 and 1981. For most of that time, it was the city's newspaper of record, and the longtime home to columnist Mary McGrory and...
in 1979. Barnes covered the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
and the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
for the Star before moving to the Baltimore Sun. He was the national political correspondent at the Baltimore Sun. For ten years from 1985 to 1995, he was senior editor and White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
correspondent for The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
. He also wrote the "Presswatch" media column for the American Spectator. He was a panelist on the public affairs show The McLaughlin Group
The McLaughlin Group
The McLaughlin Group is a syndicated half-hour weekly public affairs television program in the United States, where a group of five pundits discuss current political issues in a round table format. It has been broadcast since 1982, and is currently sponsored by MetLife...
from 1988 to 1998, where he was often referred to by the show's host as Freddy "the Beadle
Beadle
Beadle, sometimes spelled "bedel," is a lay official of a church or synagogue who may usher, keep order, make reports, and assist in religious functions; or a minor official who carries out various civil, educational, or ceremonial duties....
" Barnes.
In 1984, Barnes was chosen to be one of three panelists quizzing then-President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and challenger Walter Mondale
Walter Mondale
Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
in the first nationally-televised debate of the 1984 presidential campaign.
Barnes has made cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
s in the Hollywood films Dave, Getting Away with Murder
Getting Away with Murder (1996 film)
Getting Away with Murder is a 1996 comedy film written and directed by Harvey Miller. The film stars Dan Aykroyd, Jack Lemmon, Lily Tomlin and Bonnie Hunt.This was the final project for veteran writer and director Harvey Miller....
, Independence Day
Independence Day (film)
Independence Day is a 1996 science fiction film about an alien invasion of Earth, focusing on a disparate group of individuals and families as they converge in the Nevada desert and, along with the rest of the human population, participate in a last-chance counterattack on July 4 – the same...
and My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho is a 1991 independent drama film written and directed by Gus Van Sant, loosely based on Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V, and starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves...
. He has thrown out the first pitch for a Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
baseball game at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
.
Though having gone to separate high schools, Barnes was a friend of fellow Fox News personality Brit Hume
Brit Hume
Brit Hume is an American television journalist and political commentator.For twenty years he was a correspondent for the American Broadcasting Company, including Chief White House Correspondent. He then spent ten years as the Washington, D.C. managing editor of the Fox News Channel and the anchor...
in high school, and at The University of Virginia.
Later life and commentator career
Most recently, Barnes wrote a biography of President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, Rebel in Chief. He is a member of the board of the Institute on Religion and Democracy
Institute on Religion and Democracy
The Institute on Religion and Democracy is a Christian think tank that promotes Christian conservatism in public life. The organization comments on current events in the Christian community...
. As a member of The Falls Church
The Falls Church
The Falls Church historically refers to the church from which the City of Falls Church, Virginia, near Washington, D. C., takes its name. The parish it originally served was established in 1732 and the brick meeting house preserved on site dates to 1769....
, he and his family voted to disaffiliate the congregation from the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
External links
- Biography at Fox News
- Column archive at The Weekly StandardThe Weekly StandardThe Weekly Standard is an American neoconservative opinion magazine published 48 times per year. Its founding publisher, News Corporation, debuted the title September 18, 1995. Currently edited by founder William Kristol and Fred Barnes, the Standard has been described as a "redoubt of...