Robert Gilliland Beckel is an American political analyst and pundit, and a former political operative. He is a former analyst and commentator on Fox News. He had previously been a commentator on Fox News where he co-hosted The Five until he was released in 2015 after being absent for several months while recovering from back surgery. After departing Fox News in 2015, Beckel became a commentator for CNN. On January 16, 2017, he returned to Fox News as a co-host of The Five. On May 19, 2017, Fox News announced Beckel was released again after he was accused of making a racist remark against another Fox News employee. On February 19, 2018 he launched a podcast titled "."
Beckel was the campaign manager for Walter Mondale's 1984 presidential campaign. During that campaign he became known as the man who effectively wrapped the Wendy's slogan "Where's the beef?" around Gary Hart, Mondale's opponent for the Democratic nomination. In late 1984 he formed the consulting firm Bob Beckel & Associates, or BBA, a lobbying firm that was succeeded in 1985 by Beckel–Cowan. In 2002 Beckel managed the campaign of Alan Blinken, the Democratic nominee for United States Senate in Idaho, until he resigned after being targeted for extortion by a prostitute. In 2010, he made a brief appearance as himself on the Season 8 premiere of TV series24 in a mock debate with fellow Fox News Analyst Monica Crowley.
Fox News
In 2011, Beckel joined Fox News as a co-host of The Five and co-hosted some 708 episodes, until June 2015, when Fox announced that Beckel had left the program. A Fox spokesman said: "We couldn't hold The Five hostage to one man's personal issues." Beckel, whose last appearance on the show was in February 2015, had been absent while recovering from back surgery. According to FNC, "Bob Beckel has entered a rehab facility for treatment of an addiction to prescription pain medication." On a Fox News panel in 2011, Beckel called for "illegally shoot" Julian Assange, the editor of WikiLeaks. On January 16, 2017, Beckel rejoined The Five as co-host. On May 19, 2017, Bob Beckel was again fired from The Five for allegedly making an "insensitive remark" to an African American employee.
CNN
In October 2015, Beckel was hired by CNN to offer commentary on the 2016 election. Bob Beckel: This Race, effectively, as of tonight is over 10/07/16 real clear politics Tim Hains Bob Beckel declares race over for Trump, citing his experience in politics to guarantee Trump is finished. The prediction harmed his brand.
''USA Today''
From 2005 until the end of 2015, Beckel was a columnist for USA Today, where he wrote articles with friend and political opposite Cal Thomas in the style of "point–counterpoint."
Personal life
In 1992 Beckel married Leland Ingham. They had two children and divorced in 2002. Ingham, who was later known as Leland Keyser after remarriage, became embroiled in the Brett Kavanaugh nomination sensation when she was named by Christine Blasey Ford as a friend who could corroborate Ford's story, but did the opposite. Beckel is a recovering alcoholic. He has spoken openly about his past addictions to drugs and alcohol, admitting in July 2011 on The Five: "I'm a recovering addict and cocaine was my drug of choice." In 2007 Beckel said that he was involved in an altercation in a Bethesda, Maryland, grocery store parking lot with a man who took issue with his anti–George W. Bush bumper stickers. In October 2011, Beckel nearly choked to death on a piece of shrimp at a Fox News reception, but was saved by Fox News chief Roger Ailes and The Five co-host Eric Bolling. In early 2015, Beckel was absent from The Five for a number of weeks, which led to speculation that he had been fired, but Fox later announced that his absence was due to "health-related issues." It was later revealed that he had major back surgery on March 26 at a New York–area hospital. Beckel is a Protestant.
In late 2015, Beckel published a memoir, I Should Be Dead: My Life Surviving Politics, TV, and Addiction, co-written with John David Mann. Cal Thomas hosted a book-signing party celebrating publication of Beckel's book, which aired in November 2015 on C-SPAN.
