Chris Matthews is a political commentator and host of the nightly hour-long talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews on MSNBC. Matthews worked as a police officer with the United States Capitol Police and then served on the staffs of Democratic members of Congress, including as a top aide to Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill. Matthews was also a presidential speechwriter during the Carter administration. Matthews began his journalism career in print media, spending 13 years as Washington, D.C. bureau chief for the San Francisco Examiner. He is the author of six books, including most recently "Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero."