
Morton Kondracke
Contributing Editor, Roll Call and Commentator, FOX News
Morton Kondracke has been a journalist for nearly 50 years, 45 of them in Washington, and has covered nearly every phase of American politics and foreign policy. He’s done so in newspapers, magazines and on radio and TV. In 2006, he won The Washington Post’s Crystal Ball Tournament of Champions Award for correctly predicting the…
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Full Bio
Morton Kondracke has been a journalist for nearly 50 years, 45 of them in Washington, and has covered nearly every phase of American politics and foreign policy. He’s done so in newspapers, magazines and on radio and TV.
In 2006, he won The Washington Post’s Crystal Ball Tournament of Champions Award for correctly predicting the Democratic takeover of Congress, outpacing 10 other previous Crystal Ball winners. He previously won that award in 1994 and was runner-up in 1996.
In April, 2011 Kondracke retired after 20 years as executive editor and columnist for the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call and remains with the publication today as contributing editor. He now holds the Jack Kemp Chair in Political Economy in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress where he is researching and writing about the late Jack Kemp’s congressional career, his leadership role during the Reagan era, his presidential campaign and his influence on the Republican Party and the nation. Kondracke also pens a monthly column “Pennsylvania Avenue” on national politics, domestic and foreign policy that is syndicated nationally.
He was a regular commentator for the Fox News Channel from 1996 to 2013. He was a co-host of the weekly political show, The Beltway Boys and was a panelist on Special Report with Bret Baier.
Kondracke is the author of Saving Milly: Love, Politics and Parkinson’s Disease (2001), a New York Times and Washington Post best seller. Saving Milly was also the subject of a CBS Sunday Night movie (March 2005).
Kondracke was a regular panelist on The McLaughlin Group from the inception of the highly rated NBC/PBS talk show in 1982 until Fox News began The Beltway Boys in 1998.
He was executive editor (1977 to 1985) and senior editor (1986 to 1991) for The New Republic; Kondracke wrote its “White House Watch” column (1981 to 1985). Kondracke was the Washington bureau chief for Newsweek (February 1985 to September 1986). Kondracke served as a panelist for This Week with David Brinkley on ABC-TV (monthly, December 1984 to March 1988), as a columnist for Wall Street Journal (monthly, 1980 to 1985) and the United Features Syndicate (twice weekly, 1983 to 1985), and as a panelist for the 1984 Reagan-Mondale Presidential Debate on Foreign Policy.
He was also a correspondent for The Chicago Sun-Times (1963 to 1977), writing from the Washington Bureau (1968 to 1977), as a White House Correspondent (1974 to 1977), and as a reporter for the Springfield Bureau Chief (1963 to 1968).
On the air, Kondracke was the host of National Desk, the PBS documentary series, from 1993 to 1999. He also served as host ofAmerican Interest, another PBS series. He was a commentator for National Public Radio (1972 to 1982) and was a talk show host on WRC-AM in Washington (1981 to 1983).
Kondracke was an occasional panelist on various shows, including Meet the Press, Crossfire, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer andVoice of America. He’s had articles published in The New York Times, The Economist, Reader’s Digest, The Washingtonian and The Weekly Standard. He can be seen in the movies Dave and Independence Day.
Kondracke is on the board of trustees at Dartmouth College and the Parkinson’s Action Network. He is on the Founders Council of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College (A.B. 1960) and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.
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Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!

LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!

MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!

SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!

SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!

CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!

PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.

FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!

FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
A View From Washington
Mort Kondracke gives an up-to-the-minute look at American politics and foreign policy. As a Washington journalist since the early ’60s, Mort’s observations and amusing anecdotes have the weight of his considerable experience. He’ll tell you what’s going on in Washington, how the Obama Administration and Congress are doing and what it all means. On request he will address your organization’s legislative prospects.
Saving Milly: Love, Politics, and Parkinson’s Disease
In this inspiring and informative presentation based on his The New York Times best seller of the same name, Mort Kondracke gives audiences a glimpse into a side of American life that is usually left behind closed doors. He shares the story of his own familys struggle with Parkinsons disease – a debilitating condition that struck his wife in her middle years. Kondracke describes his transformation from careerist to caregiver and disease activist, and explores the realities of “disease politics” in the campaign to find a cure for Parkinson’s and other diseases. He also discusses the need for the U.S. government to re-double its minuscule investment in medical research.
America’s Health Agenda
Mort Kondracke has a special interest and indepth knowledge about the condition of health care in the United States. He discusses why health care should remain at the top of the national agenda, while exploring: health policy, cost containment, Medicare prescription drugs and other issues that are relevant to your audience.
Politics
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WSRE - Food For Thought - Morton Kondracke
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