John Joseph McLaughlin

Dr. John J. McLaughlin died of cancer on August 16 at his home in Washington, D.C. He was born on March 29, 1927, in Providence, Rhode Island. He was the beloved son of the late Augustus (Gus) McLaughlin and Eva (Turcotte) McLaughlin. He was the brother of the late Robert A. (Bob) McLaughlin and

brother-in-law to the late Elizabeth C.(McGetrick) McLaughlin, formerly of Warwick, R.I.

He was the devoted uncle of the late Robert A. McLaughlin, Jr. (Susanne Archambault), Karen A. McLaughlin (Philip Gloudemans), John K., Elizabeth A., and Sheila K. McLaughlin. He was the great uncle of Christine Sarver, Kathryn Shirke, Ryan McLaughlin, Denise Kosan and Brenna Gloudemans.

He attended LaSalle Academy in Providence and trained for the priesthood at Shadowbrook Seminary, in western Massachusetts, and was ordained a Jesuit priest. He earned Master’s degrees in philosophy and English literature from Boston College, and a doctorate in philosophy from Columbia University.

Commencing his professional career, John taught high school, then wrote for the Catholic magazine, America. In 1970, John launched an ambitious though unsuccessful campaign as the Republican Senate candidate from Rhode Island. John then joined the Nixon White House as deputy speechwriter. Following President Nixon's resignation, John's next major endeavor was his appointment as the Washington editor of National Review. John held this position between 1981 and 1989. In 1982, John created his namesake show The McLaughlin Group. On air for a record 34 years, The McLaughlin Group is widely credited with transforming American political television. From 1984 to 2013, John also hosted One on One, a weekly television show in which he interviewed prominent public figures.

A funeral service will celebrated in Rhode Island at a later date, at the convenience of the family.