Beckel holds a B.A. from Wagner College.[1] While in college, he worked for Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1968. Early in his career, he joined the U.S. Department of State and became the youngest Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Carter administration.[2] Beckel was the campaign manager for Walter Mondale's 1984 presidential campaign. During that campaign he became known as the man who wrapped the Wendy's slogan "Where's the Beef?" around Mondale's opponent for the Democratic nomination Gary Hart effectively. That campaign as managed by Beckel resulted in Mondale's defeat which was the worst for any candidate in U.S. history in the Electoral College.
Beckel managed Alan Blinken's 2002 Senate campaign until he was dismissed after being targeted for extortion by a prostitute.[3]
He was co-host of Crossfire Sunday on CNN alongside Tony Snow and later Lynne Cheney, and went on to Fox News Channel as a political analyst and commentator, regularly appearing on such shows as Hannity & Colmes (later Hannity), America's Newsroom and Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. Beckel is a co-host of Fox News' The Five, a political talk show that replaced Glenn Beck in the 5 p.m. Eastern time slot in July 2011.
He made a brief appearance as himself on the Season 8 premier of 24 in a mock debate with fellow Fox News Analyst Monica Crowley.
Beckel is a graduate school professor of politics at the George Washington University.[4]
