Veteran political correspondent Howard Fineman, Colgate ’70, who for nearly 40 years covered political affairs in the nation’s capital for Newsweek, NBC/MSNBC and other outlets, died from pancreatic cancer this week at the age of 75.
A native of Pittsburgh, Fineman attended Colgate University where he was initiated into Beta Theta Pi on March 18, 1967. He later earned a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University in 1973, as well as a law degree from the University of Louisville in 1980.
He began his journalism career at The Louisville Courier-Journal, covering the environment, coal industry and state politics before joining the newspaper’s Washington bureau in 1978. He moved to Newsweek in 1980, was named chief political correspondent in 1984, deputy Washington bureau chief in 1993 and senior editor in 1995. His work helped Newsweek stand out at a time that many people consider a golden age for newsmagazines. Fineman left Newsweek in 2010 for The Huffington Post, where he became senior politics editor and later global editorial director.
Remembered as one of the country’s most astute observers of the Beltway scene, his writing was also featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The New Republic, while he made regular appearances on TV news programs like Nightline, Face the Nation, Larry King Live, Fox News Sunday, Hardball, Charlie Rose, PBS’s Washington Week in Review and CNN’s Capital Gang Sunday. Over the years, he interviewed nearly every U.S. presidential candidate; business leaders such as Bill Gates, Steve Case, Steve Ballmer, Robert Rubin and Ted Turner; and entertainment personalities such as Warren Beatty, Jane Fonda, Aaron Sorkin and Jay Leno.
For his professional accomplishments, the Fraternity bestowed upon Fineman the Oxford Cup in 2007. His moving acceptance speech brought the room to tears and his love for Beta Theta Pi endured throughout his life.
May Brother Howard Fineman, Roll No. 1194 of the Beta Theta Chapter of Beta Theta Pi, rest in peace. Forever in ___kai___.
