Matthews On the Way Out?

Media Bistro's advance coverage of a profile about MSNBC's Chris Matthews written by Mark Leibovich to be published in NYT Magazine Sunday offers a very candid look at the Hardball host. The piece reveals that Matthews may not be at MSNBC for long and that he reveres Tim Russert, distrusts David Gregory and resents Keith Olbermann.

Perhaps the biggest revelation in the article is that Matthews essentially told Leibovich that he was insincere when he famously apologized to Hillary Clinton. According to an alternate version of the preview at Huffington Post Matthews is quoted as saying, "I was tonally inaccurate but factually true." When asked if he had been forced into the apology, he said, "Oh, yeah, of course I was forced into that. No, no, no .... Phil [Griffin] asked me to do that."The story is full of anecdotes that tend to characterize Matthews as a thoughtless oaf. In one encounter, Matthews told actress Kerry Washington that the head of MSNBC wanted her on Harball, "because you're beautiful." After a long pause Matthews added, "And because you're black." He then proceeded to hand Washington a business card while referring to himself in the third person, telling her to call "if you ever want to hang out with Chris Matthews."

Leibovich characterizes Matthews as "openly contemplating 'the second act' in a career that has already featured several" after his contract expires next year. Leibovich's sources at NBC claim they can get better ratings for the $5 million a year Matthews earns.