Speaker James McCartney was a reporter and later a columnist in Washington for more than thirty years. He covered top national and international stories from the Kennedy administration in the 1960's to the Clinton administration in the 1990's.

He specialized in politics and national security and covered the White House, the State Department, the Pentagon, and Congress. He has extensive experience on the ground in the Middle East and has by-lines from more than 25 countries including Vietnam.

He has taught courses in foreign affairs and politics at Georgetown University.