BREAKING: Hollywood Legend Suddenly Dies... Fans Call For Prayers This week, television host John McLaughlin passed away at the age of 89. McLaughlin was best known for heading a boisterous public affairs show for more than three decades. McLaughlin was a former Catholic priest who became a pundit in the seventies after writing speeches for President Richard Nixon. His final public message was on August 13, when he addressed his fans on his shows website to let them know he had missed recent tapings because of poor health. Yet my spirit is strong and my dedication to the show remains absolute, he wrote. His death marks the end of an incredible career for the man who first went on the air with The McLaughlin Group in 1982. McLaughlin was born in 1927 in Providence, Rhode Island. He stepped down from his priesthood in 1975, due to his growing interest and involvement in politics. He switched form Democrat to Republican during the Vietnam War, and eventually became a speechwriter for Nixon. He also wrote for National Review magazine and hosted various programs on radio and television. Will you send your thoughts and prayers to McLaughlins family? 