Asked whether his political views ever have an impact on his interview, Matthews shifts his eyes away from CNN just long enough to correct a Crimson reporter’s grammar.

An aggressively critical approach is Matthews’ M.O.

Gergen says this contrarian approach can make Matthews seem to favor one political party. During the Clinton impeachment proceedings, for example, people thought Matthews was Republican, he says, while his criticism of the war in Iraq has led some to accuse him of siding with Democrats.

But neither is correct, Gergen says, because Matthews is interested in ideas, not parties.

“What you see in Chris is a man becoming passionate about issues and his passion shows,” Gergen says. “It’s not partisanship, it’s passion.”

Matthews describes himself similarly.

“Everybody has opinions,” he says, maintaining that his own don’t influence the questions he asks. “I’m no less tough on the people I voted for.”

Though his skepticism of the Bush administration’s foray into Iraq is probably evident to viewers, he says, people who try to place him in one camp or another will fail.

“I never defend, I never explain,” he says.

—Staff Writer David B. Rochelson can be reached at rochels@fas.harvard.edu