A descendant of Dr. Samuel Alexander Mudd, who treated John Wilkes Booth's broken leg. The saying, "Your name is Mudd" started because of Dr. Mudd.
Attended Washington and Lee University.
His journalism career began at the Richmond News Leader newspaper. He went to Washington DC as a radio and TV reporter for a local CBS affiliate. Five years later, he joined CBS' Washington bureau, where he worked for 20 years.
He received a master's degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Is a member of Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity.