A former Jesuit priest and journalist, McLaughlin created The McLaughlin Group in 1982. | Getty John McLaughlin, of 'The McLaughlin Group,' dies at 89 Created political panel show 34 years ago

John McLaughlin, the creator, host and executive producer of the long-running Sunday political panel show The McLaughlin Group, died on Tuesday morning at the age of 89, according to a message posted on the program's Facebook page.

On Sunday, McLaughlin was too ill to appear on The McLaughlin Group. It was the first time in 34 years that he had missed a taping of the program, which saw McLaughlin moderating a panel of political pundits and journalists, including Pat Buchanan, Eleanor Clift, Clarence Page and Tom Rogan.

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Speaking to C-Span in 1984, McLaughlin said his program was "like a diamond cutter, getting these issues out in front of the American people... If he hits it at precisely the right angle, with precisely he right percussion or beat or thrust, that can explode into a brilliant illumination, and that is what we try to provide on the program."

A former Jesuit priest and journalist, McLaughlin created The McLaughlin Group in 1982. The syndicated talk show, one of the most influential political panel shows, airs on local stations across the country.