steve mcmahon trained as an attorney and helped with senator ted kennedy's 1980 presidential campaign before starting his professional career as an assistant press secretary in kennedy's senate office. he later became a deputy director of kennedy's political action committee, the fund for a democratic majority. in 1987, he transitioned into media consulting when he was hired as a vice president at doak, shrum and associates, an arlington, virginia-based media consulting firm. while at the firm his notable work included consulting for dick gephardt's 1988 presidential campaign and other political campaigns.