Robert Novak, one of the best political columnists and reporters to ever write, has been called home to the Lord today.
If you’ve never read his biography, Prince of Darkness, you really should.
Novak was not your typical columnist — he always broke news. That made his writing both unique and in demand. Novak, for many years, put together the Evans-Novak Political Report, which our parent company produced. In it, Novak covered the political scene in relentless fashion.
Bob Novak was also an amazing and pugnacious political commentator, sparring for years on CNN’s Cross Fire.
Tim Carney has a great piece at Human Events, as does Ken Tomlinson.
Wrote Carney, who worked for Novak writing his political report:
For many of us, though, Novak’s resistance to the calls for conformity, his constant openness to new ideas and facts, and his willingness to change his mind set a crucial example.
His most important change of heart was his late-life conversion to Catholicism. Brought up a secular Jew, and having lived seven decades as an agnostic, Novak entered the church in his 60s. When I went to work for him, I was considering entering the Catholic Church as well. Novak pointed me to the priests who helped answer my remaining questions and cement my faith.
Novak would often tell aspiring journalists to pick a different field if their goal was to change the world. But, by simply aiming to inform and to do his job as well he could, Novak changed the lives of his readers and those of us blessed to work with him.
Bob Novak, a one of a kind reporter, will be missed.
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
A True Icon and One of My Favorites
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Tuesday, August 18th at 2:40PM EST (link)Novak was a journalist. He had journalistic integrity. He was also a conservative. But he was no shill for the GOP. Sometimes, it seemed like that hurt his overall popularity. He was one of the best, a true lion.
Novak was truly one of a vanishing breed
septembergurl (Diary) Tuesday, August 18th at 3:14PM EST (link)He was a reporter who loved pursuing a story, working his sources, digging and emplying shoe-leather to fill in the details. His memoir, “Prince of Darkness” is a wonderful read for anyone who follows national politics or American history over the past half century.
It’s also a sobering description of the decline of American journalism in this period. When Novak arrives in Washington, he is a neophyte reporter — low paid, scuffling for stories, pursuing every angle. His column with Evans was an insider-type column, not opinion as most columns are today. Although always portrayed as an ideologue, and he was certainlyconservative, he was never a shill or a flack. If you were a good source, he liked you; if not, not.
He was a true professional. What I especially liked about his book was that at the end of every year he gives the amount of money he made. He treats his trade as if he is a baker or a plumber. He does not have the exalted view so many of today’s reporters have.
I will miss him.
We are not worthy.
NeoKong (Diary) Tuesday, August 18th at 7:06PM EST (link)Novak was the man. I remember back in the day when I became interested in politics I always like Crossfire with him and Michael Kinsley.
Needless to say that show went downhill.
It was a joke after he left.
It sucked so bad with Carville and Begala as two left wing DNC shills it got canceled.
Novak got so insulted by Carville once on it that he got up and left the studio.
That was the last time I ever watched CNN.
I love the guy just for that alone.
After his being struck by a car he wasn’t on T.V. so much.
It’s a real shame.
RIP Bob.
We’ll miss ya’ big guy.
Follow me on Twitter.
RIP
BillM (Diary) Tuesday, August 18th at 9:10PM EST (link)It is absolutely amazing some of the stuff I’ve read over at kos today (kos himself actually had a grudging respect for Novak and wished him well when he announced he had cancer). They seriously believe that the Plame thing was one of the worst things to happen in the history of this country. Any mention of Biden leaking confidential FBI testimony during the Thomas hearings? Of course not.
Novak certainly was the last of his kind, probably on either the right or left. I remember watching the McLaughlin Group and such back in jr. high, and I always got a kick out him. He may have been a bit too establishment & DC for me overall, but he was brilliant, hilarious, never took himself too seriously and was actually a real reporter unafraid to call out his own “side”. On the left, I felt the same way about Jack Germond (and Hunter Thompson, until he succumbed to celebrityitis).
It’s hard to see anyone ever holding a candle to Reagan-Novak again, as mentioned in one of the linked tributes, although for our sake the GOP damn well better try to find somebody quick.
Condolences to Bob’s friends & family.
STEVENS, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which SCALIA, J., joined.