Academia, Media, Politics, Society

William Safire Dies at 79

200px-President_Bush_presents_William_Safire_the_2006_President_Medal_of_FreedomPulitzer Prize-winning columnist William Safire died today at 79. Bill was a friend and often encouraged me through the years as a columnist and commentator. He was one of the most interesting men that I have known in my life and, like millions, I will miss him.

While we had previously met, Bill and I spoke more frequently during the Clinton impeachment and later we would continue to speak about legal and policy issues. We both shared a certain libertarian streak.

He was the undisputed master of the language among columnists and would occasionally take each of us to task for writing infractions — though always in a humorous and kind-hearted way. I only received one such correction in a Safire column but I credit my editors for not being a recidivist.

My wife and I would go to Bill’s house every year to “break the fast” at Yom Kippur. It was like the salons of Europe with a collection of journalists, politicians, ambassadors, and the like. It was one of the city’s most unique functions and Bill passed away just a day before Yom Kippur when he would bring together this diverse group of intellectuals and power brokers in his home.

Starting as a speechwriter for Richard Nixon, Safire’s clarity in writing and thought soon made him a favorite of liberals and conservatives alike. He won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1978; in 1995 was named to the Pulitzer board. While we had disagreements on some issues, I always respected Bill for his graceful writing style and passion.

Bill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away in Maryland in a hospice.

Bill was a worthy icon in a city of false idols. We will be fortunate indeed to see the equal to Bill Safire in our lifetime.

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20 thoughts on “William Safire Dies at 79”

  2. Buddha,

    Well said. Although I like to always remain open to forgiveness as it is not nor should it be dependent on forgetting. The possible occasion for forgiveness might be more appropriate after all the criminals, up to and including Bush are properly tried and sentenced. Their supporters and enablers could have called for investigations and charges when they first became aware of the criminal acts, instead they chose obstruction. Let us hold them accountable too; so there will be no forgiveness in the near future. Let everyone remember that we will never forget!

    Regarding the subject of this thread William Safire I did love his “On Language” columns but i was no fan of his punditry. This column is neither opinion nor journalism but straight stenography.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/12/opinion/12SAFI.html

    And his defense of the”undisputed facts” was just as bad.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/09/opinion/mr-atta-goes-to-prague.html

  3. Helen,

    I’ll tell you what. I’ll forgive an illegal war that’s brought this country nothing but ruin so a select few could profit while violating the Constitution about the time Hell freezes solid. Mark your calendar. I’ll take it by your smile that you jest, but let’s be clear: Some crimes are unforgivable and the crimes of the Bush administration fall into this category. The Neocons are just as much the enemy of the Constitution as Al Quada, just as much a bunch of criminals. That one group are fascists and the other theocratic terrorists makes no difference. An enemy is an enemy even if they are within. Forgive, forget and look forward are just not going to happen. Until this problem is addressed and Dick and all his buddies from the Secret Energy Task Force meeting are sent to prison, this problem will only fester. It won’t just go away. It’s a staph infection lurking the in lymphatic system of the body of law our entire country is based upon. Sending the traitors to prison and restoring the rule of law is analogous to taking antibiotics. But that’s not the only way to cure an infection, is it? There’s always the option of amputation. Thomas Jefferson knew this and it would serve those in Washington to recall his lessons. He’s only considered the most intelligent guy to ever hold the office, so by all means, they don’t heed his words.

    But forgiveness and forgetting and all that happy crap?

    Simply not going to happen and that’s no joke.

    Have a nice day.

  4. I like the way most people vent their frustrations out here. C’mon people, there’s no need to keep talking about the Iraq war several years on.

    Let’s forgive, forget and look forward 🙂

  5. I will not miss Mr. Safire. His support of the Iraq War early on misled many people who trusted in his judgment.

    Professor Turley—as I have stated many times—you are one of the finest men I have ever read; however, Ted Kennedy and William Safire were two of your colleagues/friends who were markedly incomparable to your stature, aplomb, decency, and honor; in summa, high celebrity and status forges strange bedfellows.

  8. He was always interesting on the subject of English language use and style. (<~~ Ironically, a ‘sentence fragment’ my spell-check tells me) Seemingly one of the last among a generation of great writers, BUT Safire was often on the wrong on the issues politically and cannot be forgiven for being the Nixon speechwriter who introduced the word ‘values’ into their lexicon, helping to start the divisive, hateful era that we are currently in the middle of.

    Michael
    http://truthandroses.wordpress.com/

  9. He was always interesting on the subject of English language use and style. (<~~ Ironically, a ‘sentence fragment’ my spell-check tells me) Seemingly one of the last among a generation of great writers, BUT Safire was often on the wrong on the issues politically and cannot be forgiven for being the Nixon speechwriter who introduced the word ‘values’ into their lexicon, helping to start the divisive, hateful era that we are currently in the middle of.

  14. Like JT, I admired his writing and his writing style. I also disagreed with him on many of his stances, but it would be foolhardy to question his powers as a word-smith.

  16. Condolences to you Professor Turley and to Mr. Safire’s family. Pancreatic cancer is a bad way to go. I did not agree with him too often, but he always seemed to write and speak without arrogance, unlike the Bush administration and its policies that he often supported.

  17. blogenfreude,

    I feel the same way as you about the Iraq war, but I would be more careful to distinguish those who promoted the war from those who expressed a favorable opinion about the war. Only the former have blood on their hands. The line between these two types of people can be blurry, but, basically, I am referring to the difference between a politician and a journalist. Bill Kristol falls on the politician side of the line, despite his pretending to be a journalist, in that he does not consider issues on their merits, but says whatever he thinks will promote his cause. I didn’t read Safire much, but I suspect that he was more of a journalist (after he stopped working for Agnew). If so, he was entitled to his opinion, however wrongheaded it was.

  18. Please accept my condolences on the death of your friend, his passing is a great loss to even those that did not know him personally.

  19. He was no Irving Kristol, but he did nearly as much damage. He worked for Spiro Agnew. He pimped for neocons, and championed the Iraq War. More than a hundred thousand innocent Iraqis dead, and more than four thousand of our soldiers. He promoted the war, just like Bill Kristol, Tom Friedman, and Charles Krauthammer. Sorry Jon – as one of your torts students I have to school you – Safire has blood on his hands. That you dined with him saddens me. That he was permitted to cheer on various atrocities sickens me. Write about that – I dare you.

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