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In Memoriam
Paul Harvey, Good Night
I don't know about the rest of the nation, but here in Central time we could get Paul Harvey's News and Comment in the morning and again at noon, most likely on some crackly AM country music station. If I were out of town or on the road, I would surf the AM dial hoping to find a hint of that unmistakable voice: The Voice. Like a true news junkie, I needed my Paul Harvey fix.
Paul Harvey, born Paul Harvey Aurandt in Tulsa on Sept. 4, 1918, had a voice like a cannon at Gettysburg, like Teddy Roosevelt charging up San Juan Hill or General Anthony Clement McAuliffe answering the German surrender ultimatum with the expletive "Nuts!" His distinctive baritone was soothing and comforting, the optimistic, can-do voice of Middle America, the voice of hope decades before Barack Obama knew the meaning of the word.
Listening to Paul Harvey, who died Saturday at age 90, was like eavesdropping on radio in its golden age, which wasn't just radio's golden age, of course, but America's. Like many of his listeners, Paul Harvey did it all: wrote his own copy, read his own commercials, even invented his own vocabulary (Reaganomics, skyjacker, guesstimate, to name a few of his neologisms). When it came to selecting news copy Paul Harvey applied what he called his "Aunt Betty" test. Aunt Betty was an old fashioned Missouri housewife (his sister-in-law, actually), and no story too complicated or dull for Aunt Betty made it onto the newscast.
A Paul Harvey newscast was in startling contrast to the network or public radio news. From the opening salvo of "Hello Americans! Paul Harvey…Stand by for News!" -- the absence of any theme music or bells and whistles let you know you were in for 15 minutes of honest, man-to-man talk. Paul Harvey gave it to you straight, but without the doom and gloom that hung over other conventional newscasts. In the midst of recession, national tragedy, or malaise, Paul Harvey showed you the silver lining amid the dark clouds and raised America's collective spirit -- not like a preacher (though he was descended from five generations of Baptist preachers), but as America's most trusted news source.
What a contrast to the negative nabobs of negativism further down the dial. If you had to pin down Paul Harvey, he probably leaned more to the right of center than to the left, but only because he believed in core conservative values like self-reliance, religious faith, the free market, and the industry and ingenuity of the American people. But while Paul Harvey loved to preface stories with "There is good news today…" Paul Harvey News and Comment was not a vacuous "Good News" newscast. There was a fine line between locating the good in the news and being willfully naïve. With an audience of 22 million dedicated listeners, Paul Harvey was anything but naïve.
IN THE TWENTY or so years I listened to Paul Harvey I do not ever
recall hearing him say a negative word about any celebrity or
government official -- which was one reason you came away from a
Paul Harvey broadcast feeling better about yourself and your
country. And perhaps a hankering to run out and buy a new vacuum
cleaner. Certainly being one of the most trusted and respected
journalists of your day helps when you are trying to peddle your
sponsors' wares.
As popular as his newscasts were, equally beloved was a segment called "The Rest of the Story." I remember crawling in from college football practice at 5:30 p.m. -- this was the early 1980s -- and collapsing on a locker room bench while over the loudspeaker came The Voice halfway through his evening broadcast, which wasn't news at all, but a feature story where some famous person's identity was revealed in a surprise, twist ending. It might be the story how one man single-handedly brought Philadelphia back from the dead following the Great Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 (George Washington), or the misanthrope who wished to drown the human race (Mark Twain).
Talk about a surreal scene: fifty exhausted college football players from all across the country lying all over a locker room floor in silence waiting for Paul Harvey to reveal the identity of today's subject. "And now you know…the rest of the story…Paul Harvey…Good Day!" Only then would we hit the showers.
His few Eastern establishment critics -- and I do mean few -- would probably have called Paul Harvey a second-rate newsman, an anti-intellectual populist, and a snakeskin salesman who peddled not only vacuum cleaners, but false hope and optimism while ignoring the real challenges America faced. But it doesn't matter what they say, because they only talk to themselves.
The Voice spoke to all of us.
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Dave| 3.2.09 @ 8:24AM
I think Christopher meant to write "nattering nabobs of negativism".
DaveinHackensack| 3.2.09 @ 8:47AM
Paul Harvey will be missed.
"And perhaps a hankering to run out and by a new vacuum cleaner. "
"By" should be "buy".
Charles| 3.2.09 @ 8:56AM
"snakeskin salesman"? AS really needs to have someone editing these articles. That said, RIP Mr. Harvey, you were the best.
The Bishop| 3.2.09 @ 8:59AM
Even though I come from the generation previous to Christopher Orlet, I have the same memories of the "Voice." He was a giant of his industry and a true gentleman. I am thankful for his use of his God-given talents and for that high school teacher who introduced him to a radio station in Tulsa, lo, these many hears ago. Rest in peace, Mr. Harvey.
Howard| 3.2.09 @ 9:03AM
Back in the mid 1970's I drove cross country from CT to CA. As I was driving through mid-America, you would hear Paul Harvey on almost every station. He was everywhere. He wasn't a blind cheerleader for America, but a deeply patriotic person who indeed found a silver lining. I always remember his commercials for Bell glass. He was Middle America. RIP
David| 3.2.09 @ 9:24AM
Ronald Reagan was one, so to with Pope John Paul the Great; not many names inspire a smile and a sense of gratitude with out hesitation like Paul Harvey. God Bless and Thank you so much.
Tom| 3.2.09 @ 9:44AM
Well said!!
Ardy| 3.2.09 @ 9:57AM
Excellent. Well put and he will be missed.
Bill Rossknecht| 3.2.09 @ 10:51AM
As I read the Paul Harvey piece on America Spectator, it occured how interesting the juxtoposition was between Mr. Harvey's e-euology and Ann Coulter's Column promotion. Grace & honesty vs. unobjective hatefulness.
Pingback| 3.2.09 @ 11:21AM
Featured Articles — May 2, 2009 : The New Nixon: News and Commentary about the Presi links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Lea| 3.2.09 @ 11:43AM
I have always enjoyed Paul Harvey. He represents a generation of great Americans who are leaving us daily now. These are the people who worked hard to make this country into what it is today. They worked hard after (most of them) fighting WWII, coming back home to their communities and taking care of their families and building America. Paul Harvey told stories about the Heartland of America, about how hard work paid off, about success of others who had failed and had gotten back up, and so much more; I believe that's why he endeared himself to those of us who appreciated him so much. He will be greatly missed. Goodnight Paul Harvey.
Christian| 3.2.09 @ 12:17PM
I remember as a child growing up I would almost daily rush to the radio to hear that timeless introduction at twelve noon ("Paul Harvey... stand by for news!"), and listen attentively to Paul's golden voice tell me all I needed to know about the world. Words do not describe the deep, enduring respect I have for that man. RIP.
Kevin| 3.2.09 @ 12:18PM
Thank you so much, Paul Harvey. Oh how much you will be missed. You always felt so claen and honest after having lsitened to Mr. Harvey. You felt that AMerica was truly alive. How much we will miss your Voice in these times of liberal expnasion of government.
Pingback| 3.2.09 @ 12:51PM
R.I.P. Paul Harvey « Virginia Virtucon links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
JT| 3.2.09 @ 2:10PM
And we liberals loved him too. Good day.
doulgas khannonski| 3.2.09 @ 2:41PM
Every morning while commuting to school on the Dan Ryan, my buddy and I would listen to Paul. He was able to transmit more news in less time than most other news readers. As I grew older, I found his views were too conservative for my taste, and I was really annoyed when, after the fight was all but lost, his wife Angel encouraged him to finally came out for the Equal Rights Amendment. Too little, too late.
However, the big picture of Paul Harvey is that he was a very talented newsman, an uprighteous human being, and a patriot. He was like a friend and wherever I have gone over the last 5 decades, I have scanned the AM dial at 8:30 in the morning, or at noon, to learn what has happened in the news, to hear his perspective on events, and to hear his warm "good day."
Alan Brooks| 3.2.09 @ 2:58PM
Paul wasn't sensitive concerning his age,
talked to a woman about 80, and told her "you look great for an older gal".
she exploded "what do you mean 'old'!"
everyone is so sensitive and PC.
Bruce Purdy| 3.2.09 @ 8:50PM
God go with this good man.
Alan Brooks| 3.2.09 @ 9:01PM
everyone is so sensitive you can't even talk to them anymore.
Pingback| 3.2.09 @ 11:05PM
R.I.P. Paul Harvey | links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
ssky| 3.2.09 @ 11:37PM
God Speed, Mr. Harvey! Your fair common-sense commentary will be missed. You were the voice of reason, not shrill and opinionated. I listened to you every day and no one will be able to fill your shoes. You were from the old school -- honor, integrity and the voice of reason. You were also an independent thinker which I applaud. Thank you for many wonderful years! God bless!
Bill in NJ| 3.3.09 @ 11:15AM
What troubles me most is that my children will not be able to hear this gentle man.
Truly: one of a kind.
God rest your soul Paul.
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Hammer of the Dogs| 3.4.09 @ 10:50AM
My favorite Paul Harvey story: Back in the mid-1970's, one of the networks apparently paid an informant $10,000 because he claimed he knew where Jimmy Hoffa was buried. They didn't find the grave, and the guy ran of with $10,000. Mr. Harvey then said, "I won't give you the name of the broadcast company.....but it's initials were CBS".
wkup| 3.4.09 @ 11:25PM
Growing up with Mr Harvey I respected and cherished his broadcasts. I have since lost almost all respect for the man. He side stepped taking a moral stance on the rights of the unborn child by wanting The Supreme Court of the United States of America to determine when human life begins. A very high percentage of the broadcasts I heard he was very antiwar. It didn't seem to matter what the circumstances of conflict was it was always tied to "middle east oil", it sounded very much like the WWII veterans lament that, WWII was last "good war". That is a slap in the face of veterans of other wars. Mr Harvey should have retired years ago his judgment and discernment seemed to have become disconnected, hard and harsh. Mr Harvey reminds me of the greedy "greatest generation" that could not let go gracefully.
Crystal | 3.6.09 @ 4:40PM
In response to wkup: I think everyone will respect your right to your opinion, but please try to respect the forum for what it is...a celebration of the life of someone who has passed away. In this case, if you cannot say something nice then do not say anything at all. Rest in peace, Paul Harvey. Blessing to your family in this time of sorrow.
wkup| 3.9.09 @ 8:36AM
In response to Crystal: thanks for being the thought police, sounds like I hit a nerve. Yes Mr Harvey has done many great things in his life and his family has my sincere sympathy. I could have said much less "nice" things.
Jeremiah| 3.29.09 @ 12:09AM
wkup--now I know why liberals loved him. Good for you that you have the courage to speak the truth!
Jonathan| 6.5.09 @ 11:34PM
I loved listening to this guy. I grew up in a home where I heard him on a regular basis, and from time to time after I moved on in life, I'd hear him on my car radio. Part of it was "the voice," part of it was his style, and part was the fact that he always called me "American"). Just after he died, one of the local radio stations in Atlanta played what they identified as one of his best (rightly or wrongly) radio broadcasts. On May 16, 1998, his entire broadcast consisted of a letter he read entitled, "An Open Letter from God." To hear the audio, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYEFkYtANVg&feature=related. Draw your own conclusions. For me, it is tragic that a man that seemed to be committed to truth could be so confused about ultimate truth. Saying that all religions are equally true is just like saying none of them are true. Truth does not contradict itself. In the end, one who seemed like a rock in our culture to me was in actuality a reed who bent with the prevailing current. A good reminder that there is only one Rock (and He doesn't go by different names under different religions).
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