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Remembering Bob Novak

By W. James Antle, III on 8.18.09 @ 12:54PM

When I was still new to The American Spectator, I put together a conference of the magazine's young writers. Bob Novak graciously agreed to be the keynote speaker. It was my first foray into anything like event planning, so of course it went anything but smoothly. Attendance was sparser than anticipated and many people were late, making the event look a bit small for its venue.

Novak wasn't bothered by any of this. He still spoke like he was addressing a crowd of 500 people, telling old stories and giving advice. Novak stayed at the podium after the speech to take questions, which even the other panelists were eager to ask. When it came time to move to the next part of the program, Novak insisted on taking one more question. "Let's let one of the young writers get in one more question," he said.

Remembering his old boss, my friend Tim Carney recounts that Novak's position on the Iraq war was a source of consternation to many conservatives. But to other conservatives, it was a source of inspiration. A real reporter and a real conservative, Robert Novak was one of a kind. R.I.P.

View all comments (10) | Leave a comment

Tim| 8.18.09 @ 1:43PM

I heard a brief bio on the radio news last hour; basically said he stormed out of an interview, hit and run a pedestrian and revealed the secret identity of a CIA agent, and, oh yes, was conservative. They literally had nothing good.

Red Phillips| 8.18.09 @ 5:46PM

"Novak's position on the Iraq war was a source of consternation to many conservatives. But to other conservatives, it was a source of inspiration."

What is so stunning in hindsight about the period after 9/11, the lead up to the war in Iraq and its early pahases is how totally unaware many mainstream conservatives were that an alternative position existed. That is why they were so incredulous when they found out that stalwarts like Novak or Weyrich were opposed. Today the anti-war conservative position is well known even if not yet widely embraced.

WendyG| 8.18.09 @ 6:14PM

Yeah, one of a kind. A self-hating Jew who became a Christian, attacked and Israel and supported Hamas. Not many of them around...

Eric| 8.18.09 @ 6:21PM

What a wrinkled, pussbag of hate this POS was. I would be surprised if anyone cares to show up to the funeral, before he is off to hell.

Eric| 8.18.09 @ 6:21PM

What a wrinkled, pussbag of hate this POS was. I would be surprised if anyone cares to show up to the funeral, before he is off to hell.

Red Phillips| 8.18.09 @ 6:38PM

So Wendy, converting to Christianity makes one a self-hating Jew? Nice. Real nice.

Johnnie| 8.18.09 @ 7:28PM

Regardless of what you thought about Bob Novak in life, it's disgustingly crass to denigrate him here.

Shame on you.

David| 8.19.09 @ 2:23AM

No but supporting Hamas as Novak did, would make one a self-hating Jew.

Somehow supporting terrorists seems worse to me than to denigrate him after death.

Starry| 8.19.09 @ 4:23AM

So you say but who the hell are you? You're still an ass.

Red Phillips| 8.19.09 @ 6:53AM

Novak did not "support Hamas." That is the problem with Israel partisans on this issue. Anything less than 100% maintenance of the party line means you're in bed with the enemy. It is impossible to have an intelligent conversation in such an atmosphere.

Can we at least let the man's body get cold before sniping at him? Have some respect.