Hello again…
Bob Novak was already a journalistic figure of note when I joined the Goldwater for President campaign in the summer of 1964. He was a Wall Street Journal reporter who teamed up with Rowland Evans for a thrice-weekly political report originally for the Chicago Sun-Times call the Evans-Novak report. When Bob was diagnosed last week with a brain tumor after striking a pedestrian with his car; and this week announced he would be closing down the column – it was still called the Evans-Novak report out of respect for his partner “Rowley” – who had passed on decades before.
My work with and for Novak was brief and not really on the level of friendship. In fact at the time he was a much more “moderate” Republican along the lines of Nelson Rockefeller -- anathema to the conservative Republicans in the Goldwater camp. He was an admirer of John Kennedy and said he voted both for JFK and LBJ. But over the years, he gradually came to a great deal more conservative stance. But I also say in his career, now ended. Coincidentally he converted from Judaism to Christianity. He was a straightforward reporter. If he thought something was good, he said it – and vice versa. Both Bob and Rowley especially good at finding and reporting hitherto secret dealings which many politicos would have preferred leave undisturbed.
There’s no question the ENPR has become a journalistic icon in the nation’s capital. And I don’t see anything on the horizon that will take its place. It’s really a dynamic force in the pushing and shoving that goes on periodically – like every two years or so – on the national scene. I think the rest of the world regards the
Anyway -- Bob is both loved and loathed on the political front – but I think his enemies reveal more about their own character – or lack of it – than they do by ranting at Evans and Novak. Best wishes Bob – and prayers for a quick recovery.
Cordially, IN HIM
Jack Buttram
http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama08-07-08.mp3
http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt08-07-08.doc
“JUST A MINUTE”
PRINCE OF DARKNESS RETIRES
Just A Minute – I met Bob Novak on the Goldwater press bus headed for Washington National. He was even then a prominent figure among prominent people. The
Most reporters are impatient, and some treat campaign staffers like dirt – but I never found that true of either Evans or Novak. His rather recently acquired moniker “Prince of Darkness” was bestowed by another journalist – and I think Bob embraced it because it was sufficiently intimidating but not threatening.
No question but the Evans-Novak team has been a prominent force in political life. And Bob, out of respect for his late partner, has kept Rowley’s name on the masthead for several decades. That tells you something about his character.
If you read the blogs you know he was not universally loved, but generally that reveals more about his enemies than about him. We wish you well Bob and pray for a speedy recovery.
<> I’m
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