Rockin' News Special Edition for March 1 ,2009
Paul Harvey, Talk-Radio Pioneer, Is Dead at 90
CHICAGO — Paul Harvey, the news commentator and talk-radio pioneer whose staccato style made
him one of the nation’s most familiar voices, died Saturday in Arizona, according to ABC Radio
Networks. He was 90.
Mr. Harvey died surrounded by family at a hospital in Phoenix, where he had a winter home, said
Louis Adams, a spokesman for ABC Radio Networks, where Mr. Harvey worked for more than 50
years. No cause of death was immediately available.
Mr. Harvey had been forced off the air for several months in 2001 because of a virus that
weakened a vocal cord. But he returned to work in Chicago and was still active as he passed his
90th birthday. His death comes less than a year after that of his wife and longtime producer,
Lynne.
CHICAGO — Paul Harvey, the news commentator and talk-radio pioneer whose staccato style made
him one of the nation’s most familiar voices, died Saturday in Arizona, according to ABC Radio
Networks. He was 90.
Mr. Harvey died surrounded by family at a hospital in Phoenix, where he had a winter home, said
Louis Adams, a spokesman for ABC Radio Networks, where Mr. Harvey worked for more than 50
years. No cause of death was immediately available.
Mr. Harvey had been forced off the air for several months in 2001 because of a virus that
weakened a vocal cord. But he returned to work in Chicago and was still active as he passed his
90th birthday. His death comes less than a year after that of his wife and longtime producer,
Lynne.
“My father and mother created from thin air what one day became radio and television news,” their only child, Paul Harvey Jr., said in a
statement. “So in the past year, an industry has lost its godparents, and today millions have lost a friend.”
Known for his resonant voice and his trademark radio feature called “The Rest of the Story,” Mr. Harvey had been heard nationally since
1951, when he began his “News and Comment” feature for ABC Radio Networks.
He became a heartland icon, delivering news and commentary with a distinctive Midwestern flavor. “Stand by for news!” he would tell listeners.
“Paul Harvey was one of the most gifted and beloved broadcasters in our nation’s history,” James M. Robinson, president of ABC Radio
Networks, said in a statement. “We will miss our dear friend tremendously and are grateful for the many years we were so fortunate to have
known him.”
In 2005, Mr. Harvey was one of 14 people chosen to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also was inducted into the Radio Hall of
Fame, as was his wife.
He composed his twice-daily news commentaries from an office in downtown Chicago.
At the peak of his career, Mr. Harvey reached more than 24 million listeners on more than 1,200 radio stations and charged $30,000 to give
a speech. His syndicated column was carried by 300 newspapers.
His fans identified with his plain-spoken political commentary, but critics called him out of touch. He was an early supporter of the late
Senator Joseph R. McCarthy and was a longtime backer of the Vietnam War.
Perhaps Mr. Harvey’s most famous broadcast was in 1970, when he abandoned that support, announcing his opposition to President Richard M.
Nixon’s expansion of the war and urging him to withdraw American forces.
“Mr. President, I love you, but you’re wrong,” Mr. Harvey said, shocking his listeners and drawing a barrage of letters and phone calls,
including one from the White House.
In 1976, Mr. Harvey began broadcasting “The Rest of the Story,” his anecdotal descriptions of the lives of famous people. The segments
started chronologically, with the person’s identity revealed at the end. The stories were an attempt to capture “the heartbeats behind the
headlines.”
Mr. Harvey also blended news with advertising, a line he said he crossed only for products he trusted.
In 2000, at age 82, he signed a 10-year contract with ABC Radio Networks.
Paul Harvey Aurandt was born in Tulsa, Okla. His father, a police officer, was killed when he was a toddler. A high school teacher took note
of his distinctive voice and started him on a broadcast career.
While working at KXOK radio in St. Louis, he met Lynne Cooper, a graduate student at Washington University. He proposed on their first date
(she said no) and always called her “Angel.” They were married in 1940.
(Courtesy of nytimes.com)
If I may give a brief aside here: I remember listening to Paul Harvey, dating back to the late-1960s with my mom in the ol' Ford Falcon.
The thing that struck me about Mr. Harvey was his calm delivery and his capturing of the importance of the everyday things which occured
around us. Paul gave us a peace during tumultuous times - through Nixon and Viet Nam, Carter and our first (real) awareness that a Middle
East even existed, Reaganomics and Bush 1, the Clinton years and, finally, the hell which we are currently confronted with courtesy of W and
his minions. Mr. Harey gave us hope during seemingly hopeless times... he reassured us that everything was or would be alright if, keeping
with his credo, we all lived our lives by being the best that we could be. We will try, Paul. To you, our trusted friend and perpetuator of all
that is right in this world... "Good day." - TC
statement. “So in the past year, an industry has lost its godparents, and today millions have lost a friend.”
Known for his resonant voice and his trademark radio feature called “The Rest of the Story,” Mr. Harvey had been heard nationally since
1951, when he began his “News and Comment” feature for ABC Radio Networks.
He became a heartland icon, delivering news and commentary with a distinctive Midwestern flavor. “Stand by for news!” he would tell listeners.
“Paul Harvey was one of the most gifted and beloved broadcasters in our nation’s history,” James M. Robinson, president of ABC Radio
Networks, said in a statement. “We will miss our dear friend tremendously and are grateful for the many years we were so fortunate to have
known him.”
In 2005, Mr. Harvey was one of 14 people chosen to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also was inducted into the Radio Hall of
Fame, as was his wife.
He composed his twice-daily news commentaries from an office in downtown Chicago.
At the peak of his career, Mr. Harvey reached more than 24 million listeners on more than 1,200 radio stations and charged $30,000 to give
a speech. His syndicated column was carried by 300 newspapers.
His fans identified with his plain-spoken political commentary, but critics called him out of touch. He was an early supporter of the late
Senator Joseph R. McCarthy and was a longtime backer of the Vietnam War.
Perhaps Mr. Harvey’s most famous broadcast was in 1970, when he abandoned that support, announcing his opposition to President Richard M.
Nixon’s expansion of the war and urging him to withdraw American forces.
“Mr. President, I love you, but you’re wrong,” Mr. Harvey said, shocking his listeners and drawing a barrage of letters and phone calls,
including one from the White House.
In 1976, Mr. Harvey began broadcasting “The Rest of the Story,” his anecdotal descriptions of the lives of famous people. The segments
started chronologically, with the person’s identity revealed at the end. The stories were an attempt to capture “the heartbeats behind the
headlines.”
Mr. Harvey also blended news with advertising, a line he said he crossed only for products he trusted.
In 2000, at age 82, he signed a 10-year contract with ABC Radio Networks.
Paul Harvey Aurandt was born in Tulsa, Okla. His father, a police officer, was killed when he was a toddler. A high school teacher took note
of his distinctive voice and started him on a broadcast career.
While working at KXOK radio in St. Louis, he met Lynne Cooper, a graduate student at Washington University. He proposed on their first date
(she said no) and always called her “Angel.” They were married in 1940.
(Courtesy of nytimes.com)
If I may give a brief aside here: I remember listening to Paul Harvey, dating back to the late-1960s with my mom in the ol' Ford Falcon.
The thing that struck me about Mr. Harvey was his calm delivery and his capturing of the importance of the everyday things which occured
around us. Paul gave us a peace during tumultuous times - through Nixon and Viet Nam, Carter and our first (real) awareness that a Middle
East even existed, Reaganomics and Bush 1, the Clinton years and, finally, the hell which we are currently confronted with courtesy of W and
his minions. Mr. Harey gave us hope during seemingly hopeless times... he reassured us that everything was or would be alright if, keeping
with his credo, we all lived our lives by being the best that we could be. We will try, Paul. To you, our trusted friend and perpetuator of all
that is right in this world... "Good day." - TC