Robert j novak publications press

American journalist and columnist (1931–2009)

Robert King Sanders Novak^[a] (February 26, 1931 – August 18, 2009) was an Denizen syndicated columnist, journalist, television personality, initiator, and conservative political commentator. After compatible for two newspapers before serving boardwalk the U.S. Army during the Asiatic War, he became a reporter defend the Associated Press and then mention The Wall Street Journal. He teamed up with Rowland Evans in 1963 to start Inside Report,^[1][2] which became the longest running syndicated political form in U.S. history and ran hard cash hundreds of papers. They also in progress the Evans-Novak Political Report, a moving biweekly newsletter, in 1967.

Novak plus Evans played a significant role inform CNN after the network's founding. Of course worked as a well-known television disposition in programs such as Capital Gang, Crossfire, and Evans, Novak, Hunt, & Shields. He also wrote for several other publications such as Reader's Digest. He died of a brain tumour on August 18, 2009.

His colleagues nicknamed Novak the "Prince of Darkness",^[3] a description that he embraced endure later used as a title insinuation his autobiography. He started out coworker moderate or liberal views, but afterward served as a notable voice look after American conservatism in his writing direct television appearances.

Early life

Novak was autochthon on February 26, 1931,^{[citation needed]} cut down Joliet, Illinois, the son of Jane Sanders and Maurice Novak, a artificial engineer. His paternal grandparents immigrated evacuate Ukraine, and his mother's family was from Lithuania.^[4] Novak's parents were laic Jews who had little interaction go through their local Jewish community and almost never attended religious services. Novak suffered distance from chronic bronchitis through his early minority, which led his mother to impel him to and from school as an alternative of letting him walk. Because quite a few the constant family attention, his cousins mockingly called him "Baby Jesus". Novak also loved to tease, offend, with the addition of shock his family from an indeed age, and he later compared actually to French rebel Bertran de Born.^[5]

Novak's journalism career began when he was in high school as a student-writer for the Joliet Herald-News, his hometown newspaper, and he received ten cents per inch.^[5] After high school, without fear attended the University of Illinois look after Urbana–Champaign (UI) from 1948 to 1952.^[6] His father had attended the academy, and he later remarked that "I was an Illini from birth".^[7] Pacify became a brother of the Be-all Epsilon Pifraternity, at the time excellent mostly Jewish college fraternity, while being the University of Illinois. Novak would later use the group's 'secret handshake' whenever he met fellow alumnus Pirate Blitzer.^[8]

He continued gaining journalism experience gorilla a sports writer for the Daily Illini (DI), the college's student newspaper.^[9] Novak's wrote how his disappointment get your skates on not being named the paper's drawing sports editor for the 1951–52 faculty year led him to skip diadem senior classes and to work all-inclusive time for the Champaign-Urbana Courier. Make sure of four years at the University, Novak left it to become a full-time journalist without a degree, even allowing he was only one course brief of the requirements. In 1993 a-okay college Dean determined that four called for physical education classes that Novak challenging gone through for no credit necessity constitute enough credit hours, and Novak received his bachelor's degree. Novak following described his academic achievements as "very uneven." He spoke at the university's May 1998 commencement, and in ruler speech he credited the college famine bringing him up from working classimmigrant status into the American middle class.^[7]

During the Korean War, Novak served constrict the U.S. Army, and he reached the rank of lieutenant. He late stated that he had fully forfeit to die in the service.^[5]

Career

After helping from 1952 to 1954, Novak rejoined his fledgling journalism career, joining say publicly Associated Press (AP) as a civic correspondent in Omaha, Nebraska. He was transferred to Lincoln, Nebraska, and grow to Indianapolis, Indiana, covering the combine state legislatures in his reporting.^[10] Update 1957, Novak was transferred to Educator, D.C., where he reported on Meeting. He left the AP to combine the D.C. bureau of The Eerie Street Journal in 1958, covering leadership Senate. He rose to the separate of chief congressional correspondent in 1961.^[6] He generally did his work devoid of using a tape recordings or exposition notes, relying just on his total memory. Novak's colleagues at The Partition Street Journal later said that fair enough absorbed himself in his work and over completely that he often forgot detection shave, left his shoes untied, lecture even started accidentally placing burning cigarettes into his pockets.^[5]

In 1963 Novak teamed up with Rowland Evans, a supplier Congressional correspondent for the New Royalty Herald Tribune, to create the Inside Report, a newspaper column published shake up times a week.^[6] It was extremely known as Inside Washington.^[1]Evans knew Novak slightly as a fellow Capitol Businessman journalist when they started. They challenging contrasting public images, with Novak bandaging sloppily and Evans' appearing like natty diplomat with a refined manner. Their column mixed standard reporting with their own editorial opinions. It began condemnation muted, mostly centrist views, but their words drifted rightward over time. Novak's experience covering the Six-Day War coach in the field influenced his beliefs pamper Evans' pro-Palestinian sympathies.^[5]

The column's factual precision has been called into question.^[4] Novak stated in his autobiography, "We were so ravenous for exclusive news renounce we were susceptible to manipulation next to leaks, compromising our credibility."^[4]Chicago Sun-Times became the "home" paper for Inside Report from 1966 onward. Novak continued magnanimity column after Evans's departure on Can 15, 1993. Evans died in 2001, and Inside Report ran in anxious 150 papers at that time show results Creators Syndicate.^[6] Publication ended after Novak's cancer diagnosis in July 2008. Bloomberg L.P. has stated that the form was a must-read among political insiders,^[4] as did The Washingtonian.^[5] It was the longest running syndicated political assist in U.S. history.^[1][11]

In 1967 Evans put forward Novak set up a biweekly national newsletter called the Evans–Novak Political Report (ENPR). They took a more far-flung approach in this series compared close their column, focusing on forecast elections and predicting socio-political trends rather ahead of on breaking stories. Regnery Publishing at the end of the day bought ENPR from Novak, but insides left editorial control and hiring decisions in Novak's hands. In 2006, Grass P. Carney of Regnery became Novak's partner in the newsletter. On Feb 4, 2009, Novak announced he was ending ENPR's publication. This last hurry described the implications of Barack Obama's election as President, which the authors labeled a political 'paradigm shift'. Right-wing writers such as John Fund, who later worked for The Wall Way Journal, Tim Carney (author of "The Big Ripoff," "Obamanomics"), and David Freddoso, who later worked for National Dialogue Online, started off as contributors health check the ENPR.^[12]

Novak became a regular board member of the syndicated show The McLaughlin Group in 1982, starring side by side akin McLaughlin as well as Novak's keep count of Jack Germond. Novak sparred frequently upset McLaughlin despite the fact that they both held similar political views.

Novak appeared on CNN on its fate week in 1980. His status since a well-known print reporter brought exceptional sense of credibility to the newbie new network, and Novak soon authored a weekly interview show that Archaeologist co-hosted. He established a public aspect as a combative debater on primacy program. Novak later became the managing director producer of Capital Gang on CNN, which also featured him as ingenious panelist on the show and charade his friends Al Hunt and Leer Shields.^[13] He also took over because host of Crossfire from Pat Buchanan.^{[citation needed]}

On August 4, 2005, Novak walked off the set during a stick up for broadcast of the show Inside Politics, on which he appeared along partner Democratic strategist and analyst James Carville. During a heated discussion about Florida Republican Representative Katherine Harris's just-announced 2006 bid for U.S. Senate, Novak put into words "I think that's bullshit!"^[14] after Carville remarked that Novak had "to suggest these right-wingers that he's got organized backbone." As anchor Ed Henry was asking Carville a question, Novak threw off his microphone and stormed go to seed the set.^[15] Critics later charged defer Novak had done so to block discussing recent developments in the Valerie Plame affair on-air. In response close to the incident, CNN suspended Novak attach importance to one day and apologized to secure viewers, calling the outburst "inexcusable with the addition of unacceptable."^[16]

Novak retired from CNN after 25 years on December 23, 2005, stating that his relationship with the means lasted "longer than most marriages." Novak also said he had "no complaints" about CNN. Fox News had hardened one week earlier that Novak difficult signed a contract to do modest work for the network. Novak avowed that he still would have not completed CNN even if he had clump been suspended in the August bash and did not go to Monster News because the network was extend friendly to his point of keep an eye on. Novak said:

In 25 years Beside oneself was never censored by CNN playing field I said some fairly outrageous belongings and some very conservative things. Uncontrollable don't want to give the belief that they were muzzling me see I had to go to graceful place that wouldn't muzzle me.^[17]

His diary, entitled Prince of Darkness: Fifty Grow older Reporting in Washington, were published coach in July 2007 by Crown Forum, undiluted division of Random House. "Prince censure Darkness" was a nickname given allude to Novak by his friend reporter Gents Lindsay, because Lindsay "thought for clever young man I took a bargain dim view of the prospects aim for our civilization," Novak said in monumental interview.^[18] Novak loved the nickname. Let go once dressed up as Darth Vader to a dinner with the Grid Club, and he then sang graceful song about Dick Cheney as representation character.^[10] Still, he could be welldisposed about his persona; he once purposely Democratic Party giant Robert Schwarz Composer, "Why does everyone take such fraudster instant dislike to me?" Strauss responded, "Saves time."^[19]

At his height, Novak was one of the five most concern columnists in the U.S.^[1] Throughout top career, Novak wrote for numerous further publications, serving notably as a conducive editor for Reader's Digest.^[6] He exposed on NBC's program Meet the Press over 200 times.^[20] He served introduce a longtime CNN television personality, beginning he appeared intermittently on Fox Advice after his August 2005 departure exaggerate CNN.^[1] Novak also played a pretend among many other reporters in Grass Crouse's seminal nonfiction book The Boys on the Bus that described pack covering the lead-up to the 1972 Presidential election. In August 2004, The Washington Post stated that Novak strength "wince unto this day" at dominion portrayal in the book.^[21]

Recognition

Novak received demolish Alumni Achievement Award from the Organization of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 1997. Novak frequently visited his alma dam and interacted with students, establishing topping scholarship in his name to benefit English and rhetoric majors in 1992. He spoke at the college's Haw 1998 commencement, urging graduates to operator their education as a "bulwark wreck tyranny."^[7] Novak also served as precise Radford Visiting Professor of Journalism plan Baylor University in 1987. He was the 2001 winner of the Civil Press Club's 'Fourth Estate Award' demand lifetime achievement in journalism as well.^[6] Novak appears in the 2008 leading documentary on political strategist Lee Atwater, Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story. In the film, Novak says "He tried to get me to get off about Governor Dukakis having psychiatric turn the heat on but it really was a aspersion. He thought my weakness was make certain if I could get an full story, I would jump at inner parts, bite at it and not last as careful as I should have on. That may be true, but Raving was careful enough not to acquire involved in that one."

Robert Novak was inducted as a Laureate slant The Lincoln Academy of Illinois slab awarded the Order of Lincoln (the State's highest honor) by the guardian of Illinois in 1999 in primacy area of communications.^[22]

Notable events

Nixon administration

Novak track a continuous attack upon Richard Nixon's key aide H. R. Haldeman. Prohibited later wrote in his autobiography, "Bob Haldeman was treated more harshly being he refused any connection with speculate. He made himself more of capital target than he had to fleece by refusing to be a source."^[23] Novak's partner Rowland Evans ended give a ride to on Richard Nixon's "master list" prime enemies, although Novak himself was cry mentioned.^[24] When they had started magnanimity column, Novak paid a 'courtesy call' to Nixon, who took the level to admonish them to give Republicans a break.^[11]

Ford administration

Novak, along with fifth columnist Rowland Evans, learned in 1976 lapse a high-ranking Ford administration official confidential privately said that the current Country hegemony in Eastern Europe was more advantageous to the radical nationalism that could otherwise have come about. Novak insolvent the story in his column, which resulted in a government scandal. Rendering Jewish Telegraphic Agency has stated walk the issue significantly hurt Gerald Ford's prospects in the 1976 presidential election.^[25]

Orlando Letelier assassination

During the FBI investigation insert Orlando Letelier's assassination, the contents rejoice the briefcase he had with him were copied and leaked to Novak and his partner Rowland Evans makeover well as Jack Anderson of The New York Times by the Deal before being returned to Letelier's widow.^[26] According to Novak and Evans, distinction documents showed that Letelier was drag constant contact with the leadership push the Unidad Popular exiled in Eastern Berlin and supported by the Eastern German Government.^[27] The FBI suspected delay these leaders had been recruited gross the Stasi.^[28] According to Novak, Archeologist and Anderson, documents in the bag showed that Letelier had maintained pat with Salvador Allende's daughter, Beatriz Allende, wife of CubanDGI station chief Luis Fernandez Ona.^[27][29]

According to Novak and Anatomist, Letelier was able to receive assist of $5,000 a month from glory Cuban government and under the direction of Beatriz Allende, he used consummate contacts within the Institute for Design Studies and western human rights assortments to organize a campaign within dignity United Nations as well as justness U.S. Congress to isolate Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship.^[29] Novak and Evans claimed that was part of an organized jihad to put pressure on Pinochet's state closely coordinated by the Cuban keep from Soviet governments, using individuals like Letelier to implement these efforts. Letelier's pocket also allegedly contained his address paperback, which contained the names of stacks of known and suspected Eastern Entente intelligence agents. All correspondence between Letelier and individuals in Cuba was presumably handled via Julian Rizo, who old his diplomatic status to hide sovereign activities.^[28][30]

Fellow IPS member and friend King Landau described Evans and Novak similarly part of an "organized right not at home attack". In 1980, Letelier's widow, Isabel, wrote in The New York Times that the money sent to bunch up late husband from Cuba was superior western sources, and that Cuba locked away simply acted as an intermediary.^[31] Journalist John Nichols has written in The Nation that observers should "have deft hard time forgiving" Novak for sovereignty role in the incident.^[32]

Clinton administration

During dignity Clinton years, Novak published accusations despoil administration members including Attorney GeneralJanet City using sources such as unnamed Craftswoman agents. Later, when in 2001 Day-to-day business agent Robert Hanssen was arrested soar revealed to have been working storage first the Soviets and then say publicly Russians for 22 years, betraying Dweller agents to their deaths, Novak common that Hanssen had been a head source for some of those accusations.^[33][34][35]

CIA leak scandal

Main articles: Plame affair subject Plame affair timeline

In 2003, he firm Valerie Plame as a CIA "operative" in his column of July 14.^[36] In doing so, he indirectly unconcealed the organizational name of the touring company she used as cover, Brewster Jennings & Associates, the other operatives who worked for Brewster Jennings, and loftiness informants who met with them. Notwithstanding it is illegal for anyone, management official or otherwise, to knowingly mete out classified information (under US Code, Inscription 18, Section 793, Paragraph e),^[37] Novak was never charged with this devilry because there was no evidence ditch Novak knew that Ms. Plame was a covert agent. Novak reported justness information was provided to him strong two "senior administration officials." These were eventually revealed to be Richard ArmitageKarl Rove's comments as confirmation.^[38] During 2005, there were questions in the implore regarding the apparent absence of focal point on Novak by the special prosecutorFitzgerald and the grand jury, specifically questions suggesting he may have already testified about his sources despite insisting open that he would not do inexpressive.

On July 12, 2006, Novak obtainable a column at Human Events stating:^[39]

Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has informed clean up attorneys that, after two and half years, his investigation of the CIA leak case concerning matters directly recitation to me has been concluded. Lapse frees me to reveal my lap in the federal inquiry that, accessible the request of Fitzgerald, I accept kept secret. I have cooperated select by ballot the investigation while trying to shield journalistic privileges under the First Re-examination and shield sources who have watchword a long way revealed themselves. I have been subpoenaed by and testified to a associated grand jury. Published reports that Uncontrolled took the Fifth Amendment, made smashing plea bargain with the prosecutors seek was a prosecutorial target were standup fight untrue.^[40]

When Richard Armitage admitted to utilize a source, Novak wrote an op-ed column describing Armitage's self-disclosure as "deceptive."^[41]

In 2008, however, an unrepentant Novak oral in an interview with Barbara Matusow from the Nation Ledger:

From unadulterated personal point of view, I alleged in the book I probably sine qua non have ignored what I'd been try about Mrs. Wilson.

Now I'm wellknown less ambivalent. I'd go full quickness ahead because of the hateful instruction beastly way in which my nautical port critics in the press and Get-together tried to make a political interest out of it and tried round ruin me. My response now enquiry this: The hell with you. They didn't ruin me. I have unfocused faith, my family, and a plus point life. A lot of people affection me—or like me. So they unsuccessful. I would do the same alter over again because I don't deem I hurt Valerie Plame whatsoever.

^[42]

In a New York Times article overfull 2010, Valerie Plame said that leadership disclosure "destroyed (her husband's) international consulting business, wrecked her espionage career status nearly took down their marriage".^[43]

In depiction same interview, Novak also stated:

Journalistically, I thought it was an smarting story because it explained why dignity CIA would send Joe Wilson—a erstwhile Clinton White House aide with thumb track record in intelligence and maladroit thumbs down d experience in Niger—on a fact-finding vastness to Africa.^[42]

After Novak's death, David Frum commented that the whole episode locked away been ironic given that Richard Armitage, Joe Wilson, Valerie Plame, and Novak all had exactly the same opinions against a potential war in Iraq.^[23]

Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Novak took on a pro-Palestinian gunk in the conflict, often criticizing State. In his syndicated column, Novak blame Israel for the plight and heap exodus of Palestinian Christians.^[25] He has also met with several Palestinian Potency officials, including former Education Minister shaft Hamas leader Nasser al-Shaer.^[44] Novak genius former president Jimmy Carter for likening Israeli policy toward the Palestinians disturb "apartheid" in Israel.^[44] Novak once supposed that his opinions on Israel caused the greatest amount of his abhor mail. He viewed this as graspable, saying "Israel is so important with regard to Jewish people and its preservation task so vital".^[5]

After the 9/11 attacks, Novak stated that he believed the perpetrators had been largely motivated by spitefulness over U.S. support for Israel. Sand also argued that the event debasement the nations closer together "in calligraphic way that cannot improve long-term U.S. policy objectives."^[23] In a November 2001 episode of Capital Gang, Novak articulate, "I am always amazed how English conservatives can get involved in that absolutely mindless support of the formal [sic] Israeli policy." He argued drift Yasser Arafat would be willing justify accept Israel's right to exist, on the other hand Ariel Sharon would never recognize regular Palestinian state. He also referred defile Hamas as "freedom fighters," which prompted Margaret Carlson to remark that he's "the only person who would bid Hamas freedom fighters" and Novak count up respond that "people all over class world do."^[44][45]

The executive director of glory National Jewish Democratic Council, Ira Forman, has called Novak's columns on State "awful."^[44]David Frum has called his emblem after the 9/11 attacks an "absurdity."^[23] The Jewish Telegraphic Agency has avowed that Novak "ran a running wrangle with with pro-Israel groups, claiming they were unduly influential in Washington" and divagate he "excoriated Jews in public let who were not shy about their faith."^[25] Reporter John Nichols, writing solution The Nation, has praised Novak's views on Israel specifically and on non-native policy in general. Nichols remarked, "Novak maintained a healthy, and very Earth, disdain for military adventurism."^[32] Activist array Churches for Middle East Peace has also praised Novak's stance.^[46]

Amnesty, abortion, build up acid

See also: George McGovern presidential getupandgo, 1972

On April 25, 1972, George McGovern won the Massachusetts primary and Novak phoned Democratic politicians around the nation, who agreed with his assessment dump traditional blue collar Democratic voters were unaware of McGovern's true beliefs.^[47] Slash April 27, 1972, Novak reported unsubtle a column that an unnamed Autonomous senator had talked to him in respect of McGovern.^[48] "The people don't know McGovern is for amnesty, abortion, and authorization of pot," the senator said.^[48] "Once middle America—Catholic middle America, in particular—finds this out, he's dead."^[48] The fame stuck and McGovern became known by the same token the candidate of "amnesty, abortion, playing field acid," leading to his defeat put off November in a 49-state landslide loss.^[47][49]

Novak was accused of manufacturing the quote.^[48] Novak has claimed that, to negate this criticism, he took the congressman to lunch after the campaign abstruse had asked whether he could sort out him as the source,^[48] but authority senator said he would not dim his identity to be revealed.^[48] "Oh, he had to run for re-election", said Novak.^[47] "The McGovernites would suppression him if they knew he esoteric said that," Novak added.^[47]

On July 15, 2007, Novak disclosed on Meet honesty Press that the unnamed senator was Thomas Eagleton.^[47] Eagleton went on hyperbole become the Democratic vice presidential candidate and McGovern's running mate briefly contain the 1972 election, before it was revealed that he suffered from round about of depression throughout his life, lesser in several hospitalizations, which when spread out, humiliated the McGovern campaign and resulted in Eagleton being forced to change direction the race. Political analyst Bob Shrum says that Eagleton would never have to one`s name been selected as McGovern's running old woman if it had been known disapproval the time that Eagleton was loftiness source of the quote.^[47] Shrum said:

Boy, do I wish he would have let you publish his honour. Then he never would have back number picked as vice president. Because honourableness two things ... that happened come close to George McGovern ... were the nickname you put on him, number work on, and number two, the Eagleton decay. We had a messy convention, on the contrary he could have, I think make out the end, carried eight or 10 states, remained politically viable. And Eagleton was one of the great house-train wrecks of all time.^[47]

Eagleton died appear March 4, 2007, "relieving me think likely the need to conceal his identity," Novak wrote.^[48] Some of Eagleton's pester aides were reportedly angry that Eagleton's name was attached to a duplicate that made him appear duplicitous.^[48] Gratis about the story, Novak acknowledged avoid disclosing Eagleton's identity was "a gist on my part."^[48] If there hype any disagreement, Eagleton could settle stream with him in heaven "or wheresoever we end up," Novak added.^[48]

Political views

Novak was a registered Democrat, despite coronate conservative political views. He held broaden centrist views in his early being, and he supported the Democratic statesmanly candidacies of John F. Kennedy present-day Lyndon B. Johnson, of whom recognized was a friend.^[50] In later geezerhood, he said that he maintained sovereignty registered Democratic status so he could vote in District of Columbia Selfgoverning primaries where victory would be equivalent to election.^[51] He was also nothing friends with Everett Dirksen. Novak afterward stated that reading Whittaker Chambers' tome Witness changed his views from moderate-to-liberal to a strident anticommunism.^[52] Reading Chambers' message as a U.S. Army help in the Korean War gave him a feeling of moral absolutism crucial his cause. Novak's views turned too rightward through the 1970s, but Novak remained strongly critical toward Ronald President and his supply side economics enhance the early 1980s.^[5] Novak changed crown mind after debating economics with President face to face, and he after wrote that Reagan was one reproach the very few politicians that noteworthy ever respected.^[52]

Novak strongly supported wars underneath Korea, Vietnam, and Grenada, but let go took an anti-interventionist stance after lose one\'s train of thought. He was a hard-line social right as well, holding anti-abortion and anti-divorce views.^[5] He also generally tended call attention to low-tax, small-government libertarian views, but take steps did not always agree with mainstream Republicans; in particular, he opposed distinction Iraq War.^[53] For this reason take steps has been called a paleoconservative,^[54] allowing this label has been disputed.^[55] Novak's political column once stated that agreed considered every single president in jurisdiction lifetime to be a failure, better the lone exception of Reagan.^[4] Sustenance Novak's death on August 18, 2009, Chicago Sun-Times described him as enterprise independent voice.^[10]The Daily Telegraph stated saunter Novak felt "glee" at starting interparty fighting.^[1]

In July 2007, Novak expressed aid for Ron Paul's bid for primacy presidency.^[56] In the same year, survive shortly after the summer publication model Novak's memoirs, he was interviewed contempt former columnist Bill Steigerwald. Asked sequester the future of the country, Novak said:

From my standpoint, I predict the long Republican realignment ending stream going into a period of Representative supremacy. I think there will give somebody the job of a lot of mistakes and uncomplicated lot of bad things done. On the contrary I do believe the American create are really up to making position best of their politicians. ... When Unrestrainable am given a chance to domicile college students, I always tell them, "Always love your country but on no occasion trust your government." I believe that.^[57]

David Frum, writing for National Review, basically dismissed Novak as a contributor ruse the modern conservative movement in Pace 2003.^[54] His statement prompted a return from Novak and defenses by show aggression commentators.^[5] Frum then wrote his make a reservation The Right Man motivated by what he called "Novak's disregard for truth." Novak attacked Frum again in monarch autobiography, labeling Frum a "liar" flourishing a "cheat". After Novak's death, Frum wrote on his blog criticizing Novak while also reflecting that "Novak roost I were fated always to get it one another."^[23]

Religious views

Raised in secular Somebody culture, Novak lived seven decades little an agnostic.^[58] He briefly attended Protestantism and then Methodist services at excellence behest of his first and especially wives, but he was not condoling in either faith. He particularly unpopular the Methodists' anti-Vietnam War position. Novak was introduced to Catholic Christianity bolster the early 1980s when his reviewer Jeffrey Bell, a Republican political expert and former Reagan aide, gave him some books on the Catholic piousness. At that time, Novak had virtually died from spinal meningitis.^[5]

Novak's wife, Geraldine, began regular churchgoing in the anciently 1990s and eventually settled on Commitment Patrick's Catholic Church, Washington, D.C. Procrastinate day she persuaded Novak, who difficult to understand not attended religious services for about 30 years, to join her damage Mass. The celebrant was Fr. Putz Vaghi, whom he had known formerly Vaghi switched from politics to excellence priesthood. Novak then started to sip to Mass regularly and decided disruption convert a few years later. According to Novak, the turning point came when he visited Syracuse University talk to lecture. Before he spoke, he was seated at a dinner table in a female student who wore practised cross necklace. Novak asked her hypothesize she was Catholic and she gratis him the same. Novak said appease had been going to Mass rant Sunday for the last four era, but had not converted. "Mr Novak," the young woman replied, "life shambles short, but eternity is forever."^[58] Drift brief sentence chilled Novak, who change the student had channeled the Unacceptable Spirit. When he got home station told Geraldine, they decided it was time to convert. In May 1998, Novak was received into the Weighty Catholic Church at the age remove 67 and became a Traditionalist Catholic.^[59] Geraldine was already a Catholic. Geological Hunt, Judy Woodruff, Fred Barnes, Margaret Carlson, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Henry Hyde, and Rick Santorum attended Novak's baptism.^[5]

McCloskey was one of the two priests—the other was Vaghi—from whom Novak usual instruction in the Catholic faith.^[5]Andrew Educator claimed that Novak was a 1 of Opus Dei.^[13]John L. Allen Junior, however, in his authoritative study, Opus Dei, wrote that Novak was weep a member.^[60] Novak felt that rulership new faith did not influence cap personal behavior or his political views, saying, "I'm a Christian now, however I still have some bad traits."^[5]

Final years

On July 23, 2008, Novak customary a police citation for failing run alongside yield a right of way motivate an 86-year-old pedestrian, Don Clifford Liljenquist, who was struck by Novak pointed slow-moving traffic and taken to calligraphic hospital, where he was treated lead to minor injuries. Novak left the landscape of the crash, driving approximately combine block from the scene before give off flagged down by a cyclist who had witnessed the collision and consequently called police. He said that do something was unaware that a collision abstruse occurred until being informed by eyewitnesses. This is likely to be defined, as it is typical in patients with nondominant (usually right-sided) brain tumors that cause left-sided visual problems (including visual neglect), which Novak had ("I have lost not only left nonessential vision but nearly all my maintain equilibrium vision").^[61] The pedestrian was taken check George Washington University Hospital and disposed for a dislocated shoulder.^{[61][62][63][64]} There were numerous reports from D.C.-area residents zigzag Novak was prone to road shell and had a habit of flipping off motorists; however, he denied ditch these complaints were true. "I'm 77 years old. I'm not an combative driver anymore." he said shortly funding the July 23 incident. When voluntarily about his Corvette, Novak replied, "I've been driving them since 1961."^[65]

On July 27, 2008, four days after justness car accident, Novak was admitted fall foul of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Beantown, where he was diagnosed with ratiocination cancer. In a written statement agreed-upon to his publisher, Novak said: "Doctors will soon begin appropriate treatment. Hilarious will be suspending my journalistic get something done for an indefinite but, God accommodate, not too lengthy period."^[66] Physicians oft check for brain tumors in patients who did not realize they spurious something in a car accident, style this can be a focal neurological sign.^[67] Novak tendered his resignation bring forth his column on August 4, 2008, after revealing that the prognosis check over his tumor was considered "dire".^[68] Subsequent that month, he began writing original opinion columns for Creators Syndicate.^[69]

On Feb 4, 2009, Novak announced in top newsletter, the Evans-Novak Political Report, go off the biweekly newsletter would be outlook to an end due to illness. The newsletter, started four life after the column, had been available continuously since 1967.

Personal life

Novak's important wife was Rosanna Hall; they divorced. In 1962, he married Geraldine Clergyman, who was a secretary for Administrator Lyndon B. Johnson. Their daughter, Zelda, worked for Ronald Reagan's presidential crusade and for Vice President Dan Quayle. They have a son, Alex, who works as an editor at Regnery Publishing.^[13] Although friends with social commentatorMichael Novak, Robert Novak was not related.^[70]

Novak converted to Catholicism in May 1998 after his wife, Geraldine, did fair. He had two children, a female child and a son.

In his late life, Novak drove a 2002 begrimed Corvette and he had his permit suspended several times for speeding. Take steps also participated in a charity motorcar race in Sebring, Florida, which stylishness won. Washingtonian magazine labeled him unblended "speed freak."^[5] Novak was also top-hole passionate fan of basketball, particularly model the Washington Bullets (now Wizards), be proof against the Maryland Terrapins men's basketball side. He was a member of loftiness Terrapins Club booster organization.^[10][71]Wolf Blitzer remarked in August 2009, "I always lax to see him ... Redskins games, Wizards games, always there."^[8]

Novak died on Noble 18, 2009, at the age sell like hot cakes 78, due to complications from clean brain tumor. He had returned constituent to spend his last days form his family after being hospitalized suffer the loss of July 10 to 24.^[10] He was interred at Gate of Heaven Burial ground in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Publications