I have no intention of becoming the Grim Reaper around here. But important deaths must be marked. This certainly is one.
Everyone knew Paul Harvey would never retire, but he had obviously cut back on active work years ago. Every time I’d happen to be on a station that was playing one of his "Rest of the Story" segments, or "Paul Harvey News and Comment," I was disappointed to hear a substitute host—his son, Paul Harvey Jr., or even Fred Thompson.
But I heard him give what is now one of his last broadcasts a week or so ago. I must say, as someone who enjoyed listening to Harvey, it was sad to hear his voice—once so confident and bright; now so sickly and weak. I thought to myself, he doesn’t have long. Sadly, I was right.
When I was in junior high, I learned I could make people laugh with my Paul Harvey impersonation. Of course, that’s an easy laugh. Just put on the Paul Harvey voice — exaggerated enunciation, HOLD OUT THOSE VOWELS!, and long pauses where they don’t logically belong. And of course saying: "Paul Harvey …………………………..(make a face)………….(make another face)……..(look at your watch)……………….(pick up something to read)…………(take a sip of water)…………..(then, finally say)…………………….Good Day!
It’s funny, especially to a kid. But when Paul Harvey spoke on the radio, he had a knack for keeping your attention—which is what the radio game is all about. I’ll miss Harvey’s unique broadcast styling, his Midwestern accent, and his "Rest of the Story" stories—a genius piece of information and entertainment. He earned that Presidential Medal of Freedom Bush put around his neck (see accompanying photo).
Paul Harvey is an irreplaceable piece of Americana. A patriot. An icon.
Good Day, Mr. Harvey. Rest in well-earned peace.
(Cross-posted at Infinite Monkeys. Erick Erickson also has a nice tribute over at RedState.)
—Jim Lakely
I used to sit in my car in rural northern Pennsylvania at night just to listen to Brudnoy on WBZ. He, too, is a great loss to radio.
No one has yet replaced Brudnoy’s intelligent, sober take on world events — though Dennis Prager comes close.
I used to listen to Paul Harvey when he was on WBZ Boston, along with the late David Brudnoy. He was one of the last links to when radio was dominant in popular culture. His unique, folksy voice will be missed.
Certainly Paul Harvey’s entertaining personality and delivery helped make him a radio staple, but what was most important, in my view, was what he had to say. He projected the thinking of a true, confident, hardworking, Midwestern American. He was a real Taft Republican, a classical liberal thinker, whose respect for what America is really all about resonated strongly with people all across the nation, especially among the vast middle class. In addition, his direct, plain-spoken rhetoric had a bold eloquence that matched both his ideas and his voice admirably.
Either of the political parties would do well to contemplate the legacy of Paul Harvey’s ideas and try to incorporate them into both their platforms and their rhetoric. The republic would benefit greatly.