I’ve just learned that Russell Baker, the longtime reporter and columnist for the New York Times, has died at the age of 93.
I was a fan. I read his Observer column without fail, and have several of his books. He was a wonderful writer — graceful, witty, and piercingly but unostentatiously intelligent — and he was part of a New York Times, and an era of American civilization, that have since rotted away.
Read his obituary — in the Times, of course — here.
2 Comments
Forgive my bookmarking this here Malcolm, my “driveway” has been iced for a week, and my “regular computer” for just abit more than that – the Colonel assures to make it to me “asap”?
https://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2019/01/23/judge-rejects-arkansas-times-suit-on-israel-boycott-law
Backgrounder:
https://legalinsurrection.com/2019/01/federal-court-upholds-constitutionality-of-arkansas-anti-bds-law/
Tnx
Actually Baker’s famous memoir “Growing Up,” has some bearing on the discussion below (thanks as always Malcolm for your considered thoughts).
http://malcolmpollack.com/2019/01/21/what-should-the-right-want/
I’ll confess that the Depression/War World II-era work didn’t leave a large impression, but I do recall the introduction where Baker discusses always regaling his Boomer children with: When I was your age…
As in “when I was your age we didn’t eat steak at home. We had mac and cheese and liked it!”
Then during an episode where Baker is about to reprimand his son about his lousy report card, the latter preempts him by resignedly querying: “So dad, what was it like for you?”