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Norman Podhoretz, a titan of conservative journalism who received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President George W. Bush, passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 95.
For three and a half decades, from 1960 to 1995, Podhoretz was the editor-in-chief of the Jewish political and cultural magazine Commentary. Following that, he held the position of editor-at-large until his passing.
In an obituary for the publication they both oversaw, John Podhoretz, the late father’s son and current chief editor of Commentary, honored his father.
“What you really need to know is that what mattered most to him was writing. Great writing. Good writing. Clear writing. Honest writing. He was the most literate man I have ever known, possessed of an encyclopedic knowledge of the written word in our time and in times past, who found true moral, intellectual, and aesthetic purpose in the act of reading and deciphering and comprehending. And he was himself a prose stylist of magnificence,” the younger Podhoretz wrote.
“He often quipped that he would forgive any insult if the person delivering it also said he was a good writer. He was a man of great wit and a man of deep wisdom and he lived an astonishing and uniquely American life. And he bound himself fast to his people, his heritage, and his history. His knowledge extended beyond literature to Jewish history, Jewish thinking, Jewish faith, and the Hebrew Bible, with all of which he was intimately familiar and ever fascinated. He made the life of the mind a joyous sport,” Podhoretz added.
“Through his nine-plus decades journeying f[r]om Brooklyn poverty to Manhattan comfort, he fathered and raised four children, 13 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. Though the memory is green, I believe his work and his lineage will serve to honor the astonishing contributions he made to the world he has left,” he continued.
Several on social media spoke about Podhoretz’s tragic passing.
Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt wrote on X, “A punch in the stomach today to open X and see that Norman Podhoretz had died. Those old enough to remember will know he was an intellectual giant and in the front rank of those who refused to accept that the Evil Empire could not be defeated. He and William F. Buckley rallied the Right to seriousness and propelled Ronald Reagan to the White House. Every generation needs heroes of the mind and among the intellectuals. Norman Podhoretz was one the very few men who help turn history with words.”
David Wolpe, the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi, wrote, “Norman Podhoretz passed away. A major figure in Jewish and cultural life in the last century. He & my father were counselors together at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin in the late 40’s, my late father on the right & Norman on the left. Deepest condolences to
Podhoretz.”
Fox News legal contributor Andy McCarthy wrote, “Norman Podhoretz was a giant. A great man of letters, as his son @jpodhoretz. so eloquently points in starting his moving tribute today. A great man of ideas. A visionary. I’ll miss his graciousness, as I miss Midge’s. Happily, he passed knowing Commentary is in worthy hands.”
Caroline Glick, an International Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel, wrote on X, “Norman Podhoretz was a giant. He was a prophet of freedom and peace through strength and an intellectual leader. I was lucky to know him and humanity was blessed to have him among us. May his memory and that of his extraordinary wife Midge Decter be blessed and may his children and grandchildren find comfort among the mourners of Zion.”
