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RIP, Charles Krauthammer
Fox News has just reported that conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer has passed away.
Published in GeneralCharles Krauthammer, a longtime Fox News contributor, Pulitzer Prize winner, Harvard-trained psychiatrist and best-selling author who came to be known as the dean of conservative commentators, has died. He was 68.
His death had been expected after he wrote a heartbreaking letter to colleagues, friends and viewers on June 8 that said in part “I have been uncharacteristically silent these past ten months. I had thought that silence would soon be coming to an end, but I’m afraid I must tell you now that fate has decided on a different course for me…
““Recent tests have revealed that the cancer has returned. There was no sign of it as recently as a month ago, which means it is aggressive and spreading rapidly. My doctors tell me their best estimate is that I have only a few weeks left to live. This is the final verdict. My fight is over.”
In recent years, Krauthammer was best known for his nightly appearance as a panelist on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier” and as a commentator on various Fox news shows.
But Krauthammer was arguably a Renaissance man, achieving mastery in such disparate fields as psychiatry, speech-writing, print journalism and television. He won the Edwin Dunlop Prize for excellence in psychiatric research and clinical medicine. Journalism honors included the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for his Washington Post columns in 1987 and the National Magazine Award for his work at The New Republic in 1984. His book, “Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics,” instantly became a New York Times bestseller, remaining in the number one slot for 10 weeks, and on the coveted list for nearly 40.
I always enjoyed seeing him on Fox News. It wasn’t until quite a while later that I learned that he was disabled. He was a “man in full”. RIP Charles.
This makes me sad. I loved his writings. He was one of my “drop what you’re doing and read his column” columnists. And I loved his panel appearances on Special Report.
Oddly, I still remember reading my first Krauthammer column. I was at Submarine Squadron 7 HQ in Pearl Harbor in the 1980s, bored out of my skull. I flipped through the newspaper sitting there and came across his piece on the op-ed page.
I can’t remember what the article was about, but in passing he mentioned the war in Grenada as “liberating a dot in the Caribbean guarded by two dozen Cubans with recoilless shovels” and I laughed out loud. I took note of his name so I would remember to read everything he wrote.
I just tried searching for the quote (I’m going by memory) and couldn’t find it in the Google machine, sadly.
What a brilliant mind and a great man.
Charles’ columns were on the top of my list for reading. He was clear, well spoken, and simply made such competent arguments for his views. I loved listening to him on different shows. He was such a good example of a thinker who could clearly articulate, yet he maintained a sense of humor. He wasn’t a shouter. He will be very missed. However, I’m glad that his soul is now free to run and jump and swim.
A life well lived and spent in honour and pursuit of the sacred truth.
A truly great American and a man whom I love. My prayers are with you for the repose of your soul.
I admired him so much. Like @wintermute it was a while before I realized he was disabled, and after I realized it I never noticed it again due to his presence.
I don’t usually engage in on-line mourning, but in the absence of conservative friends who would understand why and whom I mourn, I am sharing my sadness at Dr. Krauthammer’s passing and my appreciation of his life with my fellow Ricochet members who do understand. Charles Krauthammer was a reasoned, intelligent voice for conservatism. I always looked forward to his columns and commentary and have missed him the past year. RIP, Dr. Krauthammer; you will be missed.
Thank you Charles for your love of life, sharing your intellect, your sense of humor, your kindness and being so accessible to all of us. I’ve have missed you these many months, and now I will simply grieve.
Rest in Peace Dr. Krauthammer, and comfort to your family in their loss.
May your departure bring a new attention and appreciation for your exemplary life and work, for the betterment of our culture.
What a great loss. He should be an inspiration to many. Condolences to his family and friends.
Special Report devoted most of their hour to his life to night. And they will have a special tomorrow night at nine on the doctor.
What one truly appreciates, upon hearing all the hosannas, is his love of life, his desire to make the most of it, and his wanting to be kind and helpful to everyone – literally, everyone – he met.
He was never dour. Always upbeat. And the one thing that amazes me more than anything is what he managed to accomplish, given his paralysis. What a man. What an intellect. And what a testament to live life to the fullest. May Angels always guide your way in eternity, Charles, and may God always hold you in the palm of his hand.
My first exposure to Dr. Krauthammer was in 1985, when Ted Koppel had him on Nightline, and extolled his writings.
It gives you a sense of how unfair this world is when you reflect on the Tale of Two Charles. The world is deprived of Dr. Krauthammer, while Charles Schumer blithely floats along emitting poisons into the atmosphere with every utterance.
A bad way to die. He deserved better.
Had he lived a thousand years, his death would seem premature. It is a sad day.
Just so sad. A huge loss not only for conservatism but for America. Not an exaggeration to say he was a great man.
Very sad – too young – but he made life count! God bless you.
I first stared reading Krauthammer in the early ‘90s when he had his column at Time. He will be missed.
I have a Ricochet memory relating to Dr. K…When Things That Matter came out, he was a guest on the Flagship podcast. Yeti offered a live podcast for this one. (Thanks, Yeti!). I was a relatively new Member – and in awe. I’d submitted a question (that ultimately didn’t get asked), but it was a joy to be in cyberspace at the same time as my role model. I still wanna be Dr. K. when I grow up…His memory is already a blessing! May his family, friends, and colleagues be comforted.
Please make that podcast available.
A life well lived , Charles, may God welcome you into his arms.
I adored that man.
Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
BDE. May his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Yerushalayim.
A profoundly wise man with an occasional impish sense of humor has passed. We were all lucky to have heard him speak to us over our televisions or read his commentaries. We shall never see his like again. Rest in peace, Mr. Krauthammer.
His wit, insight and rhetorical skill put him among the best writers in his field in his generation. Let’s be as thankful for his life as we are mournful in the face of his death.
A highlight every Friday was to watch the Special Report Panel. Would Charles Krauthammer be there? I was thrilled when he was and disappointed when someone else was sitting in “his” chair.
A fitting end to Special Report last night was that they ended with Charles’ seat empty.
I have posted in the Member Feed half of George Will’s tribute column to Charles which the Washington Post put up immediately after Charles’ death was announced. A benefit of it is the hyperlinks to the Washington Post’s vast library of Charles’s columns.
When his June 8th letter was announced, I purchased the audio recording of “Things That Matter” which sold out quickly. It arrived a week late yesterday, and I was able to hear Charles’ voice again which I had missed so much.
Even knowing this was coming, it still sucks. The world is darker place.
I thought this too. Same with my dad. Even knowing he had terminal cancer and being prepared didn’t help at all.
I’m so sorry to hear this. He was a singularly clear voice in opinion journalism. The world is poorer for his loss.
The pundit world is overflowing with those who are nowhere near as smart as they think they are (and that includes some people I like/agree with.) Charles Krauthammer was one of the few who was truly worthy of being called an intellectual.