Robert Novak, esteemed conservative columnist and Crossfire host, passed away due to complications from brain cancer. Novak was best known for his intense and rigorous conversation style and his stance on everything political.
After learning that he had a brain tumor back in 2008, Robert Novak retired from the spotlight and continued to work as a columnist. Although he was a registered Democrat, his conservative views often played into much of his investigative reporting and opinion.
Novak is most notably known for the part he played in a CIA operatives’ undercover outing. Valerie Plame was that CIA operative, and, although it is against the law to out anyone undercover for the CIA, Novak was never charged.
Many times in Novak’s life, his creative and eloquent writing got him into a bit of trouble, but through it all he remained well respected among fellow journalists. In 1972, George McGovern was on the path to office in Massachusetts before Robert Novak wrote a column proclaiming McGovern’s stance on abortion, weed, and acid. Not before long, McGovern was known as the candidate for “amnesty, weed and acid.” Needless to say, McGovern was not pleased and the entire issue ended making huge waves.
Robert Novak will definitely be remembered as more than just the host of CNN’s Crossfire, but as an interesting man who would do whatever it took and say whatever he felt.
