Radio Pioneer Paul Harvey Dies At Age 90

Published on February 28th, 2009

Paul Harvey receives the Presidential Medal Of Freedom

And now, the rest of the story…

Paul Harvey, the news commentator and talk-radio pioneer whose staccato style made him one of the nation’s most familiar voices, died Saturday in Arizona, according to ABC Radio Networks. He was 90.

Harvey had been forced off the air for several months in 2001 because of a virus that weakened a vocal cord. But he returned to work in Chicago and was still active as he passed his 90th birthday. His death comes less than a year after that of his wife and longtime producer, Lynne.

“My father and mother created from thin air what one day became radio and television news,” Paul Harvey Jr. said in a statement. “So in the past year, an industry has lost its godparents and today millions have lost a friend.”

At the peak of his career, Harvey reached more than 24 million listeners on more than 1,200 radio stations and charged $30,000 to give a speech. His syndicated column was carried by 300 newspapers.

In 1976, Harvey began broadcasting his anecdotal descriptions of the lives of famous people. “The Rest of the Story” started chronologically, with the person’s identity revealed at the end. The stories were an attempt to capture “the heartbeats behind the headlines.”

In 2000, at age 82, he signed a new 10-year contract with ABC Radio Networks. This listener will certainly miss him greatly.

39 users responded in " Radio Pioneer Paul Harvey Dies At Age 90 "

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# 1 GregA said, on February 28th, 2009 at 8:37 pm

Good riddance,

Another right wing republican shill rots is hell.

Say hi to Saddam for me Paul!

# 2 Joe said, on February 28th, 2009 at 8:53 pm

Never should have been on the air.

# 3 PMitchell said, on February 28th, 2009 at 9:08 pm

leave it to you “tolerant ” liberals to defame a great man after his death

way to go assholes

you should be ashamed

# 4 heavyd said, on February 28th, 2009 at 9:19 pm

This man only gave the news and a story to remind us that we are only human. You two should be ashamed of your comments. oh wait – libs have no soul and or feelings. They talk and complain to others and live a different way. keep it up, the next American Revolution is coming!!!!

# 5 BubbaRay said, on February 28th, 2009 at 9:20 pm

PMitchell, Guess they didn’t read the article.

“Perhaps Harvey’s most famous broadcast came in 1970, when he abandoned that [conservative] stance, announcing his opposition to President Nixon’s expansion of the [Vietnam] war and urging him to get out completely.

“Mr. President, I love you … but you’re wrong,” Harvey said, shocking his faithful listeners and drawing a barrage of letters and phone calls, including one from the White House.”

I enjoyed “The Rest Of The Story” and his distinctive voice. Even Walter Cronkite owes him one.

# 6 bobbo said, on February 28th, 2009 at 9:35 pm

I never listened to him, too many commercials too much “human interest.” But he loved Nixon huh? Another hero worshiper. No wonder those who like to have heroes (Repugs) listen to demagogues like Rush and supposedly are a force within the party: They have “listeners.” What a very small special interest group is thereby self identifying: People to avoid.

And yet a whole party is going down the tubes following this sect. Sadly, only after they took down a once great country.

Talk is for fools. Blogging-one small step above.

# 7 The Citizen said, on February 28th, 2009 at 9:50 pm

Just goes to show Liberals can’t see past party lines. Rather pathetic, I think. At least acknowledge a good man when you see one, especially in his death. To act like that to someone with that much history and good will is disrespectful and unmanly. Grow some balls 1 and 2.

# 8 Hmeyers said, on February 28th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

Hate for the dead .. nice!

Diversity is a lot more than skin tones, it is also of different points of view.

I’ve never known an idea that marketed itself very well with “hate” as the messenger.

# 9 bobbo said, on February 28th, 2009 at 10:02 pm

Definition:

Idiot: (n)

Anyone beginning a thought with: “Liberal can’t – - – - .”

Somewhat surprising is that the reverse is not true. Most conservatives in fact can’t. Its why they look to leaders/pop icons for their ideas and are much less diverse than all the other groups they deride.

# 10 faxon said, on February 28th, 2009 at 10:03 pm

“The Rest of the Story” would do well as an archive available on MP3’s. They are timeless, as was Paul Harvey. Don’t mind the libs above, they are just showing what libs are like underneath their “tolerance” and “diversity” bullshit.

# 11 Joe said, on February 28th, 2009 at 10:04 pm

@7 Your comment makes no sense, proof read before you click submit. If I think someone is a shill and a loon, which Paul Harvey was, I’ll say it. Even when that person has just died.

# 12 Ah_Yea said, on February 28th, 2009 at 10:06 pm

I liked Paul Harvey, although I haven’t heard him in many years.
When I was a kid I worked with my dad at his work. On the drive in we would listen to “The rest of the story” and get rough cut french fries from the local eatery. Good Times.

I can see why some lib’s don’t like him. He had a moral compass and never cheated on his wife.

# 13 The Warden said, on February 28th, 2009 at 10:36 pm

It’s always great to read what the hate filled left has to say when someone they dislike passes. Don’t worry lefties, one day karma will come back to bite you as you’ve never been bit before. You can count on that.

While Paul had a way of telling a story he, unfortunately, also was a peddler of snake oil products and false medical claims. It’s a blemish on his otherwise amazing career.

# 14 gop rip said, on February 28th, 2009 at 10:51 pm

like karma is biting the republican party now?

lets see, hate filled left… hmmm, whats on TV. oh what’s this? the CPAC conference… oh look its the leading luminaries of the right, people that have held high ranking positions of power and others that are their celebrated “intellectuals,” spewing a steady stream of well rehearsed hate for their fellow hate filled barbarians. not some anonymous commenter on a blog in the back corners of the tubes.

its all equal though, right wingnuts?

# 15 BOEPC said, on February 28th, 2009 at 10:57 pm

I await some of the comments from the love-filled “right” when Ted Kennedy dies.

# 16 GregA said, on February 28th, 2009 at 11:26 pm

It should be pointed out that Paul Harvy was only true to his wife if you don’t count human-horse sex as cheating.

# 17 burp15 said, on February 28th, 2009 at 11:31 pm

Well hey, I’m a flaming liberal, and I LOVED listening to Paul Harvey. I know a great man when I see him

# 18 John C Dvorak said, on March 1st, 2009 at 12:16 am

What is wrong with you people!?!?!?

# 19 Glenn E. said, on March 1st, 2009 at 12:27 am

Glad to hear that somebody in the media was against the Vietnam War. Oh wait! Wasn’t Walter Cronkite the first to oppose it? Nice of Paul Harvey to jump on the bandwagon, after the war was unpopular with 95% of the rest of the country. Nixon had broken his campaign promise to end the war, if elected (after Johnson). I wonder if Harvey had anything to say about Watergate? I’m sure he was only allowed to remain on radio, as long as he didn’t rock too many boats, politically. So after Nixon/Ford, it was all human interest fillers. Inspiring puff pieces. Conversation starters for the retirement home crowd.

# 20 drunner2 said, on March 1st, 2009 at 12:28 am

Regardless of your political affiliation, Paul Harvey was good person. To chastise the man for being conservative is not only childish and immature, it speaks ill of the people you represent, if only by association.

If you didn’t like Paul, or his program, then fine, but don’t hate the man for doing the very thing you are: voicing an opinion. Everyone has an opinion, and Paul managed to voice his incredibly well. To say he should never have been on the air is like saying John Stewart should never have been on television. It’s an inflammatory, rude, and a pointless comment.

When Ted Kennedy does die there probably will be a similar reaction by the right, which is a shame, because there should always be a tinge of sorrow for the person you dislike most, that makes you human.

The comments in this thread just served to illustrate that both Democratic and Republican parties are more similar than they would care to admit. Both make insipid, hateful comments, creating a common ground they try to place on the other. Both are full of baboons, unwilling to make a single conscious thought.

Don’t hate a man because he has character, be disappointed you don’t.

# 21 Glenn E. said, on March 1st, 2009 at 12:40 am

I just heard the Liz Smith lost her Gossip columnist job. Though she probably should have retired years ago. Another victim of newspapers downsizing. And besides, does anyone actually read gossip anymore? When there’s three or four Tv shows devoted to it? I’m sure newspaper will be dumping a lot of space wasteful columns. Especially ones that don’t promote a product, whose producer pays for the coverage. I doubt any movie stars or politicians pay for being gossiped about. But then you never know. Maybe they use to pay Liz not to be gossiped about. And this protection scam finally lost steam. I guess Liz will have to move onto the “tell all” book scam, now.

# 22 Ah_Yea said, on March 1st, 2009 at 12:44 am

#20 drunner2, very well said.

You would do Paul Harvey proud, and I mean that in a good way!

# 23 Bastian said, on March 1st, 2009 at 12:54 am

I remember listening to him on my way to physical chemisty class in college really really early in the mornings. Argh… not good times! Not his fault though.

# 24 BOEPC said, on March 1st, 2009 at 1:01 am

Bickering aside, I’m not terribly familiar with Mr. Harvey’s work apart from his signature lines and various impersonations of him, and the same can probably be said for most people my age. But there’s no denying his place in broadcasting history, and he’s yet another in a long line of old-time personalities we will never see the likes of again (in terms of sheer profile) in this fickle, new media age of ours.

# 25 Glenn E. said, on March 1st, 2009 at 1:03 am

The fact that Paul Harvey was one of a kind, and apparently nobody’s lining up to replace him, kind of speaks for itself. He was a popular voice personality. But little more than that. If he were really that popular for what he said, there would be half a dozen imitators on the radio and Tv. Just as there are all those Limbaugh wannabes, on both political sides. So I’ve no doubt that many tuned into Harvey, just to hear his Mark Twain styled stories. Nice, comforting Americana. Which doesn’t work in the print media, as well, without the voice. And doesn’t work on Tv either, if what’s said doesn’t satisfy the media moguls’ politics.

Like Charles Shultz’s comic characters. Paul Harvey’s pieces could simply be rerun, after his death. And most wouldn’t be the wiser, or be just as entertained as before. I’m sure it’s all quite timeless, banter.

# 26 steve said, on March 1st, 2009 at 4:34 am

Paul was a true and wonderful American the old fashioned way.He will be missed and a sad loss for radio,but his wit,temperment and tone will be remembered by many of us for a long time,thanks for the memories.

# 27 morty said, on March 1st, 2009 at 4:36 am

Limbaugh actually considers Harvey his role model – and thinks he replaces him.

I worked a tiny bit with Harvey via a firm I worked for and he was as cold and calculating about biz and sponsorship as any radio shark.

Neither of those are political criticisms. But, holding the dude as some rock idol is hilarious.

# 28 Paul Harvey said, on March 1st, 2009 at 5:56 am

Certainly an amazing person
You would not think that he would be around for so long
And active as well – its not as if he was on one long summer vacation at the lake

# 29 Paddy-O said, on March 1st, 2009 at 6:22 am

R.I.P. Heard him now and then. Seemed like a nice human being.

# 30 Olo Baggins of Bywater said, on March 1st, 2009 at 6:25 am

Those are not idiots because they’re “libs” they’re idiots, period.

His schtick wasn’t for everyone, but the fact that he was on 1200 radio stations counts for something. He got old and became an anachronism, bfd. No matter what, he’s an icon of the broadcasting industry. The original blogger.

# 31 The Citizen said, on March 1st, 2009 at 8:30 am

#11 Whether I reviewed my comment before I posted or not, most people seem to agree that you’re an inconsiderate imbecile, so it must make some sort of sense. And yes, you are entitled to your opinion, which also entitles me and everyone else on this blog to call you an idiot because of it.

#16 I can see you have integrity just like your little friend here.

#18 I don’t know if it is actually John or not, but either way, it’s spot on.

#20 Unfortunately, your Ted Kennedy part will probably be true.

#30 Agreed

# 32 Lou said, on March 1st, 2009 at 3:11 pm

I always enjoyed, The rest of the story.
He did a good job on that.
Thats all I knew about the guy though.
The rest of the story just worked with his voice.
Sorry to here he died.

# 33 m.c. in l.v. said, on March 1st, 2009 at 4:56 pm

It always surprises me when someone who I thought was already dead passes away.

I’d heard of him and heard him on the radio without knowing his politics. Guess all that doesn’t matter now.

May we all live to be that old (hopefully older).

# 34 Ganderfeeder said, on March 1st, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Hyper-conservative, Jebus-believing, jingoistic America-is-the-bestest flagwaver.

Why should we pretend to be sad when a prick like that dies? The Repugs are going to dance on Ted Kennedy’s grave and celebrate when he passes.

# 35 carrie said, on March 1st, 2009 at 7:19 pm

I LIKED PAUL HARVEY.

I WOULD ALWAYS GO OUT OF MY WAY TO LISTEN TO HIS TAKE ON THINGS. HE WAS LIKE A FATHER FIGURE FOR ME.

# 36 soundwash said, on March 1st, 2009 at 9:12 pm

well that sucks..

-another slice of American history gone to the archives.

i grew up listening to his ‘rest of the story’
and even in the last several years, at least 3 out of 5 days would try to always catch him on AM770 right before the 12′oclock news if the radio wasn’t on already. -some of the stories would leave you saying “no sh*t” on occasion..

bummer.

R.I.P Paul Harvey,

-many thanks for the many years of smiles.

-s

# 37 soundwash said, on March 1st, 2009 at 9:34 pm

wow…just read the comments.

some of you people are a waste of human life.

ffs, can’t you put your politics aside for one second?

shameful.

-s

# 38 hrevel said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 11:36 am

I created an online memorial for Paul. Please visit and leave a thought, prayer, light a candle, etc. Rest in Peace Paul!

http://www.ilasting.com/paulharvey.php

# 39 Rick Cain said, on March 5th, 2009 at 7:54 am

He was okay, not great. I listened to him occasionally because his short was between 2 radio programs I listened to so it was unavoidable.

All I remember was that he hocked sta-bil oil additive and gave his news stories a subtle rightwing tinge. Even he couldn’t resist a jab against modern progressivism, but I let him slide, he’s an old man from a previous, less educated generation.

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