Columnist William Safire dies at age of 79
General • September 2009 • Views: 401
Longtime political columnist and Nixon speechwriter William Safire has passed away at the age of 79, the New York Times reported on Sunday afternoon.
Safire, who began his career as a speechwriter for President Richard Nixon, penned a column in the New York Times and wrote the Times Magazine’s “On Language” column each week. A noted etymology buff, Safire retired as a full-time columnist in 2005.
In 2006, President George W. Bush awarded Safire the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.