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Quick facts for kids Robert Novak
Novak in 2002
Born	Robert David Sanders Novak (1931-02-26)February 26, 1931 Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
Died	August 18, 2009(2009-08-18) (aged 78) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation	Journalist columnist commentator pundit author
Spouse(s)	Rosanna Hall (div.) Geraldine (Williams) Novak (m. 1962)

Robert David Sanders Novak (February 26, 1931 – August 18, 2009) was an American journalist, writer, and TV personality. He was known for his conservative political views. He wrote for newspapers and appeared on television shows. He worked for the Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal. In 1963, he started a newspaper column called Inside Report with Rowland Evans. This column became the longest-running political column in U.S. history. Novak was also a well-known face on CNN, appearing on shows like Capital Gang and Crossfire. His colleagues gave him the nickname "Prince of Darkness," which he liked and even used for his autobiography.

Early Life and Education
Journalism Career Highlights
Notable Events and Views
Religious Views
Later Life and Passing
Personal Life
Images for kids
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Early Life and Education

Robert Novak was born on February 26, 1931, in Joliet, Illinois. His parents were Jane Sanders and Maurice Novak. His family came from Ukraine and Lithuania. As a child, he had chronic bronchitis, which meant his mother drove him to school. His cousins jokingly called him "Baby Jesus" because he got a lot of attention. Novak also enjoyed teasing his family from a young age.

His journalism career began in high school. He wrote for his hometown newspaper, the Joliet Herald-News. He earned ten cents for every inch of writing. After high school, he went to the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign from 1948 to 1952. He joined a fraternity there. He also wrote for the college newspaper, the Daily Illini. He left college without finishing his degree to become a full-time journalist. Later, in 1993, he received his bachelor's degree after a Dean found he had enough credits. Novak said his school achievements were "very uneven." He spoke at his university's graduation in 1998. He said the college helped him move from a working-class background to the middle class.

During the Korean War, Novak served in the U.S. Army. He became a lieutenant. He later said he expected to die while serving.

Journalism Career Highlights

After serving in the Army from 1952 to 1954, Novak continued his journalism career. He joined the Associated Press (AP) as a political reporter in Nebraska. He then moved to Washington, D.C., in 1957 to report on Congress. In 1958, he joined The Wall Street Journal in D.C., covering the Senate. He became the chief congressional correspondent in 1961. Novak was known for remembering details without taking many notes. His colleagues said he was so focused on work that he sometimes forgot to shave or tie his shoes.

The Inside Report Column

In 1963, Novak partnered with Rowland Evans to create Inside Report. This newspaper column was published six times a week. It was also known as Inside Washington. Evans and Novak had different styles; Novak was often messy, while Evans was very refined. Their column combined news reporting with their own opinions. It started with moderate views but became more conservative over time. Novak's experience covering the Six-Day War influenced his views on the Middle East.

Some people questioned the column's accuracy. Novak admitted in his autobiography that they were sometimes "susceptible to manipulation by leaks." The Chicago Sun-Times became the main newspaper for Inside Report starting in 1966. Novak continued the column after Evans left in 1993. The column ran in over 150 newspapers. It ended in 2008 when Novak was diagnosed with cancer. Many political insiders considered it a must-read. It was the longest-running political column in U.S. history.

The Evans–Novak Political Report

In 1967, Evans and Novak started a biweekly political newsletter called the Evans–Novak Political Report (ENPR). This newsletter focused on predicting elections and social trends. It was different from their column, which focused on breaking news. Novak continued the newsletter after Evans's death. He announced its end in February 2009 due to his illness. The last issue discussed the impact of Barack Obama's election. Many conservative writers started their careers by contributing to ENPR.

Television Appearances

Novak became a regular on the show The McLaughlin Group in 1982. He often debated with the host, McLaughlin, even though they had similar political views.

He appeared on CNN when it first started in 1980. His reputation as a print journalist helped CNN gain credibility. He soon had his own weekly interview show with Evans. Novak became known for his strong debating style on TV. He also became the executive producer of Capital Gang on CNN. He later hosted Crossfire.

In 2005, Novak walked off the set during a live broadcast of Inside Politics. This happened during a heated discussion. CNN suspended him for one day and apologized for his behavior. Novak retired from CNN in December 2005 after 25 years. He said he had "no complaints" about the network. He later signed a contract with Fox News.

His Memoir and Other Works

Novak's memoir, Prince of Darkness: Fifty Years Reporting in Washington, was published in 2007. His friend, reporter John Lindsay, gave him the "Prince of Darkness" nickname. Lindsay thought Novak had a "dim view of the prospects for our civilization." Novak liked the nickname. He once dressed as Darth Vader at a dinner and sang a song.

At his peak, Novak was one of the most widely read columnists in the U.S. He also wrote for Reader's Digest. He appeared on NBC's Meet the Press over 200 times. He was also featured in the book The Boys on the Bus, which described reporters covering the 1972 Presidential election.

Awards and Recognition

The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign gave Novak an Alumni Achievement Award in 1997. He often visited his old university and talked with students. He even started a scholarship in his name in 1992. In 2001, he won the National Press Club's 'Fourth Estate Award' for his lifetime work in journalism. In 1999, he received the Order of Lincoln, Illinois' highest honor, for his work in communications.

Notable Events and Views

Working with Presidents

Novak often wrote critically about President Richard Nixon's aide, H. R. Haldeman. Novak's partner, Rowland Evans, ended up on Nixon's list of political opponents. When they started their column, Novak met with Nixon, who told them to be easier on Republicans.

During the Ford administration, Novak reported a story in 1976 that caused a government scandal. He learned that a high-ranking official believed Soviet control in Eastern Europe was better than extreme national pride. This story may have hurt Gerald Ford's chances in the 1976 presidential election.

During the Clinton years, Novak published accusations against government members. He used sources like unnamed FBI agents. Later, when FBI agent Robert Hanssen was arrested for being a spy, Novak admitted Hanssen had been a main source for some of those accusations.

Views on the Middle East

Novak often took a pro-Palestinian stance in the conflict. He often criticized Israel. He met with Palestinian officials. He also praised former president Jimmy Carter for comparing Israeli policy to "apartheid". Novak said his opinions on Israel caused him the most hate mail. He understood this, saying, "Israel is so important to Jewish people."

After the 9/11 attacks, Novak believed the attackers were motivated by revenge for U.S. support of Israel. He argued that this event brought nations closer in a way that might not help long-term U.S. goals. In a 2001 episode of Capital Gang, Novak questioned why American conservatives gave "mindless support" to Israeli policy. He said that Yasser Arafat would accept Israel's right to exist, but Ariel Sharon would not recognize a Palestinian state.

Political Beliefs

Novak was a registered Democrat, even though he held conservative political views. Early in his career, he had more moderate views. He supported Democratic presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He later said he stayed a registered Democrat so he could vote in local primary elections.

His views became more conservative over time. He said reading Whittaker Chambers' book Witness changed his views to strong anticommunism. He felt this gave him a sense of moral purpose. His views moved further right in the 1970s. However, he was critical of Ronald Reagan's economic policies at first. After debating Reagan, he changed his mind and later respected Reagan greatly.

Novak supported wars in Korea, Vietnam, and Grenada. But after that, he became against military intervention. He was a strong social conservative. He also believed in low taxes and small government, which are libertarian ideas. However, he did not always agree with mainstream Republicans. For example, he opposed the Iraq War. Because of this, some called him a paleoconservative, though this label was debated. Novak once said that he considered almost every president in his lifetime a failure, except for Reagan. After his death, the Chicago Sun-Times described him as an independent voice.

Religious Views

Novak grew up in a non-religious Jewish family. For seven decades, he lived as an agnostic, meaning he wasn't sure if God existed. He briefly attended Unitarian and Methodist church services because his wives asked him to, but he wasn't interested. He especially disliked the Methodists' views against the Vietnam War.

In the early 1980s, a friend introduced him to the Catholic faith. Around that time, Novak almost died from a serious illness. His wife, Geraldine, started going to St Patrick's Catholic Church regularly in the early 1990s. One day, she convinced Novak to join her for Mass. He started going regularly.

The turning point for his conversion came when he met a young woman at Syracuse University. She wore a cross necklace and asked him if he was Catholic. He said he had been going to Mass for four years but hadn't converted. She told him, "Mr Novak, life is short, but eternity is forever." This sentence deeply affected him. When he told his wife, they decided it was time. In May 1998, at age 67, Robert Novak became a Catholic. His wife, Geraldine, was already Catholic. Many of his friends attended his baptism.

Novak felt his new faith did not change his personal behavior or political views. He said, "I'm a Christian now, but I still have some bad traits."

Later Life and Passing

On July 23, 2008, Novak was involved in a car accident. He received a police ticket for not yielding to an 86-year-old pedestrian. The pedestrian had minor injuries. Novak said he didn't realize he had hit someone. This might have been because he had a brain tumor, which can affect vision.

Four days after the accident, on July 27, 2008, Novak was diagnosed with brain cancer in Boston. He announced that he would stop his journalism work for a while. Doctors often check for brain tumors after car accidents where a driver doesn't realize they hit something. On August 4, 2008, Novak resigned from his column, saying his health prognosis was "dire."

On February 4, 2009, Novak announced that his newsletter, the Evans-Novak Political Report, would end due to his illness. The newsletter had been published continuously since 1967.

Personal Life

Novak's first wife was Rosanna Hall; they divorced. In 1962, he married Geraldine Williams, who worked for President Lyndon B. Johnson. Their daughter, Zelda, worked for Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign. Their son, Alex, works as an editor. Robert Novak was not related to the social commentator Michael Novak.

Novak had two children, a daughter and a son. He was a passionate fan of basketball, especially the Washington Bullets (now Wizards).

Robert Novak passed away on August 18, 2009, at 78 years old. He died from complications related to his brain tumor. He had returned home to spend his last days with his family. He was buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, Maryland.