pulitzer prize winner william safire was a great reporter and a conservative commentator. the william safire ‘on language’ column for the nyt was something awesome; he was an incredible wordsmith!

safire really came into his own in that miserable decade known as the ’70’s as part of that small but mighty group of conservative thinkers like william f. buckley jr., robert novak, irving kristol, and jack kemp – all helping to shape the reagan revolution in so many ways.

william safire was a tremendous cold war warrior and was always an advocate for those small captive nations known later as the breakaway republics — those very republics that stood shoulder to shoulder with us in the gwot.

william safire 1929-2009

william safire died today at the age of 79 of pancreatic cancer at a hospice in maryland. he is survived by his wife of 47 years, helene; their two children, mark and annabel; and his granddaughter, lily safire.