In recent days I have been writing a series I dubbed the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the Media World. Having written about the bad – Larry King – and the ugly – Judith Miller and Ben Domenech, that guy who worked, briefly, for The Washington Post, it is time now to focus on the good journalists. Yes, Virginia, such creatures do exist.
The first good journalist is Arthur “Art” Buchwald, 80, who has been in the news because he will probably die by the end of the year. He has decided to forego treatment for his failing kidneys.
He has been living, since Feb. 24, 2006, in a Washington, D.C. area hospice, and recently joked that if he is alive after 90 days, he will probably get evicted.
That’s typical of his style of humor, which is in that gray area between brutal honesty and humor. A sample: "You can't make up anything anymore. The world itself is a satire. All you're doing is recording it."
Or a less serious one: "People are broad-minded. They'll accept the fact that a person can be an alcoholic, a dope fiend, a wife-beater and even a newspaperman, but if a man doesn't drive, there's something wrong with him." Typical of Buchwald to throw a dig at his own profession.
While in hospice Buchwald asked radio interviewer Diane Rehm to visit and you can listen to the resulting interview. It gives you a feel for how he thinks and speaks.
Newspapers and magazines have been writing appreciation pieces, detailing his life and some of his writing gems. I like this one by The Washington Post. Columnists are rightfully also writing excellent pieces thanking him for his work, his encouragement, and his great sense of humor. Al Martinez, a columnist for The Los Angeles Times has a good column about how he was touched and honored by Buchwald giving him some compliments.
Article comments
1 - Lisa McKay
Very nice piece, Scott. Buchwald really does know how to lace his truth with humor, not an easy feat for any writer.
2 - temporal
Scott:
it has been a privilege and honor to have read and lived through his times
wish him peace
3 - Pat Fish
I loved Art Buchwald. Couldn't wait to read his columns in Baltimore's old NEws American.
Nice article, good quotes, thorough.
4 - Scott Butki
Thanks, Lisa and Pat.
And I want to publicly thank you Mark for helping me massage this piece into shape.
5 - Scott Butki
There was a good piece about Buchwald by Sharon Waxman in Sunday’s New York Times.
It mentioned that Buchwald, William Styron and Mike Wallace are known by friends as the Blues Brothers since each had a public fight with depression.
Anyone know if Buchwald wrote about that in one of his books?
6 - Scott Butki
There's a new story about Buchwald saying dying has been a joy of sorts.
7 - Sister Ray
I appreciate how he rose above the opportunity to go maudlin, esp. in this era of sob-story journalism.
8 - Scott Butki
Not only has Art Buchwald not died yet but he is now taking a break to finish up a book on his hospice stay.
The W. Post today reports:
"Humorist Art Buchwald is taking a break from his twice-weekly column while he completes a book about his experiences in hospice care. The longtime syndicated columnist had been admitted to the Washington Home and Hospice after deciding in February to discontinue hemodialysis treatment for a life-threatening kidney condition. His health did not deteriorate, however, and he resumed writing his column.
Reached at his home yesterday, Buchwald said, "I couldn't think of a better place to be right now, having been in a hospice for six months. I'm very happy here." Just how happy? "If you said, 'Do you have a wish today, Mr. Buchwald?' this is it," he said.
And the book? "It's coming along very well. I'm supposed to get it done by September. It's called 'Too Soon to Say Goodbye.' It's up to 10,000 copies on Amazon.
"That's a joke," he added."
9 - Scott Butki
Well, Art has died.
Damn.
He lived much longer than anticipated
10 - Scott Butki
I miss Art.
And now we've lost Molly Ivins too.
Damn!
I'm going to write a tribute piece to her this
weekend.
11 - Scott Butki
The Laughter Lives On at Art Buchwald's Memorial Service, The Washington Post reports.
12 - Scott Butki
I miss Art Buchwald already.
Am I alone in this feeling?