R.W. Apple, a Times Journalist in Full, Dies at 71

[speedoo]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/04/nyregion/05applecnd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

I used to love reading him. One of the true greats, IMO.

(snip)

"Mr. Apple enjoyed a career like no other in the modern era of The Times. He was the paper’s bureau chief in Albany, Lagos, Nairobi, Saigon, Moscow, London and Washington. He covered 10 presidential elections and more than 20 national nominating conventions. He led The Times’s coverage of the Vietnam war for two and a half years in the 1960’s and of the Persian Gulf war a generation later and he chronicled the Iranian revolution in between.

As a political correspondent, Mr. Apple, beginning in 1972, paid attention to the Iowa precinct caucuses when they were still largely ignored by the national press. Four years later, he helped turn the caucuses into an important test of a candidate’s strength by being one of the first reporters to spot the potential appeal of a little-known former governor of Georgia named Jimmy Carter. In later years, he turned the same searching, child-like curiosity to writing about food, architecture and travel from around the nation and the globe.

For a generation, The Times turned to Mr. Apple to write front-page “News Analysis” articles, putting great events of the day into longer-term perspective. His best were 1,200-word tapestries of history, erudition and style; the worst were clear and concise, but reflected conventional wisdom that sometimes proved wrong."

[cali]

1. Apple was one of a kind

and a terrific writer. RIP, Mr. Apple.

[GalleryGod]

2. Met "Johnny" in New Hamp in 1976. A Great guy.

RIP, Big Guy !O8)

[ovidsen]

3. This guy knew how to live!

I started reading his political essays in the 1980s and really appreciated his arguments. I learned a lot from them.

But in his later years, he wrote about food and wine in such a joyful fashion that his enthusiasm was downright contagious. Not just the fancy and pricey stuff, either. He could wax eloquently over the humblest of meals and refreshments. A true gourmand.

I'll miss him!

[CBHagman]

7. I enjoyed those articles, too.

It's only in recent years that I've been reading Apple, but you can be sure that when I got stuck into a really good article in the food section, I'd check for the byline and would invariably find Apple's name.

To a life well lived. :toast:

[Bozita]

4. Other reporters refer to Johnny Apple with almost a religious tone

One of the really good guys.

[chieftain]

5. I met Apple at the Louisville Dem mid term convention in '74.

He was quite engaging and a marvelous reporter and writer. He will be Missed.

[GalleryGod]

9. God??? Remember the Mid-Term Conventions !?

I went to Memphis in 1978 ! Would've liked to have been to Louisville!

[chieftain]

10. I thought the mid term conventions were a good idea.

They provided presidential candidates access to operatives and volunteers early in the selection process. I have never been a likely candidate for the Presidential Nominating Conventions, but I have been an active Democrat all my life . Attending that session was a great experience. Dean ought to give some consideration to reviving the idea.

[GoneOffShore]

6. Here's something from the New Yorker

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/030929fa_fact1

[JoFerret]

8. Great NY Times journalist

.