Voting Station

William Safire

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Commentator

The Resume

    (December 17, 1929-September 27, 2009)
    Wrote an op-ed column for 'The New York Times (1973-2005)'
    Wrote a language column for 'The New York Times Magazine (1979-2009)'
    Former speech writer for Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew
    Wrote 'Safire's Political Dictionary (1968),' 'Before the Fall: An Inside View of the Pre-Watergate White House (1975)' and 'Safire's New Political Dictionary (1993)'

Why he might be annoying:

    He was a speech writer for President Nixon.
    He was close friends with Joseph McCarthy's infamous henchman, Roy Cohn.
    His views on Israel and Palestine are controversial.
    He was a grammar snob.
    In his op-ed column, he obsessively attacked Bill and Hillary Clinton.
    He called Hillary a 'congenital liar' when he meant 'congenial liar' (some language expert!).
    When asked about false allegations he made in his column, he said: 'A columnist should play a hunch now and then - win some, lose some.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    President Nixon bugged his phone.
    He left the White House before the Watergate scandal broke.
    He described himself as a 'libertarian conservative.'
    He didn't believe the government should compromise individual liberties.
    He attacked Michael Powell and the FCC for allowing corporate media takeovers.
    He won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary.
    His columns were popular among conservatives and liberals alike.

Credit: Wieland Kalligaro


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 35 Votes: 5.71% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 17 Votes: 94.12% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 10 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 19 Votes: 47.37% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 44 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 119 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 26 Votes: 65.38% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 30 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 30 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 237 Votes: 69.20% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 87 Votes: 63.22% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 102 Votes: 77.45% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 146 Votes: 68.49% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 383 Votes: 61.88% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 128 Votes: 48.44% Annoying