The Resume

(January 22, 1920-September 18, 2009)
Born in Brooklyn, New York
Columnist for the Wall Street Journal (1972-97)
Co-founder of the magazines Encounter (1953), The Public Interest (1965) and The National Interest (1985)
Wrote 'On the Democratic Ideal in America' (1972), 'Two Cheers for Capitalism' (1978), 'Reflections of a Neoconservative: Looking Back, Looking Ahead' (1983) and 'Neoconservatism: The Autobiography of an Idea' (1995)
Called 'the godfather of neoconservatism'
Father of William Kristol

Why he might be annoying:

He was a Trotskyite turned socialist turned liberal turned conservative.
He criticized liberals for opposing Senator Joseph McCarthy.
He claimed, 'Until neo-conservatives came along, conservatives couldn't reach college-educated people.'
He said, 'The prospect of electing Mr. Nixon depresses me,' then became a guest at the Nixon White House and endorsed his re-election.
Asked by a reporter about his ambiguous religious beliefs, he said, 'I've always been a believer. Don't ask me in what.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He was a combat infantryman in World War II.
He was married to historian Gertrude Himmelfarb for 67 years until his death.
His family dog Sniffy allegedly inspired next door neighbor Charles Schulz to create Snoopy.
He said his two leading intellectual influences were Lionel Trilling, 'a skeptical liberal,' and Leo Strauss, 'a skeptical conservative.'
He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush, who called him 'an intellectual pioneer.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 23]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [January] (Ranked: 1221920)
• I am Religiously Ambiguous
• I Attended City College of New York
• I Died in 2009 (Ranked: 89)
• I Have Lung Cancer
• Look at Me, I'm Accepting the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Look at Me, I'm with Dubya
• Newspaper Journalists/Editors/Publishers
• Profiles 26751-27000 (Ranked: 26913)
• Served in World War II
• U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients
• We Celebrated Our Golden Anniversary

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 56 Votes: 46.43% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 31 Votes: 74.19% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 19 Votes: 68.42% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 68.18% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 315 Votes: 70.16% Annoying