Tag Archives: William Safire

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and former Nixon White House speechwriter William Safire died this weekend at age 79. A columnist for the New York Times for more than 30 years, Safire won the 1978 Pulitzer prize for his writings on a now obscure scandal involving an appointee of President Jimmy Carter. He was on the Pulitzer board from 1995 to 2004. …

In today’s On Language column, William Safire is taken to task for having referred to Harrison Ford, 64, as “middle-aged.” A reader points out, “If he were literally middle-aged, then he could expect to live to 128.” I’m reminded of my 36th birthday, when my mother called with good wishes and to welcome me to middle-age, because the life expectancy …