Paul Harvey died today at the age of 90 still doing his famous radio work to the fullest extent possible. His passing is a true loss that I shall reflect on personally because Paul Harvey has been a part of my life as long as I can remember as a kid born in 1953.
My Grandfather came from Michigan, a good old Michigan Republican and American history buff who took great joy in sharing his love of American history traveling east to visit his grandchildren in Baltimore's northern suburbs, an easy day trip away from all kinds of famous historical sites from colonial days, the Revolution, and the Civil War. Grandpa was keen on certain programs. He'd faithfully watch "Meet the Press" every Sunday morning, and would tune in Paul Harvey for his daily "Paul Harvey: News and Comments" and of course, "The Rest of the Story."
Who could not recognize Paul Harvey instantly with his rural-American wholesome voice, his awkward pregnant pauses, his sense of restrained enthusiasm, and the sound of pages of paper flipping beneath his microphone. Who didn't hear his broadcast and not wind up doing their own impressions of his signature closing line, "Good day!"
I was held spellbound by his "Rest of the Story" segments. He was the ultimate storyteller laying out some fascinating, almost anecdotal, narrative on some famous figure that was never part of the official historical record of those figures. I'd always try to guess who was the subject of his tale anxiously anticipating.... that it was...... he'd name the person.....and now you know....THE REST OF THE STORY!......Good DAY!!!
My grandfather died in 1974 when I was in college. For many years, I'd love listening to Paul Harvey when I could find his program on the radio dial. Listening to his "Rest of the Story" was almost like spending time with my grandfather who probably did more to kindle my passion for American history than anybody. Listening to Mr. Harvey tell his tale had the same soothing magic as my grandfather's company had years ago.
There was Paul Harvey long before Rush Limbaugh and his apostles. He was a conservative voice with a fervent passion but always a sense of decency. Finally, in 2005, he was granted the Presidential Media of Freedom. A long list of noteworthy conservatives and Republicans have served as substitutes for this American legend including Tony Snow, Fred Thompson (who will host the "Radio Factor" since Bill O'Reilly decided to dedicate his work only on his television program), Mike Huckabee, and Mitt Romney. Some would criticize Harvey for how seemlessly he'd transition from his news and commentary right into advertizing. One should find no irony in the one publication that really slammed him was Salon, a mouthpiece for the left-wing Hollywood crowd who are so full of their warped ideology and disrespect for America, they'd never understand the simple elegance of this great American legend.
In later years, Harvey's health was failing but his dedication to radio soldiered on. He frequently referred to his wife he called Angel, who was his producer, and was the first producer inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame. On May 17, 2007, he sadly announced to his radio audience that Angel was stricken with leukemia. She died almost a year later on May 3, 2008, her death announced in his absence as he was standing by his wife of 68 years.
In 1940, an aspiring young man working his way up in radio married his angel, Lynn Harvey. In a twist of convention, he would take his wife's last name as his professional name. The man millions of patriotic traditional Americans knew as Paul Harvey, was really Paul Aurandt.
With apologies to the craft of this wonderful man, now you know.....the rest of the story. Good DAY!!!
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