1929 - 2009
William Safire was an American author, columnist, and presidential speechwriter, born on December 17, 1929, and died on September 27, 2009. He was best known for his work as a political columnist for The New York Times, where he provided insights on language and political issues, as well as his books on etymology and linguistics. Safire also served as a speechwriter for President Richard Nixon and won a Pulitzer Prize for his commentary.