Norman Podhoretz, contentious and influential neo-conservative, has died

Norman Podhoretz, the influential editor and author who led the conservative magazine Commentary and became a leading figure in the neo-conservative movement, has died at age 95. He died “peacefully and without pain” Tuesday night, according to his son, John Podhoretz.

Norman Podhoretz, Neo-Conservative Leader, Dies at 95

Podhoretz transformed Commentary from a liberal publication into a key forum for conservative thought. He was known for his provocative essays and books, including “Making It,” “The Present Danger,” and “World War IV.”

Born to Jewish immigrants, Podhoretz became editor-in-chief of Commentary in 1960. He helped reshape the national dialogue in the 1960s and beyond, and his work influenced the appointments of figures like Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Jeane Kirkpatrick to positions as U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations.

Podhoretz was among the “New York intellectuals” of the mid-20th century, a group that included Norman Mailer, Hannah Arendt, and Susan Sontag. He initially aligned with liberal politics but later broke with the left.

He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004 from President George W. Bush, who praised his “fierce intellect” and refusal to compromise his opinions. Podhoretz stepped down as editor-in-chief of Commentary in 1995.

Podhoretz often courted controversy, criticizing everything from the Beat writers to the policies of President Ronald Reagan. He was a staunch defender of Israel and critical of those he perceived as hostile to the nation.

He was also the subject of criticism and satire, with references to his work appearing in the writings of Joseph Heller and Woody Allen. New York Times reviewer Michiko Kakutani once described his book “World War IV” as an “illogical screed.”

Podhoretz credited his family’s adoration with instilling in him a sense of destiny. He excelled academically, graduating from Columbia University in 1950 and earning a master’s degree from Cambridge University.

He married writer and editor Midge Decter, also a neo-conservative, and remained with her until her death in 2022. Podhoretz initially aimed to move Commentary to the left, publishing authors like Paul Goodman and James Baldwin, before shifting its focus to conservative thought.

In his later years, Podhoretz supported Donald Trump, explaining that he objected to the “hatred” directed toward the former president by former allies. He served as an advisor to the United States Information Agency during the Reagan administration and helped write a speech for Rudolph Giuliani’s 2008 presidential run.