[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 55 (Thursday, April 14, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JOHN PODHORETZ

 Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate 
John Podhoretz, who next week will reach one of life's momentous, and 
too often dreaded, milestones: turning 50 years of age. John is today 
best known for his work as editor of Commentary magazine and for his 
regular column in the New York Post, but these activities only scratch 
the surface of his career. While, God willing, John has many more years 
ahead of him and much left to do here, I believe this milestone is an 
opportune moment to reflect upon his many unique and influential 
contributions to publishing, punditry, political thought, and pop 
culture.
  Given his iconic lineage, it comes as no surprise to me that John has 
accomplished so much in his first five decades. He was born of two 
intellectual giants, Norman Podhoretz and Midge Decter, and grew up on 
Manhattan's Upper West Side. He studied at the University of Chicago, 
graduated from there in 1981, and then settled in Washington, DC, to 
begin his promising career.
  He served as speechwriter to Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush 
and as special assistant to White House drug czar, William Bennett. An 
accomplished journalist and writer, John has contributed to the 
Washington Times, the New York Post, US News & World Report, and the 
American Spectator. He is a refreshing critic of film and popular 
culture, and he once dabbled in entertainment as a consultant to the 
popular political fiction show ``The West Wing.'' He is even a five-
time champion of the hit trivia game show ``Jeopardy!''
  John is what I would call an ``idea entrepreneur.'' He understands 
that ideas have consequences and knows how to spread those ideas near 
and far. In 1995, together with Bill Kristol and Fred Barnes, John 
cofounded the Weekly Standard, a conservative opinion journal which he 
still writes for today as a movie critic. Over the years, the Standard 
has become more than just required reading for conservative thinkers--
it is read by policy and opinion makers of all political stripes, and 
it has enormous reach inside the Beltway and well beyond. Thanks to 
John's contributions, the Standard has become, Well, a standard of 
political thought leadership.
  John followed in his father's footsteps by becoming editor of 
Commentary magazine, a profoundly influential journal that seamlessly 
tackles the most pressing questions on political, social and cultural 
issues. In 2007, he launched the magazine's widely read and respected 
blog, Contentions, bringing Commentary into the new age of media. Just 
as he did with the Standard, John continues to prove at Commentary that 
ideas are powerful.
  John is unafraid to challenge conventional wisdom and he is an 
unabashed defender of the values that make our country great: freedom, 
democracy, human dignity, and economic opportunity. On top of all that, 
based on watching and listening to him on that great day in August 2006 
when his dear friend, Jacob Wisse, married my daughter, Becca 
Lieberman, John Podhoretz is a surprisingly impressive dancer and 
singer!
  So, Mr. President, I congratulate John on 50 years well done. He has 
enormous personality, a great sense of humor, and a lovely family. I 
wish them happiness on this occasion. John, Happy Birthday!

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