George Will to Receive the 2020 Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award

By Dave Astor
NSNC Archivist

The National Society of Newspaper Columnists’ 2020 Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is…George Will!

He’ll accept the prestigious honor during the NSNC’s annual conference next June in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Will, 78, is of course the widely syndicated conservative Washington Post columnist. The Illinois native began his political feature in 1974, and has since authored more than a dozen books, appeared frequently on TV, and won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary as well as many other awards.
In the October 22 email interview below, Will discusses his reaction to the Pyle honor, a variation in his column approach, his decision to leave the Republican Party the year of Trump’s election, his avid baseball fandom, and more.

Dave Astor: How do you feel about being named to receive the National Society of Newspaper Columnists’ 2020 Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award?

George Will: Most journalistic reputations are as evanescent as yesterday’s headlines. Ernie Pyle’s reputation is different. It endures. It is gratifying to be associated with him.

Dave : Any idea what you might talk about when accepting the award next June in Tulsa? Or too soon to know?

Mr. Will: It is too soon to know what I will talk about, but I have a feeling that it will have something to do with knowing enough history to immunize journalism against hysteria.

Dave: You began your syndicated column in 1974. What are the differences between being a columnist in 2019 vs. back then? (Given today’s digital age, shorter attention spans, newspaper-industry struggles, political climate, etc.)

Mr. Will: The fundamental task of a columnist — or at least of this columnist — is to locate the kernel of serious principle in the passing controversies. This has not changed. Because so much opinion has seeped into what are ostensibly news stories, I have tried to increase the ratio of facts to opinions in my columns.

Dave: Your writing often displays a strong sense of history. Do you feel this time of Trump’s presidency is comparable to any previous period in the U.S.?

Mr. Will: No prior presidency was remotely comparable.

Dave: Your feelings about the Trump impeachment inquiry?

Mr. Will: Overturning an election is a serious undertaking. I believe a) that Trump is guilty of behaviors that justify impeachment but b) that it would be less divisive to let the electorate clean up in 2020 the mess it made in 2016.

Dave: Is it somewhat lonely being a conservative who’s publicly against many of Trump’s words and actions? Were you accurately quoted earlier this year when you said the Republican Party has become sort of a Trump cult?

Mr. Will: Yes, I was accurately quoted. No, being against Trump does not make one lonely — or lonelier than a columnist ought to be. Columnists should not have constituencies, like members of Congress.

Dave: You left the Republican Party in 2016. Is it possible you might return? Is it possible that there might one day be a more nuanced GOP again?

Mr. Will: I could return but feel no desire, no urgency to do so. I rather like being a free agent. Samuel Johnson referred to himself as “unclubbable.” I am, too.

Dave: Your latest book was this year’s “The Conservative Sensibility.” What was your intent in writing it?

Mr. Will: My book is a summation of my 50 years of watching, and thinking about, American governance. I would have written it even if Trump — whose name does not appear in the book — had not happened.

Dave: You’re an avid baseball fan. Did you enjoy the playoffs this fall? Like or not like all the home runs hit this past season? Still a Chicago Cubs fan? What do you think of [Cubs manager] Joe Maddon’s firing? Have you become a fan of the Washington Nationals, too??

Mr. Will: I am a Cub fan forever. Joe Maddon was not fired, his contract just was not extended. With managers, the rule is “horses for courses.” You want to match the manager to the team of the moment. The Cubs officials decided that another manager might get more out of the personnel the Cubs have. I think there are too many home runs — and strikeouts: more strikeouts than hits in 2018. Yes, I am a Nationals fan and season-ticket holder, and will be at all the DC games.