Irving R. Levine

This great NBC newsman has died aged 86. As a boy I thought listening to his authoritative reporting was like hearing the voice of God, especially his famous sign-off, "Irving R. Levine, Rome." He had voice, presence, style, and brains like his contemporaries Sevareid, Collingswood, Kendrick and Burdette. And he became hip in the 80's when Johnny Carson regularly joked about his bearing and sober delivery. I thought Irving R. was one of the coolest guys who ever was and I'm sorry he's gone.