For the last time...Irving R. Levine, goodnight

This guy was brilliant. He reported real news, and didn't give a shit about whether people thought he was cool or not. He knew what was going on, and told you. Here he is reporting on the end of Bretton Woods era (starts a 0:41). In his dry baritone, he explains, without actually saying it, how the Nixon White House is handling the negotiations...inexpertly.

Even in the early 70s, when network newscasts had big budgets, the people on the air were mostly Ron Burgundy. Growing up on the fringes of the Empire, seeing this guy on tv suggested that somewhere there were people who had a clue and knew what they were talking about.

His one vice, which I came to love, was that he would get a little lazy toward the end of the story. He'd throw out some hedging remark, then dive into is big signoff. Something like:

"...but critics of the policy suggest it could make the problem worse. IRVING R. LEVINE, NBC News, Washington."

- or -

"...may result in the end of civilization. But for now, only time will tell. IRVING R. LEVINE, NBC News, The White House."

He was easy to mock, and I often did, because his level of self-importance was stratospheric. But, in retrospect, he was important. He was on the air in front of millions of people, explaining stuff that was important to people who really needed to understand it.

The only person today who I think combines his level of preparation on a tough story with a measured and serious delivery would be, um, maybe Jon Stewart.