Rowland Evans
Encyclopedia
Rowland Evans, Jr. was an American
journalist
. He was known best for his decades-long syndicated column and television partnership with Robert Novak
, a partnership that endured, if only by way of a joint subscription newsletter, until Evans's death.
Born in Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania
, Evans attended Yale University
briefly, but left to join the United States Marines and saw action in the Solomon Islands
during World War II
. Medically discharged in 1944 after contracting malaria
, Evans began his journalism career with the Philadelphia Bulletin
before he joining the New York Herald-Tribune and working his way up to becoming the paper's Congressional correspondent. He became a Washington journalist in 1945.
It was in that role that he met his lifelong writing partner, Robert Novak
, the Capitol Hill correspondent for The Wall Street Journal
. They founded the "Evans-Novak Political Report" in 1967, four years after they had launched their nationally syndicated column. His work landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents
. "Inside Report" became noteworthy among syndicated political columns for being what the trade called "dope pieces" almost exclusively: inside reporting more than polemics, even though the team's conservative
inclination gradually became evident.
By 1980, Evans & Novak were among the most widely syndicated columns in the United States as well as frequent guests on news-oriented radio and television talk programs. The team was among the first to join the fledgling CNN, with Evans & Novak becoming one of the cable network's best-watched discussion programs. Al Hunt
and Mark Shields
later joined the show as Evans scaled back his on-air work, and the title became Evans, Novak, Hunt & Shields
. In addition, Evans---on his own and with his writing partner---contributed essays to such magazines as Harper's, The Saturday Evening Post
, The New Republic
, The Atlantic, and others, not to mention joining his partner as a Reader's Digest
contributing editor.
The team also co-wrote several books, including Lyndon B. Johnson: The Exercise of Power (1966); Nixon in the White House: The Frustration of Power (1971); and The Reagan Revolution (1981). They were featured prominently in The Boys on the Bus, Timothy Crouse's memorable best-seller about the workings of the Washington press corps during the 1972 presidential campaigns.
Evans retired from the Evans & Novak syndicated column in 1993, but he remained Novak's partner on television and in publishing a bi-weekly newsletter, The Evans & Novak Political Report. He was diagnosed with cancer
in 2000 and died a month before his 80th birthday.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He was known best for his decades-long syndicated column and television partnership with Robert Novak
Robert Novak
Robert David Sanders "Bob" Novak was an American syndicated columnist, journalist, television personality, author, and conservative political commentator. After working for two newspapers before serving for the U.S. Army in the Korean War, he became a reporter for the Associated Press and then for...
, a partnership that endured, if only by way of a joint subscription newsletter, until Evans's death.
Born in Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania
Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania
Whitemarsh Township is a Home Rule Municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. However, it maintains its former classification of "Township" in its official name. The population was 17,349 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Evans attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
briefly, but left to join the United States Marines and saw action in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Medically discharged in 1944 after contracting malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, Evans began his journalism career with the Philadelphia Bulletin
Philadelphia Bulletin
For the 2004 resurrection of the Bulletin, see The Bulletin .The Philadelphia Bulletin was a daily evening newspaper published from 1847 to 1982 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the largest circulation newspaper in Philadelphia for 76 years and was once the largest evening newspaper in the...
before he joining the New York Herald-Tribune and working his way up to becoming the paper's Congressional correspondent. He became a Washington journalist in 1945.
It was in that role that he met his lifelong writing partner, Robert Novak
Robert Novak
Robert David Sanders "Bob" Novak was an American syndicated columnist, journalist, television personality, author, and conservative political commentator. After working for two newspapers before serving for the U.S. Army in the Korean War, he became a reporter for the Associated Press and then for...
, the Capitol Hill correspondent for The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
. They founded the "Evans-Novak Political Report" in 1967, four years after they had launched their nationally syndicated column. His work landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents
Master list of Nixon political opponents
A master list of Nixon political opponents was compiled to supplement the original Nixon's Enemies List of 20 key people considered opponents of President Richard Nixon. The master list was compiled by Charles Colson's office and sent in memorandum form to John Dean. Dean later provided this...
. "Inside Report" became noteworthy among syndicated political columns for being what the trade called "dope pieces" almost exclusively: inside reporting more than polemics, even though the team's conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
inclination gradually became evident.
By 1980, Evans & Novak were among the most widely syndicated columns in the United States as well as frequent guests on news-oriented radio and television talk programs. The team was among the first to join the fledgling CNN, with Evans & Novak becoming one of the cable network's best-watched discussion programs. Al Hunt
Al Hunt
Albert R. Hunt Jr. is the executive Washington editor for Bloomberg News, a subsidiary of Bloomberg L.P. Hunt hosts the Sunday morning talk show Political Capital on Bloomberg Television, which airs on Friday night.-Personal life:...
and Mark Shields
Mark Shields
Mark Shields is an American political columnist and commentator.Since 1988, Shields has provided weekly political analysis and commentary for PBS’ award-winning PBS NewsHour. His current sparring partner is David Brooks of The New York Times. Previous counterparts were the late William Safire,...
later joined the show as Evans scaled back his on-air work, and the title became Evans, Novak, Hunt & Shields
Evans, Novak, Hunt & Shields
Evans, Novak, Hunt & Shields was an interview/political discussion show on CNN for approximately 20 years hosted by Rowland Evans and Robert Novak. The weekly program featured four rotating panelists, including Evans, Novak, Al Hunt and Mark Shields....
. In addition, Evans---on his own and with his writing partner---contributed essays to such magazines as Harper's, The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
, The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
, The Atlantic, and others, not to mention joining his partner as a Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
contributing editor.
The team also co-wrote several books, including Lyndon B. Johnson: The Exercise of Power (1966); Nixon in the White House: The Frustration of Power (1971); and The Reagan Revolution (1981). They were featured prominently in The Boys on the Bus, Timothy Crouse's memorable best-seller about the workings of the Washington press corps during the 1972 presidential campaigns.
Evans retired from the Evans & Novak syndicated column in 1993, but he remained Novak's partner on television and in publishing a bi-weekly newsletter, The Evans & Novak Political Report. He was diagnosed with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 2000 and died a month before his 80th birthday.
External links
- Amy Sullivan, Bob in Paradise, Washington Monthly