January 10, 1977
Page 719
DEATH OF PETER LISAGOR
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, Peter Lisagor's death leaves Washington without one of its most likable, entertaining, and talented institutions. And it is a measure of Peter Lisagor that he would have objected loudly, strenuously, and eloquently to being called an "institution."
I am sure it was difficult for anyone who met him not to consider him a friend. Those of us who fell under his professional gaze can attest to a "bedside manner" which enabled him to ask sharp questions which did not sting, and to make astute judgments which we respected even when we disagreed.
Pete was a professional. While his commentary was often brilliant, and always witty and informed, he was at base a reporter. His raw material was information. And his talent was in communicating that information simply, understandably and, as a result, eloquently.
Peter Lisagor was a good reporter. He was also an impressive human being. He was an opinionated observer of the national scene. And he had the talent to express those opinions with force while not seeming overly aggressive. He was absolutely unafraid, and completely unaffected by things and people with power or influence. And most importantly, he had that peculiar ability to react to people in Washington on a human as well as a professional level.
It was these qualities, I think, which made him so valuable to Americans. Most people knew him through television — his nasal questioning at Presidential news conferences, his feisty commentary on news analysis programs, his wit and irreverence on a network panel show.
We saw in him a quintessentially average American, in Washington because that was where the stories were, a man who always looked up, and never down his nose.
America will miss him. And I will miss him.