This Was Your Life - William Safire Quiz

Answer: Richard Nixon

Safire helped set up the Kitchen Debate and then worked for Nixon on his 1960 presidential campaign. In 1968 he rejoined Nixon and served him until he left the administration in 1973. One of the most famous speeches he ever wrote was one that Nixon would have given if something had gone wrong with the first moon landing. Since nothing did, the speech was never given.

Answer: Spiro Agnew

Spiro Agnew became the hatchet man for the Nixon administration, attacking its opponents vociferously. Safire helped write many of these speeches. He became known for his alliterative style, something that would continue in his later columns.

Answer: New York Times

Even back when Safire joined the "New York Times" it was considered a liberal leaning newspaper. But Safire was given free reign to pursue his stories and write his columns. He considered himself to be a libertarian conservative and called himself a pundit, a phrase that may have been coined for him.

Answer: Pulitzer Prize

Safire won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary. The award was specifically for his work on the Bert Lance Affair, something no one else was covering. He told his editor he had a solid source so the editor put a reporter on the case to follow up. Information according to an article on www.politico.com about Safire.

Answer: Full Disclosure

Along with "Full Disclosure", Safire wrote other novels. These included "Scandalmonger" (2000), "Sleeper Spy" (1995), and "Freedom: A Novel of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War" (1987).

Answer: On language

Safire's column in the "New York Times Magazine" was actually titled "On Language". In it he explored the current trends in the written and spoken word along with looking at the meanings and origins of words. He also had several books on language published.

Answer: Pat Buchanan

Pat Buchanan was another stalwart conservative to come out of the Nixon administration. Safire, Buchanan, and Raymond K. Price, Jr. made up the administration's speechwriting team. Buchanan was considered more of an insider than Safire and he stayed on through Nixon's resignation.

Answer: Tim Russert

Safire appeared for years on "Meet the Press" and he was a favorite of Tim Russert. His articulate views were well thought out and well argued, making him come across very well on TV.

Answer: Presidential Medal of Freedom

Safire was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Journalism in 2006. Others who have won this award in this field include Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, and William F. Buckley, Jr. Not bad company for a college drop out.

Answer: Hillary Clinton

Safire called it like he saw it, pulling no punches with either Republican or Democratic administrations. His ire with the Clintons was based the fact that he voted for Bill Clinton in 1992 out of frustration with President Bush Sr. He felt the Clintons did not live up to their billing.