Norman Podhoretz Passes Away at 95

Norman Podhoretz, a prominent figure in neoconservatism and former editor of Commentary magazine for 35 years, died on Tuesday in Manhattan at the age of 95.

His son, John Podhoretz, shared the news, stating that his father passed away peacefully, with a recently translated copy of the *Odyssey* on his desk, honoring his legacy as a commentator.

“In his last moments, Norman was just being himself—a true man of letters,” John noted.

Podhoretz significantly changed Commentary, which was published by the American Jewish Committee, from a modest outlet to a key conservative voice in America. He led the magazine from 1960 until 1995, during which time it began to shift more rightward. He often criticized Soviet expansion and, later, Islamic extremism.

Scholar Jacob Heilbrunn remarked, “Norman laid down the foundations for a stronger, democratic form of neoconservatism,” contrasting it with the more cautious foreign policies of some of his contemporaries.

Born in Brooklyn on January 16, 1930, Podhoretz was the son of a Yiddish-speaking milkman. He attended Columbia University on a scholarship and studied under the esteemed literary critic, Lionel Trilling, before continuing his education at Cambridge University.

His political evolution saw him transition from the liberal circles of 1950s New York to the upper levels of conservative thought. In 2004, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush.

This shift in ideology cost him friendships with writers like Norman Mailer and Lillian Hellman. Reflecting on his experiences, Podhoretz said in 2017, “It was an incredibly vibrant intellectual scene. It’s hard to picture now, but people genuinely argued over literary ideas.”

He is survived by his son John, who currently edits Commentary, daughter Lucy Blum, stepdaughter Naomi Decter Munson, as well as 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. His wife, social commentator Midge Decter, passed away in 2022.