Conservative Bio: Norman Podhoretz

Occasionally, I will be featuring people and players that have influenced conservative thought. Today a quick look at Norman Podhoretz:



Here is his brief bio from the Hudson Institute:

Norman Podhoretz was a senior fellow from 1995 - 2003. After retiring from Commentary, where he had been editor-in-chief since 1960. Podhoretz studies, writes, and speaks on social, cultural, and international issues. He also serves as editor-at-large of Commentary.

Podhoretz was a Pulitzer Scholar at Columbia University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English from Cambridge University, England, where he was a Fulbright Scholar and a Kellett Fellow. Podhoretz has a Bachelor's degree in Hebrew Literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary and he has been awarded honorary doctorates by Hamilton College, the Jewish Theological Seminary, Yeshiva University, Boston University, and Adelphi University.

Podhoretz is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He was also the Chairman of the New Directions Advisory Committee of the United States Information Agency (USIA) from 1981-1987. Podhoretz is listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World.

source

Some of the more revealing insights can be found in this 1999 interview.

Other interesting items:

• Podhoretz's mentor was Irving Kristol, another towering figure in conservative thought
  
• Podhoretz is married to Midge Decter, an author and influential conservative in her own right
  
• John Podhoretz (author of "Bush Country") is Norman's son
  
• Norman and Midge left the Democratic party in the 1970s