Radio's Paul Harvey Dead at 90

Paul Harvey, the news commentator and talk-radio pioneer whose staccato style made him one of the nation's most familiar voices, died today in Arizona at age 90. Known for his resonant voice and trademark delivery of "The Rest of the Story," Harvey had been heard nationally since 1951, when he began his "News and Comment" for ABC Radio Networks.

He became a heartland icon, delivering news and commentary with a distinctive Midwestern flavor. "Stand by for news!" he told his listeners. He was credited with inventing or popularizing terms such as "skyjacker," "Reaganomics," and "guesstimate." At the peak of his career, Harvey reached more than 24 million listeners. Fans identified with his plainspoken political commentary, but critics called him an out-of-touch conservative. He was an early supporter of Sen. Joseph McCarthy and a longtime backer of the Vietnam War. (More obituary stories.)