David Halberstam was killed in a car wreck today. He won’t be remembered for that. Instead, it will be his amazing works of biography and research, like “Summer of ‘49″ and the important “The Best and The Brightest,” which many claim changed the public’s view of the Viet Nam war in ways only seen by the Walter Cronkite shift.
I had the chance to interview Halberstam twice for BP Radio. The first time he told the heartfelt story behind “Teammates,” his book that told the story of Ted Williams and his friends. The second time was simply because I enjoyed the first and felt like he had more to say. Both times I felt like I’d learned something at the end of the interview and that his voice was truly one of authority. You don’t get that often.
I didn’t know Halberstam. In fact, one of the sharper memories I have of him is a tale a fellow writer and friend told me about addressing him as “David” rather than “Mr. Halberstam.” Let’s just say Mr. Halberstam was old school. While I didn’t know him personally, I believe that his books will stand for him, a fitting tribute for any writer who by writing down history grasps for immortality.
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