Comments on: President Ford Dies; Instant Obit Surfaces http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/president_ford.html The Law, the Universe, and Everything Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:31:00 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Columbia Law Student http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/president_ford.html/comment-page-1#comment-55785 Columbia Law Student Fri, 29 Dec 2006 18:18:04 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/president-ford-dies-instant-obit-surfaces.html#comment-55785 All of the news networks have obituaries ready to go for many people. I worked at a major television news organization about five years ago, and on their system they had obituaries ready for a bunch of people, though only a few "major" people had extensive entries (these included all of the living Presidents, Hillary Clinton, Pope John Paul II, Bob Hope, and a few others). In the news business "getting the story" first is important. By having pre-made news packages, the networks enable themselves to cover the story without rushing like crazy to put something together (which would be more likely to contain errors). Given that Gerald Ford planned his own funeral, I don't think having a news package about his life pre-prepared is disrespectful. All of the news networks have obituaries ready to go for many people. I worked at a major television news organization about five years ago, and on their system they had obituaries ready for a bunch of people, though only a few “major” people had extensive entries (these included all of the living Presidents, Hillary Clinton, Pope John Paul II, Bob Hope, and a few others).

In the news business “getting the story” first is important. By having pre-made news packages, the networks enable themselves to cover the story without rushing like crazy to put something together (which would be more likely to contain errors). Given that Gerald Ford planned his own funeral, I don’t think having a news package about his life pre-prepared is disrespectful.

]]> By: Eric http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/president_ford.html/comment-page-1#comment-55784 Eric Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:22:07 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/president-ford-dies-instant-obit-surfaces.html#comment-55784 A few years ago the NYT ran a canned obit on the front page. The problem was that the obit writer, whose name appeared in the byline, was already dead himself. --Eric <a>New York Personal Injury Law Blog </a> A few years ago the NYT ran a canned obit on the front page. The problem was that the obit writer, whose name appeared in the byline, was already dead himself.

–Eric

New York Personal Injury Law Blog

]]> By: Peter Spiro http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/president_ford.html/comment-page-1#comment-55783 Peter Spiro Thu, 28 Dec 2006 06:02:52 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/president-ford-dies-instant-obit-surfaces.html#comment-55783 My favorite example from an obit written well in advance: Cyrus Vance was interviewed for and quoted in his own in the NY Times. Just another (small) way to shape a historical legacy. My favorite example from an obit written well in advance: Cyrus Vance was interviewed for and quoted in his own in the NY Times. Just another (small) way to shape a historical legacy.

]]> By: David S. Cohen http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/president_ford.html/comment-page-1#comment-55782 David S. Cohen Wed, 27 Dec 2006 19:19:10 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/president-ford-dies-instant-obit-surfaces.html#comment-55782 I wonder if Hunter Thompson had this <a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/thompson02212005.html" rel="nofollow">obit of Nixon</a>, the best I saw at the time, just lying in wait. I wonder if Hunter Thompson had this obit of Nixon, the best I saw at the time, just lying in wait.

]]> By: Dave Hoffman http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/president_ford.html/comment-page-1#comment-55781 Dave Hoffman Wed, 27 Dec 2006 16:45:08 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/president-ford-dies-instant-obit-surfaces.html#comment-55781 I'm reading about him in the obit you mention, and find myself liking him immensely. (Having not been alive when he was president!). Great line and telling story from the Times: "He invited to the White House individuals who had been excluded as political “enemies” in the lists kept by the Nixon administration. When Mr. Ford heard, as a Republican in Congress, that Mr. Nixon kept such a list, he said to an aide, “Anybody who can’t keep his enemies in his head has too many enemies.”" I’m reading about him in the obit you mention, and find myself liking him immensely. (Having not been alive when he was president!). Great line and telling story from the Times: “He invited to the White House individuals who had been excluded as political “enemies” in the lists kept by the Nixon administration. When Mr. Ford heard, as a Republican in Congress, that Mr. Nixon kept such a list, he said to an aide, “Anybody who can’t keep his enemies in his head has too many enemies.””

]]> By: KC http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/president_ford.html/comment-page-1#comment-55780 KC Wed, 27 Dec 2006 16:32:30 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/president-ford-dies-instant-obit-surfaces.html#comment-55780 You got it right. Any prominent person these days who seems somewhat likely to die already has a prewritten obit nearly finished. Pity the newspaper who doesn't have one ready when the crosstown rival does... <p> I think it's good planning, even if morbid to consider.</p> You got it right. Any prominent person these days who seems somewhat likely to die already has a prewritten obit nearly finished. Pity the newspaper who doesn’t have one ready when the crosstown rival does…

I think it’s good planning, even if morbid to consider.

]]> By: Patrick S. O'Donnell http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/president_ford.html/comment-page-1#comment-56114 Patrick S. O'Donnell Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:14:44 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/president-ford-dies-instant-obit-surfaces.html#comment-56114 At his age, and given recent stays at the hospital for this and that, President Ford's death could hardly amount to 'breaking news' or much of a 'news event' (in which case, reference to the 'canned bio' is no longer pejorative). Obits on many famous or important people are in some measure prepared in advance, which I would think facilitates 'fact-checking' and even better written obituaries than if the converse were the case. Incidentally, there's been some articles and at least one book of late that discuss the craft of obituary writing. And from Wikipedia, we learn that 'The British Medical Journal encourages doctors to write their own obituaries for publication after their death,' something Stoics and Buddhists might appreciate insofar as such a practice facilitates some reflection on death in both an abstract yet personal manner. I suppose this is my roundabout way of saying I don't quite see how this is in any way disrespectful.... At his age, and given recent stays at the hospital for this and that, President Ford’s death could hardly amount to ‘breaking news’ or much of a ‘news event’ (in which case, reference to the ‘canned bio’ is no longer pejorative). Obits on many famous or important people are in some measure prepared in advance, which I would think facilitates ‘fact-checking’ and even better written obituaries than if the converse were the case. Incidentally, there’s been some articles and at least one book of late that discuss the craft of obituary writing. And from Wikipedia, we learn that ‘The British Medical Journal encourages doctors to write their own obituaries for publication after their death,’ something Stoics and Buddhists might appreciate insofar as such a practice facilitates some reflection on death in both an abstract yet personal manner. I suppose this is my roundabout way of saying I don’t quite see how this is in any way disrespectful….

]]> By: Patrick S. O'Donnell http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/president_ford.html/comment-page-1#comment-55779 Patrick S. O'Donnell Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:14:44 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/president-ford-dies-instant-obit-surfaces.html#comment-55779 At his age, and given recent stays at the hospital for this and that, President Ford's death could hardly amount to 'breaking news' or much of a 'news event' (in which case, reference to the 'canned bio' is no longer pejorative). Obits on many famous or important people are in some measure prepared in advance, which I would think facilitates 'fact-checking' and even better written obituaries than if the converse were the case. Incidentally, there's been some articles and at least one book of late that discuss the craft of obituary writing. And from Wikipedia, we learn that 'The British Medical Journal encourages doctors to write their own obituaries for publication after their death,' something Stoics and Buddhists might appreciate insofar as such a practice facilitates some reflection on death in both an abstract yet personal manner. I suppose this is my roundabout way of saying I don't quite see how this is in any way disrespectful.... At his age, and given recent stays at the hospital for this and that, President Ford’s death could hardly amount to ‘breaking news’ or much of a ‘news event’ (in which case, reference to the ‘canned bio’ is no longer pejorative). Obits on many famous or important people are in some measure prepared in advance, which I would think facilitates ‘fact-checking’ and even better written obituaries than if the converse were the case. Incidentally, there’s been some articles and at least one book of late that discuss the craft of obituary writing. And from Wikipedia, we learn that ‘The British Medical Journal encourages doctors to write their own obituaries for publication after their death,’ something Stoics and Buddhists might appreciate insofar as such a practice facilitates some reflection on death in both an abstract yet personal manner. I suppose this is my roundabout way of saying I don’t quite see how this is in any way disrespectful….

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