David Broder

David Broder appeared on Meet the Press a record 401 times, but that wasn’t what made him dean of political reporters. His true forum was in the homes of voters. In 2008, after half a century on the beat, Broder was still ringing doorbells in New Hampshire, interviewing the true experts in this democratic Republic. A Pulitzer winner for his Watergate coverage, Broder wrote pieces that were deeply wired into back rooms and insiders, yet he never mistook government for a game. Too centrist for some partisans, he boldly admitted his mistakes in a yearly column. The collegial soul of the Washington Post, Broder died March 9 at 81.