P.J. O'Rourke, renowned political satirist and journalist, dies age 74
15/02/2022 23:35
By Tyler Clifford
Feb 15 (Reuters) - P.J. O'Rourke, the American journalist,
political satirist and best-selling author who rose to fame as
editor-in-chief of the now-defunct humor magazine National
Lampoon, has died at the age of 74.
Grove Atlantic, a New York-based publisher of his books,
confirmed that he passed away Tuesday morning after a battle
with lung cancer.
"P.J. was one of the major voices of his generation. He was
also a close friend and partner for more than 40 years," said
Grove Atlantic CEO and publisher Morgan Entrekin, adding that
O'Rourke played a key role in helping the company stay
independent.
"His insightful reporting, verbal acuity and gift at writing
laugh-out-loud prose were unparalleled."
Patrick Jake O'Rourke authored more than 20 books whose
topics included politics, economics and cars. Two of them topped
the New York Times Bestsellers list: "Parliament of Whores," in
which he used humor to explain the innerworkings of Washington,
D.C., and "Give War a Chance," a book about international
conflict and crisis.
His work also appeared in publications like Rolling Stone,
The Atlantic Monthly, Vanity Fair and The Daily Beast, among
others.
After growing up in Toledo, Ohio and graduating from Miami
University in Ohio, O'Rourke left the Midwest for the East Coast
to attend Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He
launched his writing career at small newspapers in Baltimore and
New York.
O'Rourke joined The National Lampoon in the early 1970s and
later assumed the roles of managing editor and editor in chief.
Later in his career he was the H.L. Mencken Research Fellow at
Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, and a panelist on the
NPR's weekly current events quiz show, "Wait Wait... Don't Tell
Me."
He is survived by his wife, Tina O'Rourke, and three
children, according to his publisher.
(Reporting by Tyler Clifford; Editing by David Gregorio)
((tyler.clifford@thomsonreuters.com;))