O'Rourke, PJ
OOPS
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Author, journalist and political satirist P.J. O'Rourke has died. O'Rourke wrote more than twenty books about a range of topics, from politics to cars, and he was a longtime panelist on the NPR show Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!.
According to his publisher, Grove Atlantic, O'Rourke passed away this morning due to complications from lung cancer. He was 74.
O'Rourke began his career writing for the National Lampoon, and later led the foreign affairs desk at Rolling Stone,where he covered world politics from the Persian Gulf to the Philippines. His books Parliament of Whores and Give War a Chance both reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
Later in life he contributed to more conservative outlets including The Weekly Standard and served as the H. L. Mencken Research Fellow at the Cato Institute.
:{[
Politics
Conservative Author P.J. O'Rourke Reluctantly Backs Clinton
O'Rourke was born in Toledo, Ohio into a family, as he put it,"so normal as to be almost a statistical anomaly." His father sold cars and his mother was a housewife.
In the early 1990's he moved to New Hampshire, where he continued to write. According to his Grove Atlantic bio, O'Rourke lived there to get "as far away from the things he writes about as he can get."
"P. J. was one of the major voices of his generation," writes Morgan Entrekin, CEO and Publisher of Grove Atlantic, in a statement. "His insightful reporting, verbal acuity and gift at writing laugh-out-loud prose were unparalleled."
"This is a heartbreaking loss for all of us at NPR, our Member Stations, and the millions of public radio listeners who enjoyed hearing from P.J. O'Rourke as a Wait...Wait panelist and counted on his irreverent take on the news every week," Anya Grundmann, NPR's senior vice president of programming, said in a statement.
The staff of the quiz show hosted by Peter Sagal wrote, "[O'Rourke] made his debut as a special guest on our first show after 9/11, when we needed someone to come on and be funny about terrible things, which, of course, was P.J.'s specialty." Their statement continues, "as much fun as he was to have on the show, he was even more delightful in the bar afterwards. We all will miss him terribly, and extend our deepest condolences to his wife Tina and his children."
P.J. O'Rourke leaves behind his wife Tina O'Rourke and three children.
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GUK
It’s not just politicians who are getting older; satirists are, too. Near the end of this book PJ O’Rourke lets slip the startling revelation that he is just a few months younger than Hillary Clinton and only a year behind Trump, who at 70 became the oldest ever first-time president. Long gone is the O’Rourke of yore, a Republican answer to Hunter S Thompson, travelling the world’s danger zones in search of drink, women and leftwing stupidity. Now he operates more in the mould of HL Mencken, one of his heroes, who rarely felt the need to leave his beloved Baltimore in order to lambast the idiocy of his fellow Americans. O’Rourke lives, as it says on the dust jacket, “in rural New England, as far away from the things he writes about as he can get”. This is American politics as viewed from the back room in front of the TV, feet up on the recliner chair.
[
PJ O'Rourke says blame the elites for Trump and Brexit – and vote for Clinton
Read more](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/31/pj-orourke-says-blame-the-elites-for-trump-and-brexit-and-vote-for-clinton)
It’s an approach that gives the book some of its charm but also explains its many failings. O’Rourke has a nice, world-weary way with the US’s present political follies. He describes watching the first Republican presidential debate with his elderly father-in-law, who had the benefit of being deaf and half-blind, but still managed to find Carly Fiorina an impressive candidate. Now that Trump dominates everything, it’s good to be reminded of a time when he was just one hopelessly flawed candidate among many, each of them a wholly improbable future occupant of the White House. O’Rourke spends as much time on the losers as the eventual winner, skewering Chris Christie and Marco Rubio, Ben Carson and Scott Walker. They deserve it, of course, but somehow it feels a bit easy – after all, the voters have already done much of the skewering for him.
The one Republican presidential hopeful O’Rourke likes is Rand Paul, curly-haired ophthalmologist and son of perennial libertarian candidate Ron Paul. O’Rourke is taken with the younger Paul’s intellectual seriousness but also with his willingness to laugh at the contortions running for the presidency require of him (Paul senior is not known for his sense of irony). An early chance to meet Paul is one of the few things that drags O’Rourke on to the campaign trail and he comes away a little lovelorn, which is faintly embarrassing. He tells us that he and Rand had a lengthy “poli-sci geek yack” about Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist Paper No 84, the wonders of the tenth amendment and the philosophy of natural rights. O’Rourke assumes that his readers won’t be interested in such things, but actually it would be better than hearing his complaints about the way his favourite candidate was treated. He thinks it unfair that Paul got pilloried for his agonised flip-flops on Middle East policy – O’Rourke feels anyone who has a consistent view of what needs to be done in that part of the world is the real menace – whereas Trump was allowed to get away with talking outright nonsense. We don’t need O’Rourke to tell us that politics is unfair: we need him to tell us how Trump got away with it.
The real problem is that unlike Mencken – who saw democracy as rule by fools or, as he christened it, “the boobocracy” – O’Rourke seems to shy away from sticking it to the voters themselves. Because he never gets much beyond what he picks up from watching TV or reading the papers, he tends to be limited to mocking the pundits, who are a far easier target. We all know by now that most of the people who spent the last year telling us how politics is meant to work turned out to have no idea. The voters made fools of conventional wisdom. But what about the forces of unreason at work among voters themselves? O’Rourke offers some half-hearted speculations about what’s irking ordinary Americans, but his book would have been far better if he had stirred himself to go in search of the freakier side of public opinion, as he once would have. As a libertarian, O’Rourke is committed to believing in the right of people to think what they like. But for a libertarian he seems surprisingly reluctant to call them out on it.
It doesn’t help that he comes across too often as a bit of a pundit himself. His continued harrying of the minor players in last year’s drama ends up sounding like a Washington insider’s memory test. Even American readers may be struggling to remember at this point why they are supposed to care about presidential candidates Lincoln Chafee and George Pataki, so who knows what British readers are meant to make of it all. This is symptomatic of the book’s flawed setup. O’Rourke never makes it clear whether his musings on the events of last year were written in real time – and are therefore allowed to be out of date – or have been revised with the benefit of hindsight. Is this a diary of the campaign or is it a post-mortem? By lurching from one to the other, O’Rourke forfeits the reader’s patience and simply comes across as lazy.
Brutal one-liners … PJ O’Rourke. Photograph: Anne Ryan/Polaris
There are compensations. He hasn’t lost his gift for the brutally effective one-liner. Of Melania Trump’s stealing at the 2016 Republican convention of Michelle Obama’s address to the Democratic convention of 2008, he writes: “I’m sorry, but you can’t plagiarise the content of another person’s speech when the speech has no content.” He says of the futile attempts of Trump’s opponents to find the appropriate level of scorn for his behaviour: “More and more outrage was needed. In the end, demand outstripped the supply.” Still, much of the humour of this book reads more like it comes from Mad magazine than it does from Mencken: too many tired puns and cheap digs at celebrity. O’Rourke describes a list of the presidential candidates as “a law firm that couldn’t get Caitlyn Jenner off a charge of Bruce Jenner identity theft”. He supplies an appendix in which he translates what he calls “punditese” into plain English. He needn’t have bothered. Who needs to be told that what “studies show” really means is: “I’m pulling this out of my own ass”?
What the schoolboy humour does reveal are some of O’Rourke’s own foolish prejudices. One thing for which he is willing to mock ordinary Americans is their propensity to obesity. Time and again he scorns the idea that there can be such a thing as “food poverty” when so many of the people who are said to suffer from it are fat. Not only is this unfunny, it’s profoundly mean-spirited: even Trump wouldn’t make such a crass mistake. O’Rourke has let it be known that he had to hold his nose and vote for Hillary when the time came, because he couldn’t bear the idea of such a boor and buffoon as her opponent ending up in the White House. Yet there Trump is, and all O’Rourke can do is shake his head from the comfort of his New England bolt hole. That is perhaps the most depressing thing of all about this book: the nagging feeling that it’s Trump who’s had the last laugh.
How the Hell Did This Happen? is published by Grove/Atlantic Monthly. To order a copy for £11.24 (RRP £14.99) go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99.
This article was amended on 10 March 2017. An earlier version referred to Rand Paul as an optometrist.
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GGL 6 25
[### PJ O'Rourke: “I thought Trump was unstable, dangerous. ...
_New Statesman_
https://www.newstatesman.com › Culture › Observations](https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/observations/2020/03/pj-o-rourke-i-thought-trump-was-unstable-dangerous-i-still-do)
Mar 4, 2020 — Like all good conservatives, the American satirist PJ Oâ?TRourke is something of an anachronism, a nostalgic leftover from a funnier, ...
Videos
10:34
YouTube · Channel 4 News
[P. J. O'Rourke on Donald Trump: extended interview YouTube · Channel 4 News
Mar 18, 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htRa33Zy4vM)
2:04
YouTube · Intelligence Squared
[PJ O'Rourke on why you shouldn't mock Trump supporters YouTube · Intelligence Squared
Oct 13, 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWLRwPRq75c)
2:09
YouTube · MSNBC
[PJ O'Rourke: President Donald Trump Is A Giant Toddler ... YouTube · MSNBC
Sep 12, 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDhNRHj0vEE)
1:22:54
YouTube · Intelligence Squared
[PJ O'Rourke on the US Presidential Clash YouTube · Intelligence Squared
Jan 4, 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dySSUiq3xd0)
Feedback
[### P.J. O'Rourke (RIP) Explains Why You Can Never Win ...
Open Culture
https://www.openculture.com › 2022/02 › p-j-orourke-...](https://www.openculture.com/2022/02/p-j-orourke-rip-explains-why-you-can-never-win-over-your-political-adversaries-by-mocking-them.html)
Feb 16, 2022 — Donald Trump, as his supporters and detractors alike can agree, is immune to humor. All the parody, satire, ridicule, and insult with which ...
[### P. J. O'Rourke
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › P._J._O'Rourke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._J._O%27Rourke)
Patrick Jake O'Rourke (November 14, 1947 – February 15, 2022) was an American author, journalist, and political satirist who wrote twenty-two books on ...
[### How the Hell Did This Happen? review – PJ O'Rourke on ...
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com › books › mar › how-the-...](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/10/how-the-hell-did-this-happen-review-pj-orourke-on-trumps-election)
Mar 10, 2017 — The libertarian satirist and journalist tries to get to grips with the US election but merely shows his laziness and foolish prejudices.
[### Conservative Author P.J. O'Rourke Reluctantly Backs Clinton
NPR
https://www.npr.org › 2016/05/09 › conservative-autho...](https://www.npr.org/2016/05/09/477339063/conservative-author-pj-orourke-reluctantly-backs-clinton)
May 9, 2016 — The conservative author says he's reluctantly backing Hillary Clinton this year, now that Donald Trump is the expected Republican nominee.
[### "Hysteria and shame": P.J. O'Rourke on what Trump's ...
Salon.com
https://www.salon.com › video › rswyox](https://www.salon.com/tv/video/rswyox)
PJ O'Rourke, the convervative political satirist and author, shared his views on President Donald Trump in a 2017 interview with Salon.
[### PJ O'Rourke reflects on Trump (from 2017)
Facebook · Salon
30+ reactions · 3 years ago](https://www.facebook.com/salon/videos/pj-orourke-reflects-on-trump-from-2017/715145206518352/)
Political satirist PJ O'Rourke has passed away at the age of 74. We spoke to O'Rourke back in 2017 about Trump and how he's causing sort of hysteria.
[### PJ O'Rourke endorsing Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump - X
X · JonnElledge
1.5K+ likes · 3 years ago](https://x.com/JonnElledge/status/1493679629672062983)
PJ O'Rourke endorsing Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump: "She's wrong about absolutely everything, but she's wrong within normal parameters.
GGL 6 25
P. J. O'Rourke
American author and journalist
Grove Atlantic
The Official Website of P. J. O'Rourke - Grove Atlantic
P. J. O'Rourke (1947–2022) was an author, journalist, and political satirist who wrote twenty-two books on subjects as diverse as politics and cars and ...
[Born Nov 14, 1947
Toledo, OH](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=a55453b1a2e256c7&q=p.+j.+o%27rourke+born&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOPgE-LQz9U3sDQzNdASy0620i9IzS_ISQVSRcX5eVZJ-UV5i1iFC_QUsvQU8tWL8kuLslMVQKIAfkdvbToAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwidwfHh0tiNAxWBBDQIHbyCNEIQ18AJegQIKhAB)
[Died Feb 15, 2022
Sharon, NH](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=a55453b1a2e256c7&q=p.+j.+o%27rourke+died&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOPgE-LQz9U3sDQzNdCSz0620i9IzS_ISdVPSU1OTSxOTYkvSC0qzs-zSslMTVnEKlygp5Clp5CvXpRfWpSdqgASBQB3BFnnQwAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwidwfHh0tiNAxWBBDQIHbyCNEIQ18AJegQIKRAB)
3:39
YouTube • ReasonTV
Feb 16, 2022
P.J. O'Rourke, R.I.P.
Parliament of Whores
1991
Holidays in Hell
1988
Give War a Chance
1992
All the trouble in the world
1994
Eat the Rich
1998
Don't Vote: It Just Encourages the Bastards
2010
Republican Party Reptile
1987
National Lampoon 1964 High School Yearbook Parody
1973
Modern Manners: An Etiquette Book for Rude People
1983
[### P. J. O'Rourke
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › P._J._O'Rourke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._J._O%27Rourke)
[
](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._J._O%27Rourke)
Patrick Jake O'Rourke (November 14, 1947 – February 15, 2022) was an American author, journalist, and political satirist who wrote twenty-two books on ...
[### The Official Website of P. J. O'Rourke
Grove Atlantic
https://groveatlantic.com › author › p-j-orourke](https://groveatlantic.com/author/p-j-orourke/)
P. J. O'Rourke (1947–2022) was an author, journalist, and political satirist who wrote twenty-two books on subjects as diverse as politics and cars and ...
[### P.J. O'Rourke, Conservative Political Satirist, Dies at 74
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com › 2022/02/15 › books › pj-or...](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/15/books/pj-orourke-dead.html)
Feb 15, 2022 — He was a co-writer of Lampoon newspaper and yearbook parodies and helped promote the careers of John Belushi, Chevy Chase and Christopher Guest.
Videos
12:00
YouTube · 60 Minutes
[P.J. O'Rourke: The 1994 60 Minutes interview YouTube · 60 Minutes
Feb 16, 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvtrnLGeGlM)
3:39
YouTube · ReasonTV
[P.J. O'Rourke, R.I.P. YouTube · ReasonTV
Feb 16, 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c511z3xJtRU)
11:07
YouTube · ABC News (Australia)
[An audience with PJ O'Rourke in 2009 | 7.30 YouTube · ABC News (Australia)
Feb 16, 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx4I1A7UiJA)
Feedback
[### Satirist P.J. O'Rourke, panelist on NPR's 'Wait...Wait Don't ...
NPR
https://www.npr.org › 2022/02/15 › satirist-p-j-orourke...](https://www.npr.org/2022/02/15/1080941812/satirist-p-j-orourke-panelist-on-nprs-wait-wait-dont-tell-me-dies-at-74)
Feb 15, 2022 — According to his publisher, Grove Atlantic, O'Rourke passed away this morning due to complications from lung cancer. He was 74. O'Rourke began ...
[### Opinion | America could really use P.J. O'Rourke's ...
The Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com › ... › Opinion Columns](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/02/13/humorist-pj-o-rourke-anniversary-death/)
Feb 13, 2025 — The great humorist P.J. O'Rourke died three years ago. That's an eternity in these humorless times.
[### P.J. O'Rourke
Facebook · P.J. O'Rourke
25.6K+ followers](https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPJORourke/)
The official Facebook page for P.J. O'Rourke, managed by his publisher, Grove Atlantic, Inc. www. pjorourke.com. . Follow. . Posts.
[### PJ O'Rourke obituary | Media
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com › media › feb › pj-o-rour...](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/feb/16/pj-o-rourke-obituary)
Feb 16, 2022 — The American humorist PJ O'Rourke, who has died aged 74 of lung cancer, was a writer of sharp wit that ranged from dry to lusciously over the ...
[### PJ O'Rourke is the reason I'll never purchase a rental car
Reddit · r/cars
180+ comments · 1 year ago](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/16soivn/pj_orourke_is_the_reason_ill_never_purchase_a/)
Rentals can be a little dinged up, especially around the opening to the trunk. You'll often see damage from luggage being loaded and unloaded.
[### P. J. O'Rourke (@PJORourke) / X
X · PJORourke
23.8K+ followers](https://x.com/pjorourke?lang=en)
Dragging the pond of politics to find the body of humor.
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National Advisory Board
Dr. Larry P. Arnn
President, Hillsdale College
Dr. John A. Baden
Chairman, Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment (FREE)
Midge Decter†
1927-2022
Christopher Long
Trustee, Intercollegiate Studies Institute
Adam Meyerson
Former President, The Philanthropy Roundtable
Kate O’Beirne†
1949-2017
P.J. O’Rourke†
1947–2022
Dr. Walter Williams†
1936-2020
Robert L. Woodson, Sr.
Founder & President, National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise
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