Robert Novak dead at 78 Rob McColley August 18, 2009 - 11:12amJanuary 27, 2022 - 11:16pm An old Illini. Good writer. Funny guy. If modern “conservatives” were as intellectual, researched and honest as he was — there might be a viable opposition party. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/business/media/19novak.html?_r=2&hp