Rush had excellent vocal control too, although once he lost his hearing that skill seemed to wane.
Paul Harvey was a more concentrated pill, yet somehow more subtle at the same time. His every inflection had meaning and was intentional. Rush was more relaxed, and there were days where what was in the news got spread pretty thin as he stretched it out into the three hour format.
I remember when Paul Harvey finally commented on Rush Limbaugh, after (he said) many requests to do so. After some background remarks, during which he kept the audience hanging as to what would be his verdict, he finally made his pronouncement: "He's the best there is... at what he does."
Thereby showing the typical Paul Harvey subtlety. An admiring nod to a fellow "broadcast professional," but gently drawing a line between the two of them. Paul Harvey was a conservative, but I don't think I ever heard him use that word. One had to listen carefully to him over a period of time to figure out that he was really, really conservative; he didn't come across as explicitly political at all; the closest he would come would be to characterize a politician as a mis-leader, although I don't think he ever criticized any politician by name. Rush, on the other hand, was an out-front political commentator, as we all know.
Anyway, very hard to accept that Mr. Limbaugh is gone from us. He was unique, and changed our culture. He had a permanent impact, and will not be forgotten.
I never listened to Paul Harvey, I didn’t even know he had a radio program, but I always read his columns and I loved them, especially when he talked about funny things kids did.
Paul Harvey and Rush Limbaugh are both irreplaceable. Originals and innovators.
Old station manager told Rush: “Remember this. No one is interested in your opinions about anything and they never will be. Just read the lines we give you.” Ha.
Line from Paul Harvey I always remembered:
“People used to quietly and briefly accept welfare if they really had to, keeping it quiet within their families if at all possible, to avoid the shame of taking handouts and the embarrassment of not being able to be independent. Today those are called ‘entitlements’ and people demand and fully expect them because they are ‘entitled’ to get as much as they can for as long as they can.”