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Paul Harvey

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Paul Harvey Aurandt was a highly influential American radio broadcaster. He was best known for his distinctive voice and unique storytelling style. Throughout his long career, he reached massive audiences across the United States. From 1951 to 2008, his programs reached as many as 24 million people every week. His news segments were broadcast on 1,200 radio stations and 400 American Forces Network stations. Additionally, his work appeared in 300 different newspapers. He became a household name through his ability to connect with listeners daily.

Harvey developed a very specific way of delivering news and stories. He used a hypnotic timbre, which means his voice had a captivating, soothing quality. He often used extended pauses to create suspense or emphasis. To organize his broadcasts, he used catchphrases like "Page Two" and "Page Three." He also used famous greetings such as "Hello Americans, this is Paul Harvey! Stand by for news!" His style was influenced by sportscaster Bill Stern and columnist Walter Winchell. He was also famous for his seamless transitions between news and commercials. He viewed advertising as another form of news and only endorsed products he believed in.

His professional journey began in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was born in 1918. At age 14, he began working at KVOO radio station. He started by helping with cleaning duties at the station. Eventually, he was allowed to read commercials and news on the air. He continued his radio work while attending the University of Tulsa. Harvey then moved through several cities to build his career. He worked in Wichita, Kansas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 1938, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, to work as a roving reporter.

During World War II, Harvey moved to Hawaii to cover the U.S. Navy. This was a period of high tension after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He later enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in December 1943. However, he received a medical discharge in March 1944. After the war, he moved to Chicago to work for the ABC affiliate WENR. In 1945, he hosted a postwar employment program called "Jobs for G.I. Joe." It was during this time, in 1946, that he added "The Rest of the Story" as a segment. This segment would eventually become one of his most famous contributions to radio.

In 1951, Harvey achieved national success with the ABC Radio Network. His program, "Paul Harvey News and Comment," debuted on April 1, 1951. He also made his television debut on November 16, 1952. One of his most significant achievements was the full series "The Rest of the Story." This series premiered on May 10, 1976, on ABC Radio. His son, Paul Harvey, Jr., wrote and produced the series for 33 years. Although some critics questioned the absolute truth of these stories, the network maintained they were entirely true. In 2000, Harvey signed a major contract worth $100 million with ABC.

Harvey's life included many notable interests outside of the recording studio. He was an avid pilot and a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for over 50 years.

He was also involved with the Experimental Aircraft Association. He even helped fund the Paul Harvey Audio-Video Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Harvey was also a man of deep religious conviction. He attended various congregations, including the Camelback Adventist Church in Arizona. He was also friends with famous figures like FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and Reverend Billy Graham. His friendship with Hoover may have helped him during a legal incident in 1951. That year, he was apprehended while scaling a fence at Argonne National Laboratory to test security. A grand jury ultimately declined to indict him for his actions.

Throughout his life, Harvey's views and style left a lasting impact on media. He championed rugged individualism and expressed concerns about the national debt and big government. He was credited with popularizing terms like "Reaganomics" and "guesstimate." His career earned him many prestigious honors. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

Presidential Medal of Freedom (ribbon)
Presidential Medal of Freedom (ribbon)

He was also recognized as one of America's most admired men in Gallup polls. Harvey continued to influence the airwaves until his death in 2009.

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