Opinion: Remembering Kevin Klose, former NPR president and broadcasting icon : NPR

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Jay Paul/NPR Kevin Klose was silver-haired, silver-tongued, and the gold normal for broadcast journalists.

Klose, who was president of NPR from 1998 to 2008, died this week. He was 85.

He had lined the Chilly Warfare from the Soviet Union for The Washington Put up, and used to say he had seen what can occur in societies the place individuals cannot hear actual information, debate is closed, and propaganda masquerades as fact.

"Gathering information and getting it out to different individuals — it is completely important for our democracy," Klose instructed the general public media publication Present in 2003. This was simply as applied sciences have been creating that might put a lot of what is now known as information within opinion bubbles, or behind paywalls.

Klose went on to function president of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, and got here to NPR, he usually stated, having realized that there is no such thing as a pressure extra very important than the liberty of concepts and inquiry.

He helped NPR develop and prosper. Notably, in 2003 he helped safe a $200 million greenback bequest from the late philanthropist Joan B. Kroc, which, as NPR's David Folkenflik stated this week, led to "new reporting positions, enlargement of overseas protection and an endowment that allowed NPR to climate a collection of monetary crises and political storms."

And Klose inspired us to get on the market, dig, problem truisms, and sure, have enjoyable with the blessed alternative to be part of nationwide life.

"Folks flip to us in occasions of disaster," he used to remind us. "Let's be sure you be there."

We have been broadcasting stay on Saturday, February 1, 2003 when the area shuttle Columbia shattered throughout re-entry, killing all seven astronauts aboard. Our present stayed on the air for eight hours. Klose first heard the information at residence in his slippers; and felt he ought to are available.

"Really," he instructed me later, "I could not keep away."

He helped workers make cellphone calls, arrange interviews, and even introduced espresso into the studio. "No sugar, thanks," I acquired to inform the president of NPR. Once we lastly signed off and gave method to a brand new crew, Klose went round with hugs and handshakes, telling us, "You helped your nation in the present day."