Why Frank Rich Left The New York Times (VIDEO)

NEW YORK - Previously on The Backstory, Frank Rich spoke about this week's New York magazine cover story "Obama's Original Sin" and why he's been disappointed with the president over Wall Street accountability and gay marriage.

But let's go back a minute: How did Rich end up writing for New York in the first place? For part two, Rich talks about giving up his influential, weekly perch at the New York Times, his home the past three decades, and why he still considers it "the strongest paper out there." In the next clip, Rich talks about the future of the Times -- an existential question at the heart of the recent documentary about the paper, "Page One."

WATCH:

Although Rich tweeted his cover story this week, the columnist hasn't been quick to jump into the social media fray. Will he start using Twitter more in his new gig?

WATCH:

Comments

[ZuDfunck]

06:45 AM on 07/20/2011

are they sitting that close to each other? Or is this video altered? Weird effect. Love Frank Rich.

[NHGranite]

08:23 AM on 07/12/2011

So I googled "stories about Bush before the election" and got The Emperor's New Hump, a story about the strange object noticed under G W Bush's jacket at the presidential debate in 2004. The Times had built up a story about that device being a transmission receiver so he could cheat.
"The suspicion that Bush had been getting cues or answers in his ear was bolstered by his strange behavior in that first debate, which included several uncomfortably long pauses before and during his answers. On one occasion, he burst out angrily with "Now let me finish!" at a time when nobody was interrupting him and his warning light was not flashing. Images of visibly bulging backs from earlier Bush appearances began circulating, along with reports of prior incidents that suggested Bush might have been receiving hidden cues (London Guardian, 10/8/04)." http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2012
I didn't know that.

[Kilgarvan]

01:23 AM on 07/12/2011

Who cares why Frank Rich thinks or says anything? What a blubber he has been over the last decade.

[Ray1938]

09:13 PM on 07/10/2011

I have to say React is the most childish, inane social "interaction" websites I've ever seen. What do words like Amazing, Inspring, Funny, Scary, Hot, Crazy, and Weird have to do with a former N.Y. Times columnist?

[aFtersootdamP]

04:14 AM on 07/10/2011

It was good riddance to bad rubbish and the nyt is still a rag that shills for liberals.

[NorquistNemesis]

05:05 AM on 07/10/2011

Fox needs a counter weight.

[Recalled]

12:41 AM on 07/10/2011

Hardly read the NY Times anymore now that Rich and Herbert are gone. The Opinion section could put Rip Van Winkle to sleep.

[Voltaire911]

10:42 PM on 07/09/2011

Who still reads the NYT? You can get their "news" free at whitehouse.gov

[ruleoflaw66]

09:43 PM on 07/09/2011

Why Frank Rich Left The New York Times

Ooo, Ooo, I know:

Because he finally realized that working for a paper that sat on two stories in two elections that could have doomed Bush both times was indefensible?

[Grammy3]

09:04 PM on 07/09/2011

I miss Frank's column. My Sunday morning newspaper reading is still feeling out of sorts as I used to skim the front page and then turn to Frank Rich for the first reading of any length. Such creatures of habit are we, but everyone is replaceable. Still, I wish tomorrow morning would bring my usual NYT with Frank in Week in Review -- the correct ordering of the universe!!

[Recalled]

12:43 AM on 07/10/2011

Same here. Sunday was about Frank Rich and hoping the Travel section actually had a good article on a place of enchantment.

[cafemocha]

08:06 PM on 07/09/2011

Frank, you are the best, and for that reason your followers will seek you out wherever you have something to say. For example, I really enjoyed your appearance on the Rachel Maddow show last Tuesday.

Please keep reminding our prez to stop behaving like Barack WUSSein Obama, Lord knows the republicans are anything but Wusses.

[jnratliff]

07:48 PM on 07/09/2011

The question is, "Why would Frank Rich want to work for the NYTimes?"
After it became a rightwing lying sack of crap rag!

[Bluedanube]

05:17 PM on 07/09/2011

The question is, "Why would Frank Rich want to work for the NYTimes?" A rag of the status quo and pampered and privileged elites.

[tgd]

05:45 PM on 07/09/2011

You mean because it isn't a "fair and balanced" repub propaganda machine?

[WoodyCPM]

08:30 PM on 07/09/2011

Ever hear of Judith Miller?

[blonjon]

05:07 PM on 07/09/2011

He is great.

[kitvancleave]

04:48 PM on 07/09/2011

All I know is my NEW YORK TIMES Sunday edition is thin without Rich in the "Week in Review" section. Bet he's punched up NEW YORK Magazine's subscription lists.

[ross nichols]

04:35 PM on 07/09/2011

hE WAS THE BEST EDITORIALIST THEY HAD,NO ONE COMES CLOSE,NOT EVEN M.DOWD,HE IS VERY MUCH MISSED.

[wonder6789]

07:15 PM on 07/09/2011

KRUGMAN and KRISTOF are equally good, in their own respective ways. Make that even better.