Political Historian-Commentator Richard Reeves Dies at 83

Richard Reeves, a political columnist, journalist and author known for his in-depth examinations of the presidency and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, has died at his home in Los Angeles at age 83.

Reeves, who had cancer, died Wednesday of cardiac arrest, according to USC’s Annenberg School for Communication, where he was a senior lecturer of journalism.

His former colleagues at the Annenberg School praised Reeves for his insightful political commentary and his ability to discuss the major events of the 20th century as someone who’d witnessed history unfold firsthand.

“It was just kind of always jaw-dropping when you could turn to him and ask him something and he would basically have been on the scene in so many of these situations,” said Gabriel Kahn, a USC Annenberg professor who co-taught a history of journalism class with Reeves.