RIP Robert Novak

Longtime Chicago Sun-Times political columnist and co-host of CNN's Crossfire Robert Novak died early this morning at the age of 78 after a yearlong battle with brain cancer.

A controversial journalist who riled Americans on both sides of the aisle, Novak began his career with the Sun-Times in 1963 when he began assisting with the "Inside Report" political column that eventually was widely syndicated. When CNN was launched in 1980, Novak was tapped as a regular commentator for the channel, working with the innovative news network for the next 25 years. [Chicago Sun-Times][CNN.com]