read more on his blog. blog.washingtonpost. our friend, william safire, columnist for "the new york times" for an astounding 33 years. author and one-time speechwriter for richard nixon. mentor to generations of younger reporters. he died at a hospital of pancreatic cancer. he was 79. the "times" reprinted the classic how to read a column column. confidential sources an ax grinders who feed the pan docksy. he was an ill lit rative illusionist. he and his wife were planning to continue their 40-year tradition, tonight, this very night, to host a bevy of washington scribes to break the yom kippur path. he helped introduce me.