Not many people have a life on network television news at age 92, and yet that is what Andy Rooney has been able to do. Curmudgeon that he is, his ideas were always thought-provoking. He has a communication style that basically says, "Here is my opinion and I don't care how the chips fall." In addition, he looked at issues in a way no one else had thought about. He was willing to poke holes in our sacred cows.
One I remember well was shortly after the inauguration of President George W. Bush in 2000. His criticism then was why Presidents always include in their speeches, "God bless America." Not only did President Bush do it in his inaugural address, but Rooney showed short clips from Presidents Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, and the Democratic presidential nominee that year, Al Gore, where each had invoked God's blessings. His question was, "Does that mean that God does not bless other countries? Or does that mean He should not bless other countries?” This was a unique way of saying maybe we use this phrase as a trite throw-away line instead of actually thinking of a spiritual experience that probably does not fit most major speech situations.
An important point for communicators from Andy is not to speak unless we have a specific point to make. His listeners who heard his commentaries never thought, "I wonder what his point was." And Andy Rooney never rehashed old stuff. His other lesson for talkers is to speak only when you can add something new or different on the topic.
