James J. Kirkpatrick, 1920-2010. R.I.P.

James J. Kirkpatrick, one of the American conservative movement's most prominent writers and thinkers, passed away on Sunday of congestive heart failure. He was 89.

Kirkpatrick is probably best known as part of the Point-Counterpoint team featured on 60 Minutes during the 1970s (these were the days before Andy Rooney). He spent a better part of the decade exchanging barbs with Nicholas von Hoffmann and later Shana Alexander. His exchanges with Alexander were the impetus of the Point-Counterpoint segment between Dan Ackroyd and Jane Curtin on SNL's Weekend Update.

Jed Babbin has written a tribute to Kirkpatrick over at The American Spectator.

I wonder if 60 Minutes will mention Kirkpatrick's passing this Sunday. As of this writing I do not see anything on their webpage to note his passing.