Nothing more to add to your sweet story, just THANK YOU.

That was a lovely tribute to your father. I can only imagine how you're feeling with his passing. I'm so glad you were able to spend so much time with him. I remember him most as a critic on CBS' Sunday Morning and I loved watching him there.

My deepest sympathies for you and your family.

Melanie

It's not every son who enters his father's profession. And you can hold your head up proudly next to him, even if Salon doesn't issue cool embossed press passes.

Peace and strength to you in this tumultuous time.

I was wondering where you had gone off to, and alas, now I know. My thoughts are with you in your time of epic transition. Fall is the season of mortality and long good-byes. People may pass on in the other seasons. But Autumn is when we let them go.

(this is based on what i've seen these last few years. no matter when people have passed, it always seems like fall is the time I think about them)

Thank you for sharing with us your deep love and respect for your father. My father is also approaching his date with mortality and my thoughts often turn to the gifts he has given to me since I was conceived and how I can best honor him with my words and deeds.

I'm not religious, but I do believe that whatever immortality exists is passed from parent to child from generation to generation by virtue of that unique relationship. The gift your father passed to you was a passion for writing and the ability to perceive and clearly articulate your thoughts to others so that they may better understand "How the World Works."

I want to thank John Leonard, for his gift to you is in turn given to us each and every day.

"My whole career as a writer, I have steered away from such depths"

Except for today.

Many condolences.

This is really a lovely and moving essay.

Whenever a parent dies, and whatever the circumstances, it always comes too soon for those who survive.

Your father always stuck me, across the electronic divide, as a good and decent and gentle and wise man. Perhaps as a country we are back on the path to admire virtue again.

Thanks for that, Mr. Leonard.

I suspect my own father would have been appalled at Obama's win and disgusted at my vote, but I like to think he would have been grudgingly glad I voted, even so.

Thank you for sharing your memories. They reminded me of my own parents. I miss talking politics with my mother, who didn't understand why a classy man like Adlai Stevenson couldn't get elected president and why Republicans kept going after Bill Clinton. They also reminded me of my father who at 72 voted for George McGovern and couldn't understand why people supported the Vietnam War. I wish they could be here to witness the election of Barack Obama.

My own dad, who died 10 years ago, cast his first vote for Adlai Stevenson and often talked about the greatest president that never was. I don't know much about Stevenson, beyond the myth my dad created, but perhaps the success of another prominent Illinois politician is part of his liberal legacy.

As you have proven. And just when I had managed to get my tears under control. Thanks bro. I'll always remember Dad saying that when Adlai Stevenson lost he knew then there was no God. Is this redemption?

I am a longtime fan of your father's and have just felt so horrible and sad since I heard the news. (I'm also the daughter of Stevenson Democrats, so I can relate.) It makes me feel just a little better to find out that your father did get to vote and know that Obama had won. Thank you for letting us know that.

Until the show's segments were reduced to sound bites and I stopped watching, I remember very much looking forward to your father's spots on CBS' Sunday Morning.

Thank you for sharing your memories -

From your words, I read that you are a good and a kind man, and your father loved you very much.

I lost my grandmother the day before Barack lost his, and last week was hugely bittersweet as a result; it was strange to watch people dancing in the streets and to think I ought to be excited. Thank you for sharing such a personal piece. You are much appreciated out here in the ether.

... he would like this one. Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece.

And now you have me crying, too. Just when I thought I had filled my quota for the month.

Many thanks for taking the time to share this with the world.

Condolences to you and your family.

Keep writing

I had no idea John Leonard was your father. My husband and I have had a running (affectionate) joke about him. Years ago we loved to watch CBS Sunday Morning, and we especially looked forward to John Leonard's moment. We agreed that he was guaranteed to do two things: Dazzle us with his words, and then skewer us with some deeply important, grievously serious point in his last, climactic sentence. Because of the razzmatazz of words he'd let fly, we'd always joke, "I don't know what he just said, but it was gorgeous!" And whoever didn't make that comment would follow it with, "And now I feel very, very serious." Of course we DID understand what he said, but we marveled at how we could enjoy the string of words--as a kind of parallel entertainment--even as we followed the meaning of the sentences. His use of the language really was nothing less than acrobatic, and his somber tone was somehow just the right, thrilling background music. And that penetrating gaze--yikes! We just loved him and we have never stopped referring to him whenever the subject of fancy words, critics, or opinion-making come up. What a lovely, lovely man. And you certainly did him proud with this post, in addition to all the terrific writing you've been doing at Salon. Best wishes to you and your family.