Actor And Democrat-Turned-GOP Stalwart Ron Silver Dies

Mar 15, 2009 15 Comments ›› Pat Dollard

In the weeks, months and years since September 11, 2001, Ron Silver was one of a very few Hollywood “conservatives” who could step forward and voice a strong opinion on what needed to be done ASAP to counter the evil that had just hit us … and hit us hard.

Mr. Silver, while not leaving behind his more liberal social views, did become very conservative and patriotic about this country’s national defense and national security. I saw him on several political cable shows stating, unequivocally, that he supported the Bush Administration’s tough decisions in the post 9-11 world. I believe Mr. Silver even sat in for Bill O`Reilly once or twice.

I know he also sometimes wrote for Pajamas Media about his more conservative leaning views of the nation and the world. Roger L. Simon has a fitting tribute to Ron Silver at PJM.

I hope Mr. Silver had a peaceful passing … I was not aware he had been so ill.

God bless, Ron.

NY Post:

RON SILVER DIES
SUCCUMBS TO CANCER AT AGE 62

By DAVID K. LI

Actor and longtime political activist Ron Silver died this morning, succumbing to a long battle with cancer, friends of the liberal Democrat-turned-GOP stalwart told The Post.

“Ron Silver died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him this morning,” said Robin Bronk, executive director of the Creative Coalition, which Silver helped create.

“He had been fighting esophageal cancer for two years and his family is making arrangements for a private service.”

Friends of Silver first told Post columnist Cindy Adams of the native New Yorker’s death.

The steely-eyed, blunt-talking Silver, 62, enjoyed a long career on the stage, TV and in movies, and most recently hosted a public affairs talk show on Sirius satellite radio.

Silver might be best known for playing legal scholar Alan Dershowitz in “Reversal of Fortune,” about the successful appeal of Claus von Bulow’s conviction for putting his socialite wife into a permanent coma.

Once a self-identified lifelong Democrat, Silver was a founding member of the liberal-leaning Creative Coalition in 1989. But he made a breathtaking political transformation, going from far left to radical right after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

He spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York, enthusiastically backing a second term for President Bush.

“Twelve years ago I was here for the Democratic convention. I was on the platform committee. Zell Miller was the keynote speaker. A lot’s changed since then, I can tell you,” a chuckling Silver told The Washington Post.

“If you asked me on September 10, 2001, would I consider going to the Republican National Convention and speaking, I would have thought you were from another planet and didn’t know who I was.”

Silver’s last public appearance came on “Larry King Live” in late October just before last year’s presidential election.

The actor seemed to be swinging slightly back to the left, and took a moderate, down-the-line stance on then-Sen. Barack Obama’s race with GOP rival John McCain.

Silver acknowledged the GOP’s failings under President Bush and seemed resigned to an oncoming landslide.

“The Republican Party, if they are out of power for a while, needs to regroup and rethink who they are as a party,” he said. “This deregulation, this whole Reagan Revolution did not seem to work in this crisis.”

Silver’s art followed his life.

In 19 episodes of the monster political drama “The West Wing,” between 2001 and 2006, Silver played hard-driving political consultant Bruno Gianelli, who brought his brash advice to mythical Democratic president Josiah “Jed” Bartlet.

The Gianelli character resurfaced in the “West Wing’s” last two seasons when he – like Silver in real life – switched teams and represented a GOP presidential candidate played by Alan Alda.

PR News Wire:
Remarks by Ron Silver as Prepared for Delivery at the 2004 Republican National Convention on Monday, August 30, Evening Session 7:45 – 11:15 P.M. EDT

NEW YORK, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ — The following are remarks by Ron Silver as prepared for delivery at the 2004 Republican National Convention:

I want to thank the President and the Republican Party for holding this event in my hometown, my father’s hometown, my grandfather’s and great grandfather’s birthplace.

Just over 1,000 days ago, 2,605 of my neighbors were murdered at the World Trade Center — men, women and children — as they began their day on a brilliantly clear New York autumn morning, less than four miles from where I am now standing.

We will never forgive. Never forget. Never excuse!

At the end of World War II, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander of the South Pacific, said:

“It is my earnest hope – indeed the hope of all mankind – that from this
solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past, a world found upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice.”

The hope he expressed then remains relevant today.

We are again engaged in a war that will define the future of humankind.

Responding to attacks on our soil, America has led a coalition of countries against extremists who want to destroy our way of life and our values.

This is a war we did not seek.

This is a war waged against us.

This is a war to which we had to respond.

History shows that we are not imperialists . . . but we are fighters for freedom and democracy.

Even though I am a well-recognized liberal on many issues confronting our society today, I find it ironic that many human rights advocates and outspoken members of my own entertainment community are often on the front lines to protest repression, for which I applaud them but they are usually the first ones to oppose any use of force to take care of these horrors that they catalogue repeatedly.

Under the unwavering leadership of President Bush, the cause of freedom and democracy is being advanced by the courageous men and women serving in our Armed Services.

The President is doing exactly the right thing.

That is why we need this President at this time!

I am grateful for the chance to speak tonight to express my support for our Commander-in-Chief, for our brave troops, and for the vital cause which they have undertaken.

General Dwight Eisenhower’s statement of 60 years ago is true today . . .

“United in this determination and with unshakable faith in the cause for which we fight, we will, with God’s help, go forward to our greatest victory.”

Thank you.

Paid for by the Committee on Arrangements for
the 2004 Republican National Convention
2 Penn Plaza * New York, NY 10121 * (212) 356-2004