Jordan wrote of the matter in his Observer column, "the piece belittled someone who has been very important to me over the last nine months."

Russell Baker, who for 36 years wrote the "Observer" column in The Times, won the George Polk Career Award.

His most recent book was based on his Observer column, Small Ads, appeared in 2005 as A Superhero for Hire.

His nearest rival was his friend Russell Baker of The Times, whose Observer column appeared in other papers as well.

In spite of his new duties as host, which he is to assume in the fall, Mr. Baker will continue to write his "Observer" column for The Times.

Today, after 36 years, the NYT 's Russell Baker files his last "Observer" column.

A larger version appears with a top hat and monocle at the top of the "Observer" column, typically found on Page 5 each week.

The New York Times didn't want to lose him, and the Observer column was created for him.

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Russell Baker, was the author of the nationally syndicated "Observer" column for the New York Times from 1962 to 1998.

For his Observer column Rosenbaum was granted carte blanche.