Peter Weiss

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Peter Weiss

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Posted by Reprint on September 08, 2003 at 08:01:57:

Politicos respond to news of Weiss's passing

Monday, September 08, 2003

By Agustin C. Torres

Journal editorial page editor

Peter Weiss died Saturday, and some of the most powerful men and women in politics cried when they heard of his passing.

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The third-ranking democrat in the House of Representatives, U.S. Rep. Robert Menendez, D-Hoboken, called The Jersey Journal from Cambridge, Mass., to say he was shocked. Menendez began to talk about how Weiss loved to remind him about how they first met - Menendez had just graduated high school and Weiss was covering Union City City Hall.

"Yeah, I served him coffee as an aide in the mayor's office and asked 'How much sugar and cream, Mr. Weiss?'" said Menendez, who then began to sob.

"We lost what amounts to the national archives for Hudson County, a county icon and institution. Presidents and governors who were running for office and came to Hudson County knew that it was paramount that they talk to Peter. Even people who have been caught on the edge of Peter's criticism, generally with humor, still have a great affection for him - as have I."

New Jersey's U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg said he was deeply saddened at the loss of the man and talent.

"Peter Weiss is the picture that we will all miss," Lautenberg said of the photo that accompanies his Political Whirl column. "He had an impish manner, in addition to being so beguiling as he probed so deeply. It was also deceiving because he sometimes wrote something you didn't expect. After you read the column, you knew it was right, and you always wished you hadn't said it."

State Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, D-Jersey City, echoed the sentiments of others.

"Peter Weiss was a remarkable reporter because he was trustworthy. Readers could trust him. If a politician asked him to keep something in confidence, he did, and that is rare these days, and, of course, he was also always amusing. He was universally liked and for anyone at any phase in politics, that's highly unusual."

Paul Byrne, a political consultant and a controversial figure on the county political scene, was distraught over the passing of the columnist, who he called a close friend.

"I spent more than 30 years, fighting with him, laughing with him, eating with him, and even when he was whacking the hell out of me - I enjoyed it," Byrne said. "In all my years in politics, no one had more of an impact in Hudson politics. No matter what side you were on, we all felt the same way about Peter. My heart goes out to his wife, Margaret Schmidt, and The Jersey Journal."

Jim McQueeny, a News Channel 12 political analyst and president of the public relations firm Winning Strategies, knew Weiss when they both started as rivals on the North Hudson beat for competing newspapers. An emotional McQueeny called Weiss one of those Damon Runyon-types of newspaper men and women who had "fountain pens of steel and hearts of gold."

"The sweetest-hearted guy in the toughest goddamn business covering politics in Hudson County," McQueeny said.

"My first day on the job in journalism I was working for the Hudson Dispatch, and I met him when he was covering one of his first jobs for The Jersey Journal. I had to compete against the guy, and he beat my brains out with just shoe leather and I wondered how such good news stories came out in such a tough place to get news. While I was getting a beating, he would always have lunch with me the next day and he'd tell me how he got to me and the journalistic techniques. We became such good friends. He was my best man at my wedding some years later.

"How someone covering politics in Hudson County for 30 years was able to retain credibility is by itself a triumph, and how he can do that and be such a kind soul is amazing."

Hudson County Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons said news of Weiss's death immediately spread throughout the state.

"Peter was a friend before I became an elected official," Fitzgibbons said. "He knew how to keep the relationship between a reporter and legislator who was a friend. I sometimes turned to him to ask his opinion on legislation, because I respected him."

Hoboken Mayor David Roberts said Weiss's Political Whirl column was an essential institution. "You always wanted your name in Peter's column, it was that important," Roberts said, then laughed, adding, "And when he criticized you, it hurt. I feel we lost a close friend."

One of the younger members of the Hudson political scene who appreciated Weiss as a person was Union City Mayor Brian Stack, who is convinced the columnist's perspective can never be duplicated. "No one will take his place," said Stack. "Even when I was mad, and I called him, he always had a knack of keeping me in perspective as to what was important in life."

Freeholder Bill O'Dea considered himself a close friend of Weiss. "It's not often that a political reporter calls a political official a friend or a political official calls a political reporter a friend," O'Dea said. "That's how it was with me and Pete. It didn't mean that he always agreed with you."

Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise recalled how in 1989 he first ran for political office and made the runoff for a City Council seat. "I lost the election, but I did make Peter Weiss's column," DeGise said. "When I read my name there I knew I had arrived."

Lois Shaw, former Jersey City councilwoman, said she couldn't believe Weiss was gone. "I received an e-mail from him not long ago concerning an upcoming Harry Chapin concert. We're both big Chapin fans."

Jersey City Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham reacted by issuing a statement.

"Peter over the many years became the identity of The Jersey Journal," Cunningham said. "Myself and all of the people of Jersey City whom he helped keep informed for so many years will miss him. We wish our strongest condolences to his family, colleagues and friends."

Jersey City Council President L. Harvey Smith called Weiss's life a literary masterpiece that you hated to see end. "He spoke his mind and had a grasp of politics beyond that of any other reporter here," Smith said.

Former Jersey City Mayor Anthony R. Cucci felt the same way, saying Weiss had a scholarly grasp of his subject with great insight.

Cucci recalled a column Weiss wrote about the death of his wife, who was killed in a terrorist attack on a train during a trip to Peru. "What Pete wrote was so beautiful, yet objective, and so full of humanity that it transcended political partisanship," Cucci said. "I'll never forget it."

Columnist Earl Morgan contributed to this article.

Follow Ups:

Menendez began to Sob....... Because of the Grand Jury 10:56:27 09/08/03 (2)

Re: Menendez began to Sob....... Toni 20:04:04 09/08/03 (1)
- Don't hold your breath. Miss Crabtree 23:03:22 09/08/03 (0)

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: Politicos respond to news of Weiss's passing

: Monday, September 08, 2003

:
: By Agustin C. Torres

:
: Journal editorial page editor

: Peter Weiss died Saturday, and some of the most powerful men and women in politics cried when they heard of his passing.

:
: From our Advertisers

:
:
:
: The third-ranking democrat in the House of Representatives, U.S. Rep. Robert Menendez, D-Hoboken, called The Jersey Journal from Cambridge, Mass., to say he was shocked. Menendez began to talk about how Weiss loved to remind him about how they first met - Menendez had just graduated high school and Weiss was covering Union City City Hall.

: "Yeah, I served him coffee as an aide in the mayor's office and asked 'How much sugar and cream, Mr. Weiss?'" said Menendez, who then began to sob.

: "We lost what amounts to the national archives for Hudson County, a county icon and institution. Presidents and governors who were running for office and came to Hudson County knew that it was paramount that they talk to Peter. Even people who have been caught on the edge of Peter's criticism, generally with humor, still have a great affection for him - as have I."

: New Jersey's U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg said he was deeply saddened at the loss of the man and talent.

: "Peter Weiss is the picture that we will all miss," Lautenberg said of the photo that accompanies his Political Whirl column. "He had an impish manner, in addition to being so beguiling as he probed so deeply. It was also deceiving because he sometimes wrote something you didn't expect. After you read the column, you knew it was right, and you always wished you hadn't said it."

: State Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, D-Jersey City, echoed the sentiments of others.

: "Peter Weiss was a remarkable reporter because he was trustworthy. Readers could trust him. If a politician asked him to keep something in confidence, he did, and that is rare these days, and, of course, he was also always amusing. He was universally liked and for anyone at any phase in politics, that's highly unusual."

: Paul Byrne, a political consultant and a controversial figure on the county political scene, was distraught over the passing of the columnist, who he called a close friend.

: "I spent more than 30 years, fighting with him, laughing with him, eating with him, and even when he was whacking the hell out of me - I enjoyed it," Byrne said. "In all my years in politics, no one had more of an impact in Hudson politics. No matter what side you were on, we all felt the same way about Peter. My heart goes out to his wife, Margaret Schmidt, and The Jersey Journal."

: Jim McQueeny, a News Channel 12 political analyst and president of the public relations firm Winning Strategies, knew Weiss when they both started as rivals on the North Hudson beat for competing newspapers. An emotional McQueeny called Weiss one of those Damon Runyon-types of newspaper men and women who had "fountain pens of steel and hearts of gold."

: "The sweetest-hearted guy in the toughest goddamn business covering politics in Hudson County," McQueeny said.

: "My first day on the job in journalism I was working for the Hudson Dispatch, and I met him when he was covering one of his first jobs for The Jersey Journal. I had to compete against the guy, and he beat my brains out with just shoe leather and I wondered how such good news stories came out in such a tough place to get news. While I was getting a beating, he would always have lunch with me the next day and he'd tell me how he got to me and the journalistic techniques. We became such good friends. He was my best man at my wedding some years later.

: "How someone covering politics in Hudson County for 30 years was able to retain credibility is by itself a triumph, and how he can do that and be such a kind soul is amazing."

: Hudson County Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons said news of Weiss's death immediately spread throughout the state.

: "Peter was a friend before I became an elected official," Fitzgibbons said. "He knew how to keep the relationship between a reporter and legislator who was a friend. I sometimes turned to him to ask his opinion on legislation, because I respected him."

: Hoboken Mayor David Roberts said Weiss's Political Whirl column was an essential institution. "You always wanted your name in Peter's column, it was that important," Roberts said, then laughed, adding, "And when he criticized you, it hurt. I feel we lost a close friend."

: One of the younger members of the Hudson political scene who appreciated Weiss as a person was Union City Mayor Brian Stack, who is convinced the columnist's perspective can never be duplicated. "No one will take his place," said Stack. "Even when I was mad, and I called him, he always had a knack of keeping me in perspective as to what was important in life."

: Freeholder Bill O'Dea considered himself a close friend of Weiss. "It's not often that a political reporter calls a political official a friend or a political official calls a political reporter a friend," O'Dea said. "That's how it was with me and Pete. It didn't mean that he always agreed with you."

: Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise recalled how in 1989 he first ran for political office and made the runoff for a City Council seat. "I lost the election, but I did make Peter Weiss's column," DeGise said. "When I read my name there I knew I had arrived."

: Lois Shaw, former Jersey City councilwoman, said she couldn't believe Weiss was gone. "I received an e-mail from him not long ago concerning an upcoming Harry Chapin concert. We're both big Chapin fans."

: Jersey City Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham reacted by issuing a statement.

: "Peter over the many years became the identity of The Jersey Journal," Cunningham said. "Myself and all of the people of Jersey City whom he helped keep informed for so many years will miss him. We wish our strongest condolences to his family, colleagues and friends."

: Jersey City Council President L. Harvey Smith called Weiss's life a literary masterpiece that you hated to see end. "He spoke his mind and had a grasp of politics beyond that of any other reporter here," Smith said.

: Former Jersey City Mayor Anthony R. Cucci felt the same way, saying Weiss had a scholarly grasp of his subject with great insight.

: Cucci recalled a column Weiss wrote about the death of his wife, who was killed in a terrorist attack on a train during a trip to Peru. "What Pete wrote was so beautiful, yet objective, and so full of humanity that it transcended political partisanship," Cucci said. "I'll never forget it."

: Columnist Earl Morgan contributed to this article.

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