Following up on The Mad Hibernian's post below, the thing I always remember about David Brinkley -- even more than his dry, sarcastic wit -- was his funereal manner. Every time Brinkley popped up behind a news desk and started to speak, between his somber tone and pregnant pauses, I expected him to announce a death or a tragedy of some sort. It got to where you'd hear Brinkley come on and name someone:

BRINKLEY: Good Evening. President Reagan

(Pause)

(By this point, I've mentally inaugurated Vice President Bush and am thinking about who will replace him as VP)

today visited an elementary school . . .