He was a bridge for the muckrakers of a century ago and the crop that came out of Watergate. He held politicians to a level of accountability in an era where journalists were very deferential to those in power. (Mark Feldstein)
On the one hand, I think it's really disturbing to have the FBI come knocking at your door, demanding to look at things you've been reading. It smacks of a Gestapo state. On the other hand, it's so heavy handed to be almost ludicrous. (Mark Feldstein)
Part circus huckster, part guerrilla fighter, part righteous rogue, Anderson waged a one-man journalistic resistance when it was exceedingly unpopular to do so. (Mark Feldstein)
These incidents become viewed through the lens of metaphor, (Mark Feldstein)
He had such huge strengths and huge weaknesses. He practiced journalism like a blue-collar craftsman with a populist point of view. He was practicing a crusading craft rather than a profession, and investigative reporting has lost some of its juice, its verve, its gusto, in trying to be objective. Anderson didn't try to hide his politics or his agenda. (Mark Feldstein)
Much of what passes for news in Washington is very hurried leaks from officials in power, whether in a corridor conversation or a thirty second phone call. And the media is far too credulous of accepting the word of Washington officialdom when it comes to self-serving leaks or publishing self-serving information. (Mark Feldstein)