Rukeyser, Louis 1933-2006
(Louis Richard Rukeyser)

OBITUARY NOTICE— See index for CA sketch: Born January 30, 1933, in New York, NY; died of multiple myeloma, May 2, 2006, in Greenwich, CT. Journalist, television host, and author. Rukeyser was the longtime host of the popular financial series Wall $treet Week with Louis Rukeyser. A 1954 graduate of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, where he studied public aspects of business, his initial career was with the Baltimore Sun newspapers. Beginning as a rewrite man in 1956, he quickly rose to chief political correspondent for the Evening Sun in 1957 and, in 1959, was made chief of the Sun's London Bureau. His final post with the Sun was as chief Asian correspondent from 1963 to 1965. Rukeyser moved to television in 1965 as senior correspondent and commentator for the American Broadcasting Co. in New York City, also serving as Paris correspondent. Two years as chief of ABC's London Bureau was followed by work as economic commentator from 1968 to 1973. He took his bestknown role in 1970 as host of the national public television program Wall $treet Week with Louis Rukeyser, based at the Owings Mills, Maryland, station. As host of the show he defined the occupation of television economic commentator. Rukeyser was known for his repeatedly optimistic forecasts about the economy, especially the stock market, and for his contempt for economists and professional investors. Setting himself up as an advisor for the average investor, he became the most popular financial guru on television, and financial experts constantly sought to be interviewed on his show. After decades on the air, by the 1990s Wall $treet Week began to sink somewhat in the ratings due to increased competition. In 2002, managers at Maryland Public Television planned to demote Rukeyser and replace him with younger pundits. Rukeyser would not tolerate such a move, however, and he quit instead. Not even one month later, however, he moved to CNBC as host of Louis Rukeyser's Wall Street. In 2003, back surgery led to Rukeyser taking a leave from the show, and continuing health problems, including a low-grade malignancy found by physicians, led the financial host to ask CNBC to cancel the program. The show was cancelled for good in 2005. In addition to his television work, Rukeyser was a successful public speaker, giving regular talks on his predictions for the economic future. He was also the author of several syndicated columns and of books, including How to Make Money in Wall Street (1974; revised edition, 1976), What's Ahead for the Economy: The Challenge and the Chance (1983; revised edition, 1985), and Right on the Money (1998). Among Rukeyser's many honors as a journalist and financial commentator were two Overseas Press Club awards, the George Washington Honor Medal, the Janus Award, and several honorary doctorates.

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Chicago Tribune, May 3, 2006, section 2, p. 11.

Los Angeles Times, May 3, 2006, p. B10.

New York Times, May 3, 2006, p. C14.