we begin with a look at the Life and Legacy of our beloved colleague and consumate newsman Michael Aaron who died on Tuesday at the age of 78 after a career that spanned four decades covering every major political story of our state dating back to the days of Governor Brendan burn earning the respect and admiration of everyone with whom he crossed paths dubbed the dean of the State House Press Corps but Michael Aon was also an avid soccer player a father of three daughters a David Bowie fan and had a heck of a sense of humor senior correspondent Brenda Flanigan takes a look at the impact his journalism made on the [Music] state welcome to reporters round table I'm Michael Aaron for 40 years Michael Aaron took New Jersey's political pulse with shows like reporters Roundtable his meticulous journalism and one-on-one interviews with the state's most powerful officials Michael talked to everybody his friend the late pundit Nick aachal summed it up nicely on his show Posta and politics the dean of the Trenton press Corps Michael Aaron has interviewed every New Jersey governor Senate President speaker US senator and chief justice in his 35 years of covering New Jersey politics he's a consummate journalist and a throwback of a most delightful kind of throwback back to an an era where one person could command complete respect from all sides Star Ledger editor Tom Moran often sat in on reporter's Roundtable and says Michael was curious about everything he wasn't an original jersey guy a graduate of Harvard and Princeton Michael worked in New York City for Rolling Stone before accepting a job offer at New Jersey monthly magazine as he told Nick I thought New Jersey gritty interesting tough I thought if it were Connecticut magazine no but New Jersey sure Michael joined New Jersey Network went on TV in 1984 year by year his stature grew newsmakers in Trenton always took his phone calls he had a reserved seat for press conferences in the governor's outer office and I think it was Corzine who dubbed him the dean of the press Corps but it stuck because it's true I don't think there's any debate that he was the leader of of the pack down there and and was relied on as the authoritative voice he was the goat he was the guy who showed everyone the unglamorous street work of being a field reporter who everyone knew who everyone respected or in some cases feared um including the young reporters who would follow his every move NJ TV news anchor Mary Alice Williams says few politicians ever turn down Michael's requests for interviews every reporter who knew him can tell you why he would never take political sides he would never make snarky comments about someone that we were covering ever he was always Fair no matter what and I guess that's why the answer was always yes I get no satisfaction out of taking somebody down neither do I I see my job as being a vehicle through which they speak to the public Michael did that job unflinchingly even when he got under President Bill Clinton's skin even people who agree with you and like what you're doing think that you change your positions too much too easily I disagree with that he looked at me and his eyes bugged and his face red I disagree with I disagree with I disagree with that I disagree with that and he got right in your face right in my face that is pure press propaganda with all the respect people do say that well if you tell them that enough they might I really had to gather myself I had just been screamed at by the leader of the Free World Michael often invited young journalists to join him on reporter's Roundtable including politicos Matt fredman he put me on reporter's round table when I was you know just a 20-some year old uh brand new reporter who didn't know anything about New Jersey politics but who helped learn about it and part from being on that show I think Michael Aaron probably helped start hundreds I imagine at least dozens of Journalism careers whether they stayed in New Jersey or not um from that show Michael calm their Jitters about being on TV would always ask reporters to quote save it for the show but fredman also says the veteran newsman had a sharp sense of humor when the Taj Mahal casino auctioned off its contents Michael found a random guy taking a shower there and did an interview you there is a guy in the shower yeah okay on okay I I don't want you guys get wet hi how you doing and at the annual state House correspondence club shows Michael performed brilliantly here's a duet with him impersonating former Governor Chris Christie are you using me until the election Michael remained with njn when Christie zeroed its funding and transferred the broadcast license to W as years went by he opted out of the anchor chair Michael Aaron is stepping down from his daily du duties at njtv he will still be around only not as much remember if you're a reporter in New Jersey never lets you down Nick asked him about his plans for the future you're not going anywhere anywhere soon I hope a friend of mine says ride the pony until it dies there you go there you go I was the friend who told him that he took it to heart and in our minds Michael was only ever semi-retired his legacy will always be felt in our Newsroom [Music]