Editor 's note : Paul Begala , a Democratic strategist and CNN political contributor , was a political consultant for Bill Clinton 's presidential campaign in 1992 and was counselor to Clinton in the White House . He was a co-host of `` Crossfire '' on CNN with Robert Novak from 2002 to 2005 . Paul Begala says he admired Robert Novak for his skepticism about authority , work ethic and faith in his beliefs . ( CNN ) -- In our innumerable debates , I delighted in calling Bob Novak `` the finest mind of the 12th century . '' One time , though , he scowled and growled , `` I prefer the 15th century . Spanish Inquisition . Those were the days . '' Novak left this world on Tuesday , but he also left his mark . Needless to say I disagreed with Bob about virtually every political issue , and sometimes our on-air debates continued as profanity-laced shouting matches after the show ended . Despite our profound differences , though , we were friends . Here 's why : . Bob was an iconoclast . He loved poking conventional wisdom in the eye . If all the media elite were perched on the same wire , Bob would land on the opposite wire and gleefully squawk at them . Bob was an ideologue more than a partisan . One of the many sources of tension between us was the fact that I am a partisan Democrat who believes that , from time to time , my personal ideological agenda must take a backseat to advancing a broader progressive agenda carried by my party . Not Bob . He was a conservative first , last and always , and when he felt the Republican Party had strayed from his hard-core anti-tax , anti-government ideology he would hammer the GOP with the same withering ridicule he usually dispensed to Democrats . Bob was deeply skeptical of authority . He was a lowly lieutenant in the United States Army , and he instinctively distrusted big shots -- a rarity in a town that is often dazzled by rank . For a guy who said he preferred business to government , he was not afraid to show his contempt for network executives with whom he disagreed . Bob had a remarkable work ethic . In the predawn hours after the 2004 presidential debate in Miami , Bob slipped in the shower , breaking his hip . The injury was terribly painful , and Bob was rushed to the hospital . Within 24 hours he was propped up in bed , working the phones and banging out a column on his laptop . Bob was an old-school reporter . Most pundits ( your humble author included ) devour the reporting of others and regurgitate our opinions . While strongly opinionated , Bob also reported . His sources , especially in the GOP , were wide and deep . When I was a White House official , one of my most dreaded responsibilities was dealing with Bob . He did n't support much of anything we were trying to do , but he never lied to me , never broke his word , and tried his hardest to get things right . Accuracy mattered enormously . Bob could be civil . This will astonish some , because Bob could also be rude . But he taught me at least one lesson in civility . On `` Crossfire , '' I carried a debate over into the commercial break . I badgered and hectored and attacked the guest who was on the right . I was angry and I let him have it . `` Wait just a # * & $ @ # ^ minute , '' Bob screamed at me . `` You 're out of line . You 're being rude . Get off his back . He 's come here on our show to make his case and you 're abusing him . We call them 'guests ' for a reason , Paul . '' He was right . Bob loved sports . One tiny island of common ground Bob and I could share was a love of sports . When James Carville and I joined `` Crossfire '' in 2002 , CNN had a much-hyped debut planned for April 1 . Bob did n't care . Maryland was playing for the NCAA basketball championship and he was going to be there . Producers pleaded , but Bob was unmoved . He did the show via satellite from Atlanta , Georgia , and when Coach Gary Williams cut down the net for the Terps , Bob was courtside . Bob became a Catholic . My brand of Catholicism and Bob 's were as different as our brands of politics , but as a cradle Catholic I admire anyone who , at age 67 , is still seeking the divine , still questioning , still open to a new faith . We spoke about faith often , and I 'm sure his Catholic faith gave him great comfort as he battled the disease that claimed his life . Requiem in pace , friend . Or , as Bob might prefer : Goodnight , sweet Prince of Darkness . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul Begala .
Paul Begala : Bob Novak was a friend even though we differed on many issues . He says Novak was true to his conservative beliefs even when GOP strayed . He says Novak worked very hard at being a reporter as well as an advocate .