Neal Boortz announces retirement after more than four decades in radio, replaced by Herman Cain
Herman Cain (left) and Neal Boortz yuk it up before cameras in WSB radio studios Monday, June 4, 2012. Cain replaces Boortz in January , 2013. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com
After more than four decades on the airwaves in Atlanta, Neal Boortz this morning announced that he is ending his syndicated talk show on January 21, 2013, replaced by former presidential candidate Herman Cain.
Cain will cohost the day the president elect is officially inaugurated and then takes over solo on Tuesday, January 22.
“I’m going to miss everything associated with doing a talk show,” Boortz said on air as his producer Belinda Skelton teared up.
He said he is not doing this for health reasons. “I am not doing this because I’m fixing to die,” he said. “I have absolutely no health problems period.” Rather, he wants to travel with his wife Donna, something he said is difficult to do as a full-time talk-show host. He even purchased a tour bus to rove the country.
“We’re going to call this Neal’s happy ending,” he added later with a glint in his eye.
After his first break, post announcement, associate producer Christina Gonzalez popped the champagne. Cain ambled in a few minutes later and grabbed a glass. “Mr. Boortz,” he said. “Your announcement was pure Boortz.”
Neal Boortz takes in some champagne during a break after announcing his pending retirement in January 2013. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com
Boortz, 67, has been the longest running talk show host on Atlanta radio. He is now heard locally on 95.5FM and AM750 News/Talk WSB from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays.
On December 5, 2012, he said he’s going to take the month off. After New Year’s, he will work until January 21.
“Neal is my brother from another mother,” Cain said on air. “Congratulations on the retirement. Congratulations on 42 years in this business.”
Boortz said he will do daily commentaries for Cain and will be a fill in for Cain and Erick Erickson, who is heard on WSB from 6 to 8 p.m. weeknights. Currently, Cain has been the primary fill in for Boortz.
Boortz estimated since he started in radio, he has taken 280,000 phone calls. “And 260,000 got cut off,” he said.
During a break, Skelton said Boortz intimated to her two years ago that he wanted to retired in early 2013. “It always seemed so far away,” she said. “For the past year, my stomach has been in absolute knots. It was hard for him. He loves what he does.”
Program Director Pete Spriggs said he was aware of Boortz’s intentions but they agreed to make this announcement relatively early. “He wanted it off his chest,” Spriggs said. At the same time, Spriggs wanted to have a successor ready to go so he was glad to convince Cain to take over.
“I feel great,” Boortz said on air at 11:18 a.m. when fellow syndicated host Clark Howard stopped by. “Last week, I felt really down. Right now, I’m feeling great. I don’t know how I will feel tomorrow. But I have no doubt I made the right decision.”
In 1970, on what was then called 680/WRNG-AM in Atlanta, Boortz took over for a morning host who had just committed suicide – a story he loves to tell.
He earned a law degree and juggled radio and a private practice from 1977 to 1992.
Boortz joined WSB in 1993 when it was just on the AM side. He’s a workaholic who spends four and a half hours on air every day, longer than most hosts, and Tweets several times a day.
A self-proclaimed Libertarian, Boortz usually supports Republican policies and candidates but isn’t always in line with them on social issues such as abortion, gay marriage and drug enforcement. He espouses smaller government but has been more hawkish about terrorism after 9/11 than many Libertarians.
He portrays himself as an entertainer and castigates people who merely echo what he says and don’t think for themselves. His daily line about himself: “Home of the high priest of the Church of the Painful Truth.”
Herman Cain will take over for Neal Boortz. Here they are from a 2008 event at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre which also featured Sean Hannity. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com
Boortz has written four books. The most impactful was 2005’s “The Fair Tax Book,” which advocates dropping the federal income tax in favor of a national sales tax. In a press conference early Monday afternoon, Boortz said he is working on another book about stories as a radio host and plans to release it as an e-book.
He demurred when asked about a future in politics after he retires but didn’t say no. He did acknowledge his wife Donna is highly active in the Mitt Romney campaign.
Although Boortz still has a home in Atlanta, he now spends most of his time in Naples, Fla. He grew up in several different places, including Florida, attended Texas A&M and spent several years in various professions before radio such as jewelry and carpet buyer, insurance salesman and a speech writer.
He has been lauded by radio groups across the nation over the years, entering the national Radio Hall of Fame in 2009.
Cain, a 66-year-old former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, joined WSB in 2008 as an evening talk show host until early 2011, when he decided to run for president. His bid ended in December. Since January, he has provided daily commentaries on Boortz’s show and has continued to sub in for Boortz.
Cain’s radio footprint will now be national. Boortz is heard on about 240 radio stations. Talkers magazine, which tracks talk radio, estimates Boortz draws more than six million listeners a week, tied with Laura Ingraham for seventh.
“For all practical purposes,” Cain said on the air, “I am done with politics. Essentially, I wanted to continue to express my views and help educate people on what’s going on in this country.”
Cain will do his show each day from 9 a.m. to noon. “That is still a significant commitment a day,” he said during a press conference Monday afternoon. “When I subbed in for his four and a half hours, it was exhausting!”
Dan Kearney, market manager for Cox Radio Atlanta, said WSB will decide later what it will do with the noon to 1 p.m. slot, as well as 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. He also noted that Cain has huge name recognition, even better than Boortz, thanks to his presidential run.
Cain said he had other offers, including TV and radio gigs. But this syndication deal was the most enticing. It will allow him to make TV appearances and do speeches across the country. He declined to say how long his deal will last.
Want more photos from the day? John Spink of the AJC posted a photo gallery.
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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423 comments Add your comment
Cheryl
June 4th, 2012
3:07 pm
I thought Herman left on the Cain Train ,what is WSB thinking? ,need to get a younger,progressive ,liberal to tell all the listeners how to VOTE! Yes listen to other stations the new FM station 106.7 not bad.Neal- Happy Trails ,you should have left long time ago, sounding old ,getting words reversed in a sentence or unable to think of a word,hope POLITICS not in your future.
Hamas
June 4th, 2012
3:11 pm
Neal will be missed. You haters that are disrespectful are only jealous a holes. You probably are mad that he makes a bunch of money for simply talking. Take your commie Jay Bookman nonsense outta here.
Rick
June 4th, 2012
3:35 pm
Hard to believe they could find a bigger jackass to replace him. But they did.
j rooper rowe
June 4th, 2012
3:39 pm
GOOD RIDDANCE YOU RACE BAITING PIECE OF CRAP!!!
On 1/21/13, the smell of sulphur will leave the atlanta area.
THERE IS A GOD!
Melaine
June 4th, 2012
3:41 pm
I am sorry to see him go. He can be insulting, bombastic, irritating, infuriatingly narrow minded and yet amazingly fair minded, sort of like a recalcitrant idiot-savant teenager. His views do not change with the wind but I have heard him change his mind when confronted with an intelligent argument. How many other “talk” show hosts allow their callers to keep talking even when they disagree and want to argue a point? Mr. Boortz will let them make their point and turn it around and blast them with it. Ah, Good Times!! Enjoy your retirement with the “Queen”. Love you long time.
Life is Great
June 4th, 2012
3:46 pm
Thank GOD!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve tried to listen to his crap in the past but could not take the stench…..I switched to Sports Radio…….
Good Ridence………..
Ugliest Man in Show Business
June 4th, 2012
3:48 pm
On behalf of all the half-wits in Forsyth COunty, let me just say we’ll miss ya, Kneel.
mar9
June 4th, 2012
3:49 pm
i seriously can’t stand Herman Cain as a radio personality. its just four hours of 999, army of davids. and buy my book bologna. watch the grass grow or something more useful.
Don't listen to him anymore
June 4th, 2012
3:53 pm
Last few years he was slipping. I used to listen to him everyday—no more—not with internet radio. He’s waaaaay too insecure —it became annoying.
Will
June 4th, 2012
3:55 pm
I’ll certainly miss Neal. He’s about as fair as they come and, even though I don’t always like his spin on it, he is a straight shooter when it comes to truth.
Herman is no better than Hannity or Rush. Plus he proved to be nothing better than your normal politician once he was vetted. We don’t need more of that.
Ratings will TANK!!!
Even though he isn’t about “stirring the pudding,” which is quite entertaining, I would love to have Jamie Dupree. That said, Erikson in that slot would be pretty darn good.
Harry Callahan
June 4th, 2012
3:56 pm
If Neal is 3rd rate, what do you call all the successful sydicated LIBERAL talk show hosts? Of wait…there aren’t any…my bad….
Will
June 4th, 2012
3:59 pm
…and Neal, (since you won’t have to worry about ratings anymore) while you’re out on the road, could you PLEASE get serious about spreading the Fair Tax message?
Guepster
June 4th, 2012
4:05 pm
The dumb masses are saying Neal who? Is he on “American Idol” or “Dancing with the Stars”? And why didn’t they mention Donna’s work with the “Wounded Warrior Project”?
Love you long time Talkmaster!
Jim
June 4th, 2012
4:05 pm
All those top rated liberal talk stations and the #1 best selling liberal books. They’d drive you crazy if there were any. Of course most liberals listen to rap and can’t read.
matchupichu
June 4th, 2012
4:16 pm
Good riddance!
LOL-la
June 4th, 2012
4:20 pm
Rodney, I MUST say you took the best picture of “Uncle Neal” that I’ve EVER seen, quite smashing–he looked like he just stepped off of a yacht with the wine glass (I HOPE that that was H2O in there!!! Lol)! But anyway, nice pics, I like the Boortzer and, though I don’t listen to his show anymore, I was sad to hear him exiting the building. But when I heard his nephew, the Cain-na-nator, was his new replacement–I was ELATED, and thought–ya know, WSB Radio has brains after all–no comment will be posted by me on why I thought they lacked brains–but whoa, they’ll have some ratings alright. But yeah, I didn’t agree with Neal on things, and well, because I want to go to heaven after I die, I thought it best not to be influenced by his naughty Catholic school boy prankster, 12-year old, playful (but dirty) nature, I have always, with ONE exception–when he called a caller of his a redneck for telling the truth about the not so nice side of Islam–no redneckness, just spoke facts–so I thought that was a CBS-ian type move, but anyway, other than that, I’ve ALWAYS had warm feelings toward Mr. Boortz.
I can genuinely say, I am comfortable with the guy, love him (as much as you can a total stranger), and Royal T, and B-Lin, et all like family, even the young Xtina, and that list goes on–cause Shaney B. and Herman are like cool new fam too. Anyway, that’s a good thing about a LOT of Atlanta on-air personalities, and print personalities, you hear them all of your life–they really do get family status.
ANYWAY, love you Uncle Neal, and WSB family, Mr. Arum, A. Dean, etc–they’ve provided this chick here a lot of laughs over the years!!!!!!!!
Peace out, Neal, and congrats Cousin Herman, and the WSB big whigs for the power punch move. COuldn’t have picked a better replacement. Give the people what they want, not what you want them to want, and you’ll get the ratings, the loyalty, and the love!
Much love to you all, and Congratulations to Mr. Neal-la Boortz (as my little brother used to mispronounce his name a cutie pie), and to the grandbabby, and to The Queen, cause though we’ll be saying Welcome South Brotha, to our long lost love H. Cain, a family will be welcoming home their loved one and many memories and cool pictures to be made/posted!
Much love,
ME!
P.S. I talked with Neal on air as a little girl to voice my opinion on the importance of Snow Days–as of course, he was against it! I felt so excited after getting off the phone, and laughed, because at the end Neal asked me what grade I was in–which tickled me, because I SO thought that I had made my voice sound mature, like an adult! LOL And even spoke with Belinda then, and once ions later some years back–but had called in a bit too late to talk again with Neal on-air. But yes, Belinda was VERY nice, SO liked her!
Love y’all, and I’m OUT!
chamblee54
June 4th, 2012
4:21 pm
““I have absolutely no health problems period.”
When he took his draft physical, there were health problems. He got a deferment.
I wonder how the man who took his place in Nam is doing.
chamblee54
.
Jeff Walker
June 4th, 2012
4:22 pm
A draft dodging, far right republican posing as a liberal. Yes I said draft dodging;claims he has bad eyesight that excluded him from the Vietnam war draft yet he’s pilot now! You do the math. No matter what, he always takes the conservative side no matter how wrong they are and consequently is always against democrats. Fair tax? He lives mostly in Florida where there is no sales tax. Bet you a million bucks that’s where he officially resides!
MeaneyMouse
June 4th, 2012
4:22 pm
Wow!! What a pair…StupidIs and StupidDoes
Dave
June 4th, 2012
4:23 pm
I think Neil is selfish!! Leaving the airwaves to travel!! He will be sorely missed.
LOL-la
June 4th, 2012
4:26 pm
1 more thing, to anyone that reads, I know Royal is no longer with us, if that came off unclear in my original post, I remember the weekend he passed, and had listened like the entire day, as Clark, and the crew poured out found memories of Royal T., but anyway, sad news, but happy news–because now someone is going to have himself a LOT of FUN–I mean, off air travel type fun–not just the fun he CLEARLY had ON-AIR! Much love, and congrats to the past, and the future!
CHEERS to all!
Shirley Temple (non alcoholic
Bobby
June 4th, 2012
4:27 pm
I won’t miss him one bit. Unfortunately this will not change the talk show format on WSB to a more progressive show. We exchange one narrow mind for another. And standing in the wings to replace Cain is another right winger.
Colonel Angus
June 4th, 2012
4:29 pm
One less redneck on WSB radio.
Paul Mooney
June 4th, 2012
4:29 pm
Let me know if you’re gonna need a ride to Hartsfield–Jackson?
AtlJack
June 4th, 2012
4:41 pm
40 years of pandering to right wing crazies.
Mr. Boortz, you sold your soul to make money. No sane person could actually believe the nonsense you have spewed. Hate radio. Sad for America.
Atlanta1
June 4th, 2012
4:41 pm
Interesting how most of the early comments were from Liberals trashing what they clearly did not listen to. Why? Because he ‘entertainment section’ better fits their fantasy lives…
Pathetic…
AJC « Sister Toldjah
June 4th, 2012
4:48 pm
[...] Media: Boortz announces retirement after more than four decades in radio, replaced by Cain [...]
InAtl
June 4th, 2012
4:52 pm
Interesting how all the liberals calling Neal a racist and a liar give NO examples of it. That’s because they don’t have any. And the wealth envy crowd must have taken a break from Bookman’s blog today. Best of luck in your retirement, Neal!
Steve
June 4th, 2012
5:11 pm
It’s about time ! He’s become more bigoted and curmudgeonly every day and ceased to be entertaining long ago. I’ll give Cain the same amount of my time I give Boortz – zero.
Gulf Shores Dawg
June 4th, 2012
5:16 pm
Love you Boortz, Cain will do fine, polish up a little, but loved Boortz hazing Belinda and she was always so funny, loved that…gonna miss it
Roger Ales
June 4th, 2012
5:29 pm
Replaced by the intellectual lightweight and disgraced former Presidential candidate, Herman Cain. That’s got to hurt.
Alvin Roy
June 4th, 2012
5:36 pm
Herman “Booty Call” Cain will do a fine job. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
indigo
June 4th, 2012
5:36 pm
The man who thinks it’s a good idea to have every carrying arms into class. Maybe some day he will acknowledge how stupid that is.
Southern Man
June 4th, 2012
5:40 pm
I’m jealous of Neal. I’d love to make his salary spouting venom for a few hours a day.
Southern Man
June 4th, 2012
5:41 pm
Belinda made Boortz. She made sure that no intelligent callers got through. He owes her big time.
Jerry
June 4th, 2012
5:55 pm
Yes, retiring.Let’s not quibble.
Can this be made immediate? Hello, WSB,,, anyone thinking about Atlanta, decency or future market share?
Finally
June 4th, 2012
6:18 pm
THE WSB RESIDENT RACIST IS GONE!!! WOO HOO!!
Atl Resident
June 4th, 2012
6:40 pm
This is no surprise, Cain is unemployed so what else was supposed to happen?
Sparks
June 4th, 2012
6:43 pm
Liberal, leftist posters…please remember the old saying, “It is best to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”….really looking foolish folks.
Val P
June 4th, 2012
6:45 pm
Congratulations and best wishes, Neal. I occasionally listened, but rarely agreed. I will never listen to Herman Cain. He is a complete snooze.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
June 4th, 2012
6:48 pm
Favorite Neal moments…Boo Got Shot and the great Boo Got shot ebonies to English translation by RoyalT…Hosea Williams telling Neal on the air that Lester Maddox did more for blacks than any other GA governor and the black establishment went ape.. and who could forget freaknik updates to the theme of sanford and son(probably a Royal idea).
Boortz Fan
June 4th, 2012
6:49 pm
Say it ain’t so….Boortz is the best! Period
Herman Cain Gets His Own Radio Show | 100.3 WRNB
June 4th, 2012
6:50 pm
[...] Common Sense.” Cain appeared on air with Boortz to toast his announcement with champagne, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. “For all practical purposes, I am done with politics,” Cain said. [...]
Herman Cain
June 4th, 2012
6:52 pm
Hey, where the white women at???
Sparks
June 4th, 2012
6:53 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle – Ditto.
jim
June 4th, 2012
6:54 pm
Best to you Neal.
I like Herman; but when he starts hollering and talking LOUD…click!
Acworth Adam
June 4th, 2012
7:05 pm
Like Herman Cain, but his radio show is terrible.
Will Jones
June 4th, 2012
7:20 pm
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Sid
June 4th, 2012
7:22 pm
just damn… 1st listened in spring ‘88 when I was a freshman at GT – remember the GST days, the pre-WSB vacation, Royal’s 1st solo show & being in car that Saturday (still can’t believe that)…
ohnochinko
June 4th, 2012
7:36 pm
I will miss….well I’m trying to think of something. Perhaps I’ll miss all of his half truths and witticisms such “people died at the Atlanta Olympics because of that man” referring to Bill Campbell. And his replacement…the Bill Clinton of the Right. And I vote Republican.