Long-time conservative Republican Congressman Henry Hyde of Illinois, a hero to conservatives for his ideological consistency and efforts to limit abortions, passed away Thursday morning at a Chicago hospital (Chicago Tribune obit with video clips). While ABC and NBC noted his death, at age 83, on their Thursday evening newscasts, and even managed to avoid any pejorative ideological labeling, the CBS Evening News ignored Hyde. But Katie Couric made time to highlight how, in a Time magazine interview, Barack Obama said if he wins he'd give Al Gore a job “in a minute” and a position to Bill Clinton “in a second.” Couric added on Clinton: “Obama said 'there are few more talented people out there.'”

ABC's George Stephanopoulos, filling in for Charles Gibson, described Hyde as “a fierce abortion opponent” and pointed out how “his effort to ban federal funds for abortions came to be known as the Hyde Amendment” and that “Hyde led impeachment proceedings against President Clinton.” NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams echoed with how Hyde “will perhaps always be remembered chiefly for two things: Leading the impeachment effort against President Clinton and a high-profile measure banning federal money for abortions, which became known quickly as the Hyde Amendment. Henry Hyde, remembered by colleagues today as a man of the House...”

The full text of the short item read by Stephanopoulos on the November 29 World News (screen capture above was on screen at end of this going into an ad break):

A man who was a force on Capitol Hill for decades died today. Former Congressman Henry Hyde, an Illinois Republican, was a fierce abortion opponent. His effort to ban federal funds for abortions came to be known as the Hyde Amendment. And, as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Hyde led impeachment proceedings against President Clinton. Henry Hyde was 83.

Brian Williams on the NBC Nightly News:

We learned today of the death of Henry Hyde. The veteran former member of Congress from Illinois will perhaps always be remembered chiefly for two things: Leading the impeachment effort against President Clinton and a high-profile measure banning federal money for abortions, which became known quickly as the Hyde Amendment. Henry Hyde, remembered by colleagues today as a man of the House, was 83 years old.

—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center