Rush Limbaugh

Talk radio icon Rush Limbaugh died one year ago, on February 17, 2021, leaving behind a massive void of his big, booming voice that articulated conservatism ...

"I would see him from time to time when he was there, he had been making the transition down to Florida, and then they started inviting me to fill in for him," Hannity said. Hannity recalls a loud "thud" sound when Limbaugh’s golden EIB microphone fell in the middle of his monologue the very first time he filled in for the iconic host. Around that time, Hannity was in New York for "The Phil Donahue Show" and popped by ABC to chat with the program director. He was a big believer in the individual and liberty and freedom and capitalism and free markets and our constitution." He has said he realized America was the "greatest country ever" when taking trips to Europe and Asia in his late 20s and early 30s, an experience that helped shape his political views. Hannity started out doing a late-night shift but was quickly moved to the afternoon drive timeslot that came on immediately after Limbaugh. In 1987, the Federal Communications Commission repealed the Fairness Doctrine, a policy that had been in place since 1949 and mandated that both sides of controversial political issues receive equal time on radio programs. "I know that President Trump stayed in touch with him all throughout his illness and would call him regularly," Hannity said. "I wasn't expected to be alive today," he said. "The great gift that I think Rush had is he always had a unique take on whatever the issue of the day was, that nobody else would ever think of. The program that began 34 years ago on national syndication with only 56 radio stations grew to be the most listened-to radio show in the United States, airing on more than 600 stations. And obviously, he loved his audience that much."