Howard Fineman, a witty encyclopedic political reporter who dominated the fast-moving world of Washington journalism for nearly 40 years, died on June 11 at his home in Washington. He was 75.

He was what might be called the post-post-Watergate generation of crusading journalists. Mr. Fineman brought a polished professionalism to his tasks and assignments, The New York Times said.

“We are in what I view as a new global war for control of the search for truth,” he said. “We have to mobilize our truth-seeking strength to survive, for America and democracy to survive.”