For years I worked with Mark Haines on Squawk Box, usually Friday mornings as a guest or guest host. We go back a long way. He called me Lawrence of America. The nickname stuck. I loved it.

Like everyone, I was stunned to hear the unspeakably bad news this morning. Nick Dunn called me. I was in a Washington, D.C., hotel room. A lonely place to get some very bad news.

Mark’s untimely passing hits me close. We are about the same age, and of course it gets you to thinking. We had a long history. On Squawk and elsewhere we talked and talked, and argued and debated, and agreed and disagreed. I preferred it when we agreed, mostly because he was such a formidable opponent when we were on opposite sides.

Mark had a very keen intellect. He had that penetrating, lawyer-like skill of cutting right to the chase in dissecting an argument. But you know what? Down though the years I loved it, and I loved him.

As a novice learning to become a broadcaster I studied Mark’s formidable skills — his insightful and penetrating questions, his ability to hone in and really nail someone. He taught me a lot, and I am still learning.

One afternoon a bunch of months ago he came by my desk in the newsroom to chat. I hadn’t seen him in a while. It must have been around Christmas, actually, because we were talking about the Washington debate over extending tax cuts and stopping a humongous and unnecessary spending bill.

He said, “Kudlow, what do you think here?” I said, “Mark, buddy, kill the spending, keep the tax cuts.”

Mark broke out laughing and said, “You know what, I agree with you!” I said, “Oh my gosh.” It was a classic Mark Haines moment.

During Squawk Box breaks we’d go off the set to talk about sports, politics, that morning’s show. I learned he was a great family man because that’s what he talked about all the time. I think Mark had great values. And I think down through all those years he taught me an awful lot about all kinds of good stuff.

As I flew home today from Washington, back to New York, I thought about my pal Mark Haines, about all those episodes and conversations and all our ups and downs as two opinionated guys.

I wanted to write this because emotionally I needed to get it out. I don’t think it’s really adequate, but it’s what’s rattling around in my head.

Like I said, Mark Haines was a remarkable man. He passed way too soon. Already I miss him, enormously. To his family, my sincerest condolences and my prayers. To Mark, may you rest in peace.