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'''Benjamin Crowninshield "Ben" Bradlee''' (August 26, 1921{{spaced ndash}}October 21, 2014) was executive editor of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' from 1968 to 1991.<ref name="investPower"/> He became a national figure during the [[:Category:Presidency of Richard Nixon|presidency of Richard Nixon]], when he challenged the federal government over the right to publish the [[Pentagon Papers]] and oversaw the publication of [[Bob Woodward]]'s and [[Carl Bernstein]]'s stories documenting the [[Watergate scandal]]. At his death he held the title of vice president at-large of ''The Washington Post''.
'''Benjamin Crowninshield “Ben” Bradlee''' (August 26, 1921–October 21, 2014) was executive editor of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' from 1968 to 1991.<ref name="investPower"/> He became a national figure during the [[:Category:Presidency of Richard Nixon|presidency of Richard Nixon]], when he challenged the federal government over the right to publish the [[Pentagon Papers]] and oversaw the publication of [[Bob Woodward]]’s and [[Carl Bernstein]]’s stories documenting the [[Watergate scandal]]. At his death he held the title of vice president at-large of ''The Washington Post''.


He was also an advocate for education and the study of history,<ref name="investPower"/> including working for years as an active trustee on the boards of several major educational, historical, and archeological research institutions.<ref name="investPower"/>
He was also an advocate for education and the study of history,<ref name="investPower"/> including working for years as an active trustee on the boards of several major educational, historical, and archeological research institutions.<ref name="investPower"/>


When Bradlee married for the first time, it was to Jean [[Saltonstall family|Saltonstall]]. They married on August 8, 1942,<ref name="nyt2014"/> and had one son, Ben Bradlee, Jr., who was raised in Cambridge by his mother and her second husband, Bill Haussermann.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2009/03/22/bill_haussermann_87_lawyer_donated_time_to_charities/ Bill Haussermann, 87; lawyer donated time to charities By Bryan Marquard], ''[[Boston Globe]]'' March 22, 2009</ref> Ben Bradlee, Jr. is a former deputy managing editor of ''[[The Boston Globe]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/bios/bradlee.htm|title=Ben Bradlee Jr.|year=2004|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=June 27, 2011}}</ref>
When Bradlee married for the first time, it was to Jean [[Saltonstall family|Saltonstall]]. They married on August 8, 1942,<ref name="nyt2014"/> and had one son, Ben Bradlee Jr., who was raised in Cambridge by his mother and her second husband, Bill Haussermann.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2009/03/22/bill_haussermann_87_lawyer_donated_time_to_charities/ Bill Haussermann, 87; lawyer donated time to charities By Bryan Marquard], ''[[Boston Globe]]'' March 22, 2009</ref> Ben Bradlee, Jr. is a former deputy managing editor of ''[[The Boston Globe]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/bios/bradlee.htm|title=Ben Bradlee Jr.|year=2004|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=June 27, 2011}}</ref>


==Early life, education and ancestry==
==Early life, education, and ancestry==
A member of the [[Boston Brahmin]] [[Crowninshield family]], Bradlee was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 26, 1921. His father was [[Frederick Bradlee|Frederick Josiah Bradlee, Jr.]] (1892–1970), a direct descendant of Nathan Bradley – the first American Bradley, born in the colony of Massachusetts in 1631. His mother, Josephine de Gersdorff (1896–1975), was awarded the French Legion of Honor for helping keep children safe from Nazi Germany during [[World War II]].{{citation needed |date=October 2010}}
A member of the [[Boston Brahmin]] [[Crowninshield family]], Bradlee was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 26, 1921. His father was [[Frederick Bradlee|Frederick Josiah Bradlee Jr.]] (1892–1970), a direct descendant of Nathan Bradley—the first American Bradley, born in the colony of Massachusetts in 1631. His mother, Josephine de Gersdorff (1896–1975), was awarded the French Legion of Honor for helping keep children safe from Nazi Germany during [[World War II]].{{citation needed |date=October 2010}}
Bradlee's maternal grandfather, Carl August de Gersdorff (1865–1944), the son of a German immigrant,<ref>http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/the-ultimate-paper-trail_b2816</ref> was a wealthy New York lawyer. Bradlee's maternal grandmother was Helen Suzette Crowninshield (1868–1941), daughter of artist [[Frederic Crowninshield]]
Bradlee’s maternal grandfather, Carl August de Gersdorff (1865–1944), the son of a German immigrant,<ref>http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/the-ultimate-paper-trail_b2816</ref> was a wealthy New York lawyer. Bradlee’s maternal grandmother was Helen Suzette Crowninshield (1868–1941), daughter of artist [[Frederic Crowninshield]](1845–1918), another member of the Crowninshield family.<ref name="welch">{{cite book |title= Welch Geneaology|author=Chalres Alfred Welch |pages=35–36|url=http://www.archive.org/details/welchgenealogy00welc }}</ref> His great-great-uncle was American lawyer and ambassador [[Joseph Hodges Choate]], and his great-uncle (and cousin twice removed) was [[Frank Crowninshield|Francis “Frank” Welch Crowninshield]], the creator and editor of ''[[Vanity Fair (American magazine 1913-36)|Vanity Fair]]'', and a roommate of [[Condé Montrose Nast|Condé Nast]].
(1845–1918), another member of the Crowninshield family.<ref name="welch">{{cite book |title= Welch Geneaology|author=Chalres Alfred Welch |pages=35–36|url=http://www.archive.org/details/welchgenealogy00welc }}</ref>
His great-great-uncle was American lawyer and Ambassador [[Joseph Hodges Choate]]; and his great-uncle (and cousin twice removed) was [[Frank Crowninshield|Francis "Frank" Welch Crowninshield]], the creator and editor of ''[[Vanity Fair (American magazine 1913-1936)|Vanity Fair]]'', and a roommate of [[Condé Montrose Nast|Condé Nast]].


Josephine de Gersdorff, Bradlee's mother, was a direct descendant of [[Heinrich XXIX, Count of Reuss-Ebersdorf]], who was a lineal descendant of [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor]], King [[John of Denmark]] and King [[John II of France]] and [[Bonne of Bohemia]] and [[John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst]]. Bradlee's maternal great grandfather was Dr. Ernst Bruno von Gersdorff, who was a third cousin of [[Queen Victoria]] of the United Kingdom through Heinrich XXIX.<ref name="Third Cousins To Queen Victoria">{{cite web|last=Roberts|first=Gary Boyd|title=Surprising Connections #6 and 7: Boston Cousins of Queen Victoria and Yankee Anecestors of Mrs. Thomas Philip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr.|url=http://www.americanancestors.org/boston-cousins-of-queen-victoria-and-yankee-ancestors/|publisher=New England Historic Genealogical Society - Founded 1845|accessdate=May 23, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Royal Desendancy of John II of France and Bonne of Bohemia">{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=Gary Boyd|title=The Royal Descendants of 600 Immigrants to the American Colonies or the United States|year=2008|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Company|location=Baltimore, Maryland|isbn=978-0-8063-1786-1|page=910}}</ref>
Josephine de Gersdorff, Bradlee’s mother, was a direct descendant of [[Heinrich XXIX, Count of Reuss-Ebersdorf]], who was a lineal descendant of [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor]], King [[John of Denmark]] and King [[John II of France]] and [[Bonne of Bohemia]] and [[John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst]]. Bradlee's maternal great grandfather was Dr. Ernst Bruno von Gersdorff, who was a third cousin of [[Queen Victoria]] of the United Kingdom through Heinrich XXIX.<ref name="Third Cousins To Queen Victoria">{{cite web|last=Roberts|first=Gary Boyd|title=Surprising Connections #6 and 7: Boston Cousins of Queen Victoria and Yankee Anecestors of Mrs. Thomas Philip "Tip" O'Neill Jr.|url=http://www.americanancestors.org/boston-cousins-of-queen-victoria-and-yankee-ancestors/|publisher=New England Historic Genealogical Society - Founded 1845|accessdate=May 23, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Royal Desendancy of John II of France and Bonne of Bohemia">{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=Gary Boyd|title=The Royal Descendants of 600 Immigrants to the American Colonies or the United States|year=2008|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Company|location=Baltimore, Maryland|isbn=978-0-8063-1786-1|page=910}}</ref>


Bradlee, the second of three children, grew up in a wealthy family with domestic staff.<ref name="washpost2014"/> With his brother, Freddy, and sister, Constance, he learned [[French language|French]], took piano lessons and went to the symphony and the opera.<ref name="nyt2014"/> The [[Wall Street Crash of 1929|stock market crash of 1929]] decimated the family's wealth. During the [[Great Depression]], Bradlee's father worked odd jobs to support his family, including keeping the books for various clubs and institutions and supervising the janitors at the [[Boston Museum of Fine Arts]].<ref name="nyt2014"/>
Bradlee, the second of three children, grew up in a wealthy family with domestic staff.<ref name="washpost2014"/> With his brother, Freddy, and sister, Constance, he learned [[French language|French]], took piano lessons, and went to the symphony and the opera.<ref name="nyt2014"/> The [[Wall Street Crash of 1929|stock market crash of 1929]] decimated the family’s wealth. During the [[Great Depression]], Bradlee’s father worked odd jobs to support his family, including keeping the books for various clubs and institutions and supervising the janitors at the [[Boston Museum of Fine Arts]].<ref name="nyt2014"/>


Bradlee attended [[Dexter School]] before finishing at [[St. Mark's School (Massachusetts)|St. Mark's School]], where he played varsity baseball.<ref name="washpost2014"/> While attending St. Mark's School, he contracted [[polio]].<ref name="washpost2014"/><ref name="nyt2014"/> He exercised regularly at home and developed strong arms and chest. He was able to fight off the effects of polio and could walk without limping.<ref name="washpost2014"/><ref name="nyt2014"/> Thereafter he attended [[Harvard College]], where he was a Greek-English major and joined the [[Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps|Naval ROTC]].<ref name="nyt2014"/>
Bradlee attended [[Dexter School]] before finishing at [[St. Mark's School (Massachusetts)|St. Mark’s School]], where he played varsity baseball.<ref name="washpost2014"/> While attending St. Mark’s, he contracted [[polio]].<ref name="washpost2014"/><ref name="nyt2014"/> He exercised regularly at home and developed strong arms and chest. He was able to fight off the effects of polio and could walk without limping.<ref name="washpost2014"/><ref name="nyt2014"/> Thereafter he attended [[Harvard College]], where he was a Greek–English major and joined the [[Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps|Naval ROTC]].<ref name="nyt2014"/>


==World War II==
==World War II==
Bradlee received his [[Officer's commission|naval commission]] two hours after graduating in 1942, joined the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], and worked as a communications officer in the Pacific during World War II. His duties included handling classified and coded cables, serving primarily on the destroyer [[USS Philip (DD-498)]] fighting off the shore of Guam and arriving at [[Guadalcanal]] with the Second Fleet. Bradlee's main battles were [[Vella Lavella]], Saipan, Tinian, and Bougainville. He also fought in the biggest naval battle ever fought, the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]] in the [[Philippines Campaign (1944–45)|Philippines Campaign]], in the [[Borneo Campaign]], and made every landing in the [[Solomon Islands campaign]].<ref>Bradlee, Benjamin C. [http://www.military.com/veterans-day/benjamin-bradlee.html "Answering the Call: Benjamin C. Bradlee"] Military.com</ref>
Bradlee received his [[Officer's commission|naval commission]] two hours after graduating in 1942, joined the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], and worked as a communications officer in the Pacific during World War II. His duties included handling classified and coded cables, serving primarily on the destroyer [[USS Philip (DD-498)]] fighting off the shore of Guam and arriving at [[Guadalcanal]] with the Second Fleet. Bradlee’s main battles were [[Vella Lavella]], Saipan, Tinian, and Bougainville. He also fought in the biggest naval battle ever fought, the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]] in the [[Philippines Campaign (1944–45)|Philippines Campaign]], in the [[Borneo Campaign]], and made every landing in the [[Solomon Islands campaign]].<ref>Bradlee, Benjamin C. [http://www.military.com/veterans-day/benjamin-bradlee.html "Answering the Call: Benjamin C. Bradlee"] Military.com</ref>


==Post-World War II==
==Post–World War II==
After the war, in 1946, Bradlee Sr. became a reporter at the ''[[New Hampshire Sunday News]]'', a venture he helped launch. After he sold the paper, in 1948 he started working for ''[[The Washington Post]]'' as a reporter.<ref name="nyt2014"/> He got to know associate publisher Philip Graham, who was the son-in-law of the publisher, [[Eugene Meyer]]. On November 1, 1950, Bradlee was alighting from a streetcar in front of the White House just as [[Truman assassination attempt|two Puerto Rican nationalists attempted to shoot their way]] into [[Blair House]] in an attempt to kill President [[Harry S. Truman]].<ref>Stephen Hunter and John Bainbridge, Jr., ''American Gunfight: The Plot To Kill Harry Truman - And The Shoot-Out That Stopped It'', Simon & Schuster (2005), ISBN 0-7432-6068-6.</ref> In 1951 Graham helped Bradlee become assistant [[attaché|press attaché]] in the American embassy in Paris, France.<ref name="nyt2014"/>
After the war, in 1946, Bradlee Sr. became a reporter at the ''[[New Hampshire Sunday News]]'', a venture he helped launch. After he sold the paper, in 1948 he started working for ''[[The Washington Post]]'' as a reporter.<ref name="nyt2014"/> He got to know associate publisher Philip Graham, who was the son-in-law of the publisher, [[Eugene Meyer]]. On November 1, 1950, Bradlee was alighting from a streetcar in front of the White House just as [[Truman assassination attempt|two Puerto Rican nationalists attempted to shoot their way]] into [[Blair House]] in an attempt to kill President [[Harry S. Truman]].<ref>Stephen Hunter and John Bainbridge, Jr., ''American Gunfight: The Plot To Kill Harry Truman - And The Shoot-Out That Stopped It'', Simon & Schuster (2005), ISBN 0-7432-6068-6.</ref> In 1951 Graham helped Bradlee become assistant [[attaché|press attaché]] in the American embassy in Paris, France.<ref name="nyt2014"/>


==Government work==
==Government work==
In 1952 Bradlee joined the staff of the Office of U.S. Information and Educational Exchange (USIE), the embassy's propaganda unit. USIE produced films, magazines, research, speeches, and news items for use by the [[CIA]] throughout Europe. USIE (later known as [[USIA]]) also controlled the [[Voice of America]], a means of disseminating pro-American "cultural information" worldwide. While at the USIE, according to a Justice Department memo from an assistant U.S. attorney in the [[Rosenberg Trial]], Bradlee was helping the [[CIA]] manage European propaganda regarding the spying conviction and execution of [[Julius and Ethel Rosenberg]] on June 19, 1953.<ref>{{cite web|title=Office Memorandum|url=http://www.namebase.org/foia/bradlee.html|website=http://www.namebase.org/foia/bradlee.html|publisher=United States Government}}</ref>
In 1952 Bradlee joined the staff of the Office of U.S. Information and Educational Exchange (USIE), the embassy’s propaganda unit. USIE produced films, magazines, research, speeches, and news items for use by the [[CIA]] throughout Europe. USIE (later known as [[USIA]]) also controlled the [[Voice of America]], a means of disseminating pro-American “cultural information” worldwide. While at the USIE, according to a Justice Department memo from an assistant U.S. attorney in the [[Rosenberg Trial]], Bradlee was helping the [[CIA]] manage European propaganda regarding the spying conviction and execution of [[Julius and Ethel Rosenberg]] on June 19, 1953.<ref>{{cite web|title=Office Memorandum|url=http://www.namebase.org/foia/bradlee.html|website=http://www.namebase.org/foia/bradlee.html|publisher=United States Government}}</ref>


Bradlee was officially employed by USIE until 1953, when he began working for ''Newsweek''. While based in France, Bradlee divorced his first wife and married Antoinette Pinchot in 1957.<ref name="nyt2014"/> At the time of the marriage, Antoinette's sister, [[Mary Pinchot Meyer]], was married to [[Cord Meyer]], a key figure in [[Operation Mockingbird]], a CIA program to influence the media.
Bradlee was officially employed by USIE until 1953, when he began working for ''Newsweek''. While based in France, Bradlee divorced his first wife and married Antoinette Pinchot in 1957.<ref name="nyt2014"/> At the time of the marriage, Antoinette’s sister, [[Mary Pinchot Meyer]], was married to [[Cord Meyer]], a key figure in [[Operation Mockingbird]], a CIA program to influence the media. Antoinette Bradlee was also a close friend of Cicely d’Autremont, who was married to [[James Jesus Angleton]]. Bradlee worked closely with Angleton in Paris. At the time, Angleton was liaison for all Allied intelligence in Europe. His deputy was [[Richard Ober]], a fellow student with Bradlee at Harvard University. {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}
Antoinette Bradlee was also a close friend of Cicely d'Autremont, who was married to [[James Jesus Angleton]]. Bradlee worked closely with Angleton in Paris. At the time, Angleton was liaison for all Allied intelligence in Europe. His deputy was [[Richard Ober]], a fellow student with Bradlee at Harvard University. {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}


In 1957, while working as a reporter for ''[[Newsweek]]'', Bradlee created controversy when he interviewed members of the [[National Liberation Front (Algeria)|FLN]]. They were [[Algeria]]n guerrillas who were in rebellion against the French government at the time. According to Deborah Davis, author of ''Katharine the Great'' about [[Katharine Graham]], this had all the "earmarks of an intelligence operation". As a result of these interviews, Bradlee was given an expulsion order from France. The order was later suspended and finally repealed.{{Citation needed|date=October 2012}}
In 1957, while working as a reporter for ''[[Newsweek]]'', Bradlee created controversy when he interviewed members of the [[National Liberation Front (Algeria)|FLN]]. They were [[Algeria]]n guerrillas who were in rebellion against the French government at the time. According to Deborah Davis, author of ''Katharine the Great'' about [[Katharine Graham]], this had all the “earmarks of an intelligence operation.” As a result of these interviews, Bradlee was given an expulsion order from France. The order was later suspended and finally repealed.{{Citation needed|date=October 2012}}


==''The Washington Post''==
==''The Washington Post''==
As a reporter in the 1950s, Bradlee became close friends with then-Senator [[John F. Kennedy]] who had graduated from Harvard two years before Bradlee, and lived nearby. Bradlee's wife at the time, Jean Saltonstall, was related to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy through the Auchincloss family. In 1960 Bradlee toured with both Kennedy and [[Richard Nixon]] in their presidential campaigns. He later wrote a book, ''Conversations With Kennedy'' (W.W. Norton, 1975), recounting their relationship during those years. Bradlee was, at this point, Washington Bureau chief for ''Newsweek'', a position from which he helped negotiate the sale of the magazine to ''The Washington Post'' holding company. Bradlee maintained that position until being promoted to managing editor at the ''Post'' in 1965. He became executive editor in 1968 and, on October 20, 1978, married fellow journalist [[Sally Quinn]].<ref name="nyt2014"/> Quinn and Bradlee have one child, [[Quinn Bradlee]], who was born in 1982 when Quinn was 41 and Bradlee was 61. In 2009, they appeared with Quinn Bradlee on the [[Charlie Rose]] show on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] and spoke of their son's having been born with Velo-cardio-facial syndrome, also known as [[DiGeorge syndrome]] and Shprintzen syndrome (named after Dr. Robert Shprintzen, who first identified the disorder in 1978 and also diagnosed Quinn Bradlee).
As a reporter in the 1950s, Bradlee became close friends with then-senator [[John F. Kennedy]], who had graduated from Harvard two years before Bradlee, and lived nearby. Bradlee’s wife at the time, Jean Saltonstall, was related to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy through the Auchincloss family. In 1960 Bradlee toured with both Kennedy and [[Richard Nixon]] in their presidential campaigns. He later wrote a book, ''Conversations With Kennedy'' (W.W. Norton, 1975), recounting their relationship during those years. Bradlee was, at this point, Washington Bureau chief for ''Newsweek'', a position from which he helped negotiate the sale of the magazine to ''The Washington Post'' holding company. Bradlee maintained that position until being promoted to managing editor at the ''Post'' in 1965. He became executive editor in 1968, and on October 20, 1978, he married fellow journalist [[Sally Quinn]].<ref name="nyt2014"/> Quinn and Bradlee have one child, [[Quinn Bradlee]], who was born in 1982 when Quinn was 41 and Bradlee was 61. In 2009 they appeared with Quinn Bradlee on the [[Charlie Rose]] show on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] and spoke of their son’s having been born with Velo-cardio-facial syndrome, also known as [[DiGeorge syndrome]] and Shprintzen syndrome (named after Dr. Robert Shprintzen, who first identified the disorder in 1978 and also diagnosed Quinn Bradlee).


Bradlee retired as the executive editor of ''The Washington Post'' in September 1991, but continued to serve as Vice President At Large until his death. He was succeeded as executive editor at ''The Washington Post'' by [[Leonard Downie, Jr.]], whom Bradlee had appointed as managing editor seven years earlier.
Bradlee retired as the executive editor of ''The Washington Post'' in September 1991 but continued to serve as vice president at large until his death. He was succeeded as executive editor at ''The Washington Post'' by [[Leonard Downie Jr.]], whom Bradlee had appointed as managing editor seven years earlier.


Under Bradlee's leadership, ''The Washington Post'' took on major challenges during the [[Nixon Administration]]. In 1971, ''[[The New York Times]]'' and the ''Post'' successfully challenged the government over the right to publish the [[Pentagon Papers]]. One year later, Bradlee backed reporters [[Bob Woodward]] and [[Carl Bernstein]] as they probed the break-in at the [[Democratic National Committee]] Headquarters in the [[Watergate Hotel]]. According to Bradlee: “You had a lot of Cuban or Spanish-speaking guys in masks and rubber gloves, with walkie-talkies, arrested in the Democratic National Committee Headquarters at 2:00 in the morning. What the hell were they in there for? What were they doing? The follow-up story was based primarily on their arraignment in court, and it was based on information given our police reporter, Al Lewis, by the cops, showing them an address book that one of the burglars had in his pocket, and in the address book was the name ‘Hunt’, H-u-n-t, and the phone number was the White House phone number, which Al Lewis and every reporter worth his salt knew. And when, the next day, Woodward—this is probably Sunday or maybe Monday, because the burglary was Saturday morning early—called the number and asked to speak to Mr. Hunt, and the operator said, ‘Well, he's not here now; he's over at’, such-and-such a place, gave him another number, and Woodward called him up, and Hunt answered the phone, and Woodward said, ‘We want to know why your name was in the address book of the Watergate burglars.’ And there is this long, deathly hush, and Hunt said, ‘Oh my God!’ and hung up. So you had the White House. You have Hunt saying ‘Oh my God!’ At a later arraignment, one of the guys whispered to a judge. The judge said, ‘What do you do?’ and Woodward overheard the words ‘CIA’. So if your interest isn't whetted by this time, you're not a journalist.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://achievement.org/autodoc/page/woo1int-1 |title=Biography and Video Interview of Ben Bradlee at Academy of Achievement |publisher=Achievement.org |date= |accessdate=2012-05-24}}</ref> Ensuing investigations of suspected cover-ups led inexorably to Congressional committees, conflicting testimonies, and ultimately, to the resignation of [[Richard Nixon]] in 1974. For decades, Bradlee was one of only four publicly known people who knew the true identity of press informant [[Deep Throat (Watergate)|Deep Throat]], the other three being Woodward, Bernstein, and [[Mark Felt|Deep Throat]] himself, who later revealed himself to be Nixon's [[FBI]] Associate Director [[Mark Felt]].
Under Bradlee’s leadership, ''The Washington Post'' took on major challenges during the [[Nixon administration]]. In 1971 ''[[The New York Times]]'' and the ''Post'' successfully challenged the government over the right to publish the [[Pentagon Papers]]. One year later, Bradlee backed reporters [[Bob Woodward]] and [[Carl Bernstein]] as they probed the break-in at the [[Democratic National Committee]] Headquarters in the [[Watergate Hotel]]. According to Bradlee: “You had a lot of Cuban or Spanish-speaking guys in masks and rubber gloves, with walkie-talkies, arrested in the Democratic National Committee Headquarters at 2 in the morning. What the hell were they in there for? What were they doing? The follow-up story was based primarily on their arraignment in court, and it was based on information given our police reporter, Al Lewis, by the cops, showing them an address book that one of the burglars had in his pocket, and in the address book was the name ‘Hunt,’ H-u-n-t, and the phone number was the White House phone number, which Al Lewis and every reporter worth his salt knew. And when, the next day, Woodward—this is probably Sunday or maybe Monday, because the burglary was Saturday morning early—called the number and asked to speak to Mr. Hunt, and the operator said, ‘Well, he’s not here now; he’s over at’ such-and-such a place, gave him another number, and Woodward called him up, and Hunt answered the phone, and Woodward said, ‘We want to know why your name was in the address book of the Watergate burglars.’ And there is this long, deathly hush, and Hunt said, ‘Oh my God!’ and hung up. So you had the White House. You have Hunt saying ‘Oh my God!’ At a later arraignment, one of the guys whispered to a judge. The judge said, ‘What do you do?’ and Woodward overheard the words ‘CIA.’ So if your interest isn’t whetted by this time, you’re not a journalist.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://achievement.org/autodoc/page/woo1int-1 |title=Biography and Video Interview of Ben Bradlee at Academy of Achievement |publisher=Achievement.org |date= |accessdate=2012-05-24}}</ref> Ensuing investigations of suspected cover-ups led inexorably to congressional committees, conflicting testimonies, and ultimately to the resignation of [[Richard Nixon]] in 1974. For decades, Bradlee was one of only four publicly known people who knew the true identity of press informant [[Deep Throat (Watergate)|Deep Throat]], the other three being Woodward, Bernstein, and [[Mark Felt|Deep Throat]] himself, who later revealed himself to be Nixon’s [[FBI]] associate director [[Mark Felt]].


In 1981, ''Post'' reporter [[Janet Cooke]] won a Pulitzer Prize for [http://academics.smcvt.edu/dmindich/Jimmy%27s%20World.htm "Jimmy's World"], a profile of an eight-year-old [[heroin]] addict. Cooke's article turned out to be fiction: there was no such addict. As executive editor, Bradlee was roundly criticized in many circles for failing to ensure the article's accuracy. After questions about the story's veracity arose, Bradlee (along with publisher [[Donald E. Graham|Donald Graham]]) ordered a "full disclosure" investigation to ascertain the truth. At one point during the investigation, Bradlee angrily compared Cooke with [[Richard Nixon]] over her attempted cover-up of the fake story. Bradlee personally apologized to Mayor [[Marion Barry]] and the chief of police of Washington, D.C., for the ''Post'''s fictitious article. Cooke, meanwhile, was forced to resign and relinquish the Pulitzer.
In 1981 ''Post'' reporter [[Janet Cooke]] won a Pulitzer Prize for [http://academics.smcvt.edu/dmindich/Jimmy%27s%20World.htm "Jimmy's World"], a profile of an 8-year-old [[heroin]] addict. Cooke’s article turned out to be fiction: there was no such addict. As executive editor, Bradlee was roundly criticized in many circles for failing to ensure the article’s accuracy. After questions about the story’s veracity arose, Bradlee (along with publisher [[Donald E. Graham|Donald Graham]]) ordered a “full disclosure” investigation to ascertain the truth. At one point during the investigation, Bradlee angrily compared Cooke to [[Richard Nixon]] over her attempted cover-up of the fake story. Bradlee personally apologized to Mayor [[Marion Barry]] and the chief of police of Washington, D.C., for the ''Post''’s fictitious article. Cooke, meanwhile, was forced to resign and relinquish the Pulitzer.


==Other work==
==Other work==
Bradlee published an autobiography in 1995, ''A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventures''. He had an acting role in ''[[Born Yesterday (1993 film)|Born Yesterday]]'', the [[1993 in film|1993]] remake of the 1950 romantic comedy. In 1983, he gave the inaugural [[Robert C. Vance Distinguished Lecture Series|Vance Distinguished Lecture]] at [[Central Connecticut State University]].<ref>James, Alayna. (2013, February 17).[http://www.ccsu.edu/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=2777 Vance Series Adds to its Tradition of Distinguished Guest Speakers]. ''New Britain Herald''. Retrieved on 2013-5-29.</ref> On May 3, 2006, Bradlee received a Doctor of Humane Letters from [[Georgetown University]] in Washington, D.C. Prior to receiving the honorary degree, he taught occasional journalism courses at Georgetown.
Bradlee published an autobiography in 1995, ''A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventures''. He had an acting role in ''[[Born Yesterday (1993 film)|Born Yesterday]]'', the [[1993 in film|1993]] remake of the 1950 romantic comedy. In 1983 he gave the inaugural [[Robert C. Vance Distinguished Lecture Series|Vance Distinguished Lecture]] at [[Central Connecticut State University]].<ref>James, Alayna. (2013, February 17).[http://www.ccsu.edu/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=2777 Vance Series Adds to its Tradition of Distinguished Guest Speakers]. ''New Britain Herald''. Retrieved on 2013-5-29.</ref> On May 3, 2006, Bradlee received a Doctor of Humane Letters from [[Georgetown University]] in Washington, D.C. Prior to receiving the honorary degree, he taught occasional journalism courses at Georgetown.


In 1991 he was persuaded by then-Governor of Maryland [[William Donald Schaefer]] to accept chairmanship of the Historic [[St. Mary's City]] Commission and continued in that position through 2003. He also served for many years as a member of the board of trustees at [[St. Mary's College of Maryland]],<ref name="investPower"/> and endowed the Benjamin C. Bradlee Annual Lecture in Journalism there. He continued to serve as vice chairman of the school's board of trustees.<ref>[http://www.smcm.edu/trustees St. Mary's College of Maryland Board of Trustees] from the college's website</ref>
In 1991 he was persuaded by then–governor of Maryland [[William Donald Schaefer]] to accept chairmanship of the Historic [[St. Mary’s City]] Commission and continued in that position through 2003. He also served for many years as a member of the board of trustees at [[St. Mary’s College of Maryland]],<ref name="investPower"/> and endowed the Benjamin C. Bradlee Annual Lecture in Journalism there. He continued to serve as vice chairman of the school’s board of trustees.<ref>[http://www.smcm.edu/trustees St. Mary's College of Maryland Board of Trustees] from the college's website</ref>


In the fall of 2005, [[Jim Lehrer]] conducted six hours of interviews with Bradlee on a variety of topics—from the responsibilities of the press to the differences between Watergate and the [[Valerie Plame]] case. The interviews were edited for an hour-long documentary, ''Free Speech: Jim Lehrer and Ben Bradlee'', which premiered on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] on June 19, 2006.
In the fall of 2005, [[Jim Lehrer]] conducted six hours of interviews with Bradlee on a variety of topics—from the responsibilities of the press to the differences between Watergate and the [[Valerie Plame]] case. The interviews were edited for an hour-long documentary, ''Free Speech: Jim Lehrer and Ben Bradlee'', which premiered on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] on June 19, 2006.


==Later life and death==
==Later life and death==
At ''The Washington Post'', Bradlee carried the title "vice president at large". Bradlee and Quinn lived at two homes, the [[Laird-Dunlop House|Todd Lincoln House]] in [[Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)|Georgetown, Washington, D.C]]., The middle part of the house was built in 1792. They also restored [[Porto Bello (Drayden, Maryland)|Porto Bello]], their home in [[Drayden, Maryland]].<ref name=SAccents>{{cite web|title=Porto Bello Restored|url=http://www.southernaccents.com/architecture/preservation/porto-bello-restored-00400000025395/|publisher=Southern Accents|accessdate=28 March 2011}}</ref>
At ''The Washington Post'', Bradlee carried the title vice president at large. Bradlee and Quinn lived at two homes, the [[Laird-Dunlop House|Todd Lincoln House]] in [[Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)|Georgetown, Washington, D.C]]. The middle part of the house was built in 1792. They also restored [[Porto Bello (Drayden, Maryland)|Porto Bello]], their home in [[Drayden, Maryland]].<ref name=SAccents>{{cite web|title=Porto Bello Restored|url=http://www.southernaccents.com/architecture/preservation/porto-bello-restored-00400000025395/|publisher=Southern Accents|accessdate=28 March 2011}}</ref>


Bradlee was named as a recipient of the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] by President [[Barack Obama]] on August 8, 2013,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/08/president-obama-names-presidential-medal-freedom-recipients|title=President Obama Names Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients|publisher=Office of the Press Secretary, The White House|date=August 8, 2013|accessdate=August 8, 2013}}</ref> and was presented the medal at a White House ceremony on November 20, 2013.
Bradlee was named as a recipient of the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] by President [[Barack Obama]] on August 8, 2013,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/08/president-obama-names-presidential-medal-freedom-recipients|title=President Obama Names Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients|publisher=Office of the Press Secretary, The White House|date=August 8, 2013|accessdate=August 8, 2013}}</ref> and was presented the medal at a White House ceremony on November 20, 2013.


In late September 2014, Bradlee entered [[Hospice|hospice care]] due to declining health as a result of [[Alzheimer's disease]].<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/29/politics/bradlee-hospice-care/</ref> He died of natural causes on October 21, 2014, at his home in [[Washington, D.C.]], at the age of 93.<ref name="washpost2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ben-bradlee-legendary-washington-post-editor-dies-at-93/2014/10/21/3e4cc1fc-c59c-11df-8dce-7a7dc354d1b1_story.html |title=Ben Bradlee, legendary Washington Post editor, dies at 93 |publisher=''The Washington Post'' |date=October 21, 2014 |first=Robert G. |last=Kaiser |accessdate=October 21, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="nyt2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/22/business/media/ben-bradlee-editor-who-directed-watergate-coverage-dies-at-93.html?_r=0 |title=Ben Bradlee, Editor Who Directed Watergate Coverage, Dies at 93 |publisher=''The New York Times'' |date=October 21, 2014 |first=Marilyn |last=Berger |accessdate=October 21, 2014 }}</ref>
In late September 2014, Bradlee entered [[Hospice|hospice care]] due to declining health as a result of [[Alzheimer’s disease]].<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/29/politics/bradlee-hospice-care/</ref> He died of natural causes on October 21, 2014, at his home in [[Washington, D.C.]], at the age of 93.<ref name="washpost2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ben-bradlee-legendary-washington-post-editor-dies-at-93/2014/10/21/3e4cc1fc-c59c-11df-8dce-7a7dc354d1b1_story.html |title=Ben Bradlee, legendary Washington Post editor, dies at 93 |publisher=''The Washington Post'' |date=October 21, 2014 |first=Robert G. |last=Kaiser |accessdate=October 21, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="nyt2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/22/business/media/ben-bradlee-editor-who-directed-watergate-coverage-dies-at-93.html?_r=0 |title=Ben Bradlee, Editor Who Directed Watergate Coverage, Dies at 93 |publisher=''The New York Times'' |date=October 21, 2014 |first=Marilyn |last=Berger |accessdate=October 21, 2014 }}</ref>


==Volunteer service==
==Volunteer service==
For many years Bradlee served on the Board of Trustees for [[St. Mary's College of Maryland]].<ref name="investPower"/> He was very active on the board and also played key roles in the establishment of the [[Center for the Study of Democracy (St. Mary's College of Maryland)|Center for the Study of Democracy]] at the college, where he also served on the advisory board.
For many years Bradlee served on the board of trustees for [[St. Mary’s College of Maryland]].<ref name="investPower"/> He was very active on the board and also played key roles in the establishment of the [[Center for the Study of Democracy (St. Mary’s College of Maryland)|Center for the Study of Democracy]] at the college, where he also served on the advisory board.


He is also known for his work on the board of trustees of the [[St. Mary's City, Maryland|Historic St. Mary's City]] Commission, as well as narrating a documentary produced by the organization on the history of the early [[Province of Maryland|Maryland colony]].
He is also known for his work on the board of trustees of the [[St. Mary's City, Maryland|Historic St. Mary’s City]] Commission, as well as narrating a documentary produced by the organization on the history of the early [[Province of Maryland|Maryland colony]].


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
Actor [[Jason Robards]] portrayed Bradlee in the film ''[[All the President's Men (film)|All the President's Men]]'', winning a [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor#1970s|Best Supporting Actor Oscar]] for his performance. [[G.D. Spradlin|G. D. Spradlin]] played the role of Bradlee in ''[[Dick (film)|Dick]]'', a spoof of Watergate. [[Henderson Forsythe]] played Bradlee in the romantic comedy ''[[Chances Are (film)|Chances Are]]''.
Actor [[Jason Robards]] portrayed Bradlee in the film ''[[All the President's Men (film)|All the President’s Men]]'', winning a [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor#1970s|Best Supporting Actor Oscar]] for his performance. [[G.D. Spradlin|G. D. Spradlin]] played the role of Bradlee in ''[[Dick (film)|Dick]]'', a spoof of Watergate. [[Henderson Forsythe]] played Bradlee in the romantic comedy ''[[Chances Are (film)|Chances Are]]''.


==Books==
==Books==

Revision as of 23:11, 22 October 2014

Ben Bradlee
Bradlee pictured in November 2010
Born
Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee

(1921-08-26)August 26, 1921
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedOctober 21, 2014(2014-10-21) (aged 93)
Washington, D.C.
NationalityAmerican
EducationDexter School, St. Marks School
Alma materHarvard College
Occupation(s)Executive Editor; Vice President at-large of The Washington Post
EmployerThe Washington Post
Known forRole in exposing the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate scandal
Spouse(s)Jean Saltonstall (m. 1942; divorced)
Antoinette Pinchot (m. 1957; divorced)
Sally Quinn (m. 1978–2014; his death)
ChildrenBen Jr., Dominic (Dino), Marina, Quinn
Relatives
Awards

Benjamin Crowninshield “Ben” Bradlee (August 26, 1921–October 21, 2014) was executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991.[1] He became a national figure during the presidency of Richard Nixon, when he challenged the federal government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers and oversaw the publication of Bob Woodward’s and Carl Bernstein’s stories documenting the Watergate scandal. At his death he held the title of vice president at-large of The Washington Post.

He was also an advocate for education and the study of history,[1] including working for years as an active trustee on the boards of several major educational, historical, and archeological research institutions.[1]

When Bradlee married for the first time, it was to Jean Saltonstall. They married on August 8, 1942,[2] and had one son, Ben Bradlee Jr., who was raised in Cambridge by his mother and her second husband, Bill Haussermann.[3] Ben Bradlee, Jr. is a former deputy managing editor of The Boston Globe.[4]

Early life, education, and ancestry

A member of the Boston Brahmin Crowninshield family, Bradlee was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 26, 1921. His father was Frederick Josiah Bradlee Jr. (1892–1970), a direct descendant of Nathan Bradley—the first American Bradley, born in the colony of Massachusetts in 1631. His mother, Josephine de Gersdorff (1896–1975), was awarded the French Legion of Honor for helping keep children safe from Nazi Germany during World War II.[citation needed] Bradlee’s maternal grandfather, Carl August de Gersdorff (1865–1944), the son of a German immigrant,[5] was a wealthy New York lawyer. Bradlee’s maternal grandmother was Helen Suzette Crowninshield (1868–1941), daughter of artist Frederic Crowninshield(1845–1918), another member of the Crowninshield family.[6] His great-great-uncle was American lawyer and ambassador Joseph Hodges Choate, and his great-uncle (and cousin twice removed) was Francis “Frank” Welch Crowninshield, the creator and editor of Vanity Fair, and a roommate of Condé Nast.

Josephine de Gersdorff, Bradlee’s mother, was a direct descendant of Heinrich XXIX, Count of Reuss-Ebersdorf, who was a lineal descendant of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, King John of Denmark and King John II of France and Bonne of Bohemia and John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst. Bradlee's maternal great grandfather was Dr. Ernst Bruno von Gersdorff, who was a third cousin of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom through Heinrich XXIX.[7][8]

Bradlee, the second of three children, grew up in a wealthy family with domestic staff.[9] With his brother, Freddy, and sister, Constance, he learned French, took piano lessons, and went to the symphony and the opera.[2] The stock market crash of 1929 decimated the family’s wealth. During the Great Depression, Bradlee’s father worked odd jobs to support his family, including keeping the books for various clubs and institutions and supervising the janitors at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.[2]

Bradlee attended Dexter School before finishing at St. Mark’s School, where he played varsity baseball.[9] While attending St. Mark’s, he contracted polio.[9][2] He exercised regularly at home and developed strong arms and chest. He was able to fight off the effects of polio and could walk without limping.[9][2] Thereafter he attended Harvard College, where he was a Greek–English major and joined the Naval ROTC.[2]

World War II

Bradlee received his naval commission two hours after graduating in 1942, joined the Office of Naval Intelligence, and worked as a communications officer in the Pacific during World War II. His duties included handling classified and coded cables, serving primarily on the destroyer USS Philip (DD-498) fighting off the shore of Guam and arriving at Guadalcanal with the Second Fleet. Bradlee’s main battles were Vella Lavella, Saipan, Tinian, and Bougainville. He also fought in the biggest naval battle ever fought, the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines Campaign, in the Borneo Campaign, and made every landing in the Solomon Islands campaign.[10]

Post–World War II

After the war, in 1946, Bradlee Sr. became a reporter at the New Hampshire Sunday News, a venture he helped launch. After he sold the paper, in 1948 he started working for The Washington Post as a reporter.[2] He got to know associate publisher Philip Graham, who was the son-in-law of the publisher, Eugene Meyer. On November 1, 1950, Bradlee was alighting from a streetcar in front of the White House just as two Puerto Rican nationalists attempted to shoot their way into Blair House in an attempt to kill President Harry S. Truman.[11] In 1951 Graham helped Bradlee become assistant press attaché in the American embassy in Paris, France.[2]

Government work

In 1952 Bradlee joined the staff of the Office of U.S. Information and Educational Exchange (USIE), the embassy’s propaganda unit. USIE produced films, magazines, research, speeches, and news items for use by the CIA throughout Europe. USIE (later known as USIA) also controlled the Voice of America, a means of disseminating pro-American “cultural information” worldwide. While at the USIE, according to a Justice Department memo from an assistant U.S. attorney in the Rosenberg Trial, Bradlee was helping the CIA manage European propaganda regarding the spying conviction and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg on June 19, 1953.[12]

Bradlee was officially employed by USIE until 1953, when he began working for Newsweek. While based in France, Bradlee divorced his first wife and married Antoinette Pinchot in 1957.[2] At the time of the marriage, Antoinette’s sister, Mary Pinchot Meyer, was married to Cord Meyer, a key figure in Operation Mockingbird, a CIA program to influence the media. Antoinette Bradlee was also a close friend of Cicely d’Autremont, who was married to James Jesus Angleton. Bradlee worked closely with Angleton in Paris. At the time, Angleton was liaison for all Allied intelligence in Europe. His deputy was Richard Ober, a fellow student with Bradlee at Harvard University. [citation needed]

In 1957, while working as a reporter for Newsweek, Bradlee created controversy when he interviewed members of the FLN. They were Algerian guerrillas who were in rebellion against the French government at the time. According to Deborah Davis, author of Katharine the Great about Katharine Graham, this had all the “earmarks of an intelligence operation.” As a result of these interviews, Bradlee was given an expulsion order from France. The order was later suspended and finally repealed.[citation needed]

The Washington Post

As a reporter in the 1950s, Bradlee became close friends with then-senator John F. Kennedy, who had graduated from Harvard two years before Bradlee, and lived nearby. Bradlee’s wife at the time, Jean Saltonstall, was related to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy through the Auchincloss family. In 1960 Bradlee toured with both Kennedy and Richard Nixon in their presidential campaigns. He later wrote a book, Conversations With Kennedy (W.W. Norton, 1975), recounting their relationship during those years. Bradlee was, at this point, Washington Bureau chief for Newsweek, a position from which he helped negotiate the sale of the magazine to The Washington Post holding company. Bradlee maintained that position until being promoted to managing editor at the Post in 1965. He became executive editor in 1968, and on October 20, 1978, he married fellow journalist Sally Quinn.[2] Quinn and Bradlee have one child, Quinn Bradlee, who was born in 1982 when Quinn was 41 and Bradlee was 61. In 2009 they appeared with Quinn Bradlee on the Charlie Rose show on PBS and spoke of their son’s having been born with Velo-cardio-facial syndrome, also known as DiGeorge syndrome and Shprintzen syndrome (named after Dr. Robert Shprintzen, who first identified the disorder in 1978 and also diagnosed Quinn Bradlee).

Bradlee retired as the executive editor of The Washington Post in September 1991 but continued to serve as vice president at large until his death. He was succeeded as executive editor at The Washington Post by Leonard Downie Jr., whom Bradlee had appointed as managing editor seven years earlier.

Under Bradlee’s leadership, The Washington Post took on major challenges during the Nixon administration. In 1971 The New York Times and the Post successfully challenged the government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers. One year later, Bradlee backed reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they probed the break-in at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the Watergate Hotel. According to Bradlee: “You had a lot of Cuban or Spanish-speaking guys in masks and rubber gloves, with walkie-talkies, arrested in the Democratic National Committee Headquarters at 2 in the morning. What the hell were they in there for? What were they doing? The follow-up story was based primarily on their arraignment in court, and it was based on information given our police reporter, Al Lewis, by the cops, showing them an address book that one of the burglars had in his pocket, and in the address book was the name ‘Hunt,’ H-u-n-t, and the phone number was the White House phone number, which Al Lewis and every reporter worth his salt knew. And when, the next day, Woodward—this is probably Sunday or maybe Monday, because the burglary was Saturday morning early—called the number and asked to speak to Mr. Hunt, and the operator said, ‘Well, he’s not here now; he’s over at’ such-and-such a place, gave him another number, and Woodward called him up, and Hunt answered the phone, and Woodward said, ‘We want to know why your name was in the address book of the Watergate burglars.’ And there is this long, deathly hush, and Hunt said, ‘Oh my God!’ and hung up. So you had the White House. You have Hunt saying ‘Oh my God!’ At a later arraignment, one of the guys whispered to a judge. The judge said, ‘What do you do?’ and Woodward overheard the words ‘CIA.’ So if your interest isn’t whetted by this time, you’re not a journalist.”[13] Ensuing investigations of suspected cover-ups led inexorably to congressional committees, conflicting testimonies, and ultimately to the resignation of Richard Nixon in 1974. For decades, Bradlee was one of only four publicly known people who knew the true identity of press informant Deep Throat, the other three being Woodward, Bernstein, and Deep Throat himself, who later revealed himself to be Nixon’s FBI associate director Mark Felt.

In 1981 Post reporter Janet Cooke won a Pulitzer Prize for "Jimmy's World", a profile of an 8-year-old heroin addict. Cooke’s article turned out to be fiction: there was no such addict. As executive editor, Bradlee was roundly criticized in many circles for failing to ensure the article’s accuracy. After questions about the story’s veracity arose, Bradlee (along with publisher Donald Graham) ordered a “full disclosure” investigation to ascertain the truth. At one point during the investigation, Bradlee angrily compared Cooke to Richard Nixon over her attempted cover-up of the fake story. Bradlee personally apologized to Mayor Marion Barry and the chief of police of Washington, D.C., for the Post’s fictitious article. Cooke, meanwhile, was forced to resign and relinquish the Pulitzer.

Other work

Bradlee published an autobiography in 1995, A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventures. He had an acting role in Born Yesterday, the 1993 remake of the 1950 romantic comedy. In 1983 he gave the inaugural Vance Distinguished Lecture at Central Connecticut State University.[14] On May 3, 2006, Bradlee received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Prior to receiving the honorary degree, he taught occasional journalism courses at Georgetown.

In 1991 he was persuaded by then–governor of Maryland William Donald Schaefer to accept chairmanship of the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission and continued in that position through 2003. He also served for many years as a member of the board of trustees at St. Mary’s College of Maryland,[1] and endowed the Benjamin C. Bradlee Annual Lecture in Journalism there. He continued to serve as vice chairman of the school’s board of trustees.[15]

In the fall of 2005, Jim Lehrer conducted six hours of interviews with Bradlee on a variety of topics—from the responsibilities of the press to the differences between Watergate and the Valerie Plame case. The interviews were edited for an hour-long documentary, Free Speech: Jim Lehrer and Ben Bradlee, which premiered on PBS on June 19, 2006.

Later life and death

At The Washington Post, Bradlee carried the title vice president at large. Bradlee and Quinn lived at two homes, the Todd Lincoln House in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. The middle part of the house was built in 1792. They also restored Porto Bello, their home in Drayden, Maryland.[16]

Bradlee was named as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama on August 8, 2013,[17] and was presented the medal at a White House ceremony on November 20, 2013.

In late September 2014, Bradlee entered hospice care due to declining health as a result of Alzheimer’s disease.[18] He died of natural causes on October 21, 2014, at his home in Washington, D.C., at the age of 93.[9][2]

Volunteer service

For many years Bradlee served on the board of trustees for St. Mary’s College of Maryland.[1] He was very active on the board and also played key roles in the establishment of the Center for the Study of Democracy at the college, where he also served on the advisory board.

He is also known for his work on the board of trustees of the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission, as well as narrating a documentary produced by the organization on the history of the early Maryland colony.

Actor Jason Robards portrayed Bradlee in the film All the President’s Men, winning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance. G. D. Spradlin played the role of Bradlee in Dick, a spoof of Watergate. Henderson Forsythe played Bradlee in the romantic comedy Chances Are.

Books

  • Bradlee, Ben. Conversations With Kennedy (W W Norton & Co Inc, November 1, 1984) ISBN 978-0-393-30189-2
  • Bradlee, Ben. A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventures (Simon & Schuster, October, 1995) ISBN 978-0-684-80894-9

Family tree

Ancestry

Family of Ben Bradlee
32. Frederic Hall Bradlee
16. Frederic Hall Bradlee
33. Lucretia Wainright
8. Josiah Bradlee III
17. Lucretia Wainwright
4. Frederick Josiah Bradlee I
18. Francis Boardman Crowninshield
9. Alice Crowninshield
19. Sarah Gool Putnam
2. Frederick Josiah Bradlee Jr.
20. Alexander Thomas
10. Arthur Malcolm Thomas
21. Elizabeth Malcolm Rand
5. Elizabeth Whitwell Thomas
22. Dr. Howard Sargent, M.D.
11. Mary Sarah Sargent
23. Charlot Cunningham
1. Chev. Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee
24. Baron Heinrich August von Gersdorff
12. Dr. Ernst Bruno von Gersdorff
25. Augusta Theodora von Tschirscky
6. Carl August de Gersdorff
26. Dr. George Choate
13. Caroline Choate
27. Margaret Manning Hodges
3. Chev. Josephine de Gersdorff
28. Edward Augustes Crowninshield
14. Frederic Crowninshield
29. Caroline Maria Welch
7. Helen Suzette Crowninshield
30. William Nelson Fairbanks
15. Helen Suzette Fairbanks
31. Abby Augusta Reed

Patrilineal descent

Choate lineage

Putnam lineage

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Benjamin C. Bradlee.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Ben Bradlee—Career Timeline"". The Investigating Power project. American University. 2012. Retrieved 2014-10-09.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Berger, Marilyn (October 21, 2014). "Ben Bradlee, Editor Who Directed Watergate Coverage, Dies at 93". The New York Times. Retrieved October 21, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ Bill Haussermann, 87; lawyer donated time to charities By Bryan Marquard, Boston Globe March 22, 2009
  4. ^ "Ben Bradlee Jr". The New York Times Company. 2004. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  5. ^ http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/the-ultimate-paper-trail_b2816
  6. ^ Chalres Alfred Welch. Welch Geneaology. pp. 35–36.
  7. ^ Roberts, Gary Boyd. "Surprising Connections #6 and 7: Boston Cousins of Queen Victoria and Yankee Anecestors of Mrs. Thomas Philip "Tip" O'Neill Jr". New England Historic Genealogical Society - Founded 1845. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  8. ^ Roberts, Gary Boyd (2008). The Royal Descendants of 600 Immigrants to the American Colonies or the United States. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company. p. 910. ISBN 978-0-8063-1786-1.
  9. ^ a b c d e Kaiser, Robert G. (October 21, 2014). "Ben Bradlee, legendary Washington Post editor, dies at 93". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Bradlee, Benjamin C. "Answering the Call: Benjamin C. Bradlee" Military.com
  11. ^ Stephen Hunter and John Bainbridge, Jr., American Gunfight: The Plot To Kill Harry Truman - And The Shoot-Out That Stopped It, Simon & Schuster (2005), ISBN 0-7432-6068-6.
  12. ^ "Office Memorandum". http://www.namebase.org/foia/bradlee.html. United States Government. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  13. ^ "Biography and Video Interview of Ben Bradlee at Academy of Achievement". Achievement.org. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  14. ^ James, Alayna. (2013, February 17).Vance Series Adds to its Tradition of Distinguished Guest Speakers. New Britain Herald. Retrieved on 2013-5-29.
  15. ^ St. Mary's College of Maryland Board of Trustees from the college's website
  16. ^ "Porto Bello Restored". Southern Accents. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  17. ^ "President Obama Names Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients". Office of the Press Secretary, The White House. August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  18. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/29/politics/bradlee-hospice-care/
  19. ^ Bradlee, Samuel Doggett. "History of the Bradley family: with particular reference to the descendants of Nathan Bradley, of Dorchester, Mass (1878)". Boston: Presz of Rockwell and Churchill. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  20. ^ Jameson, E. O. (Ephraim Orcutt). "The Choates in America 1643 - 1896". Boston, A Mudge & Son, printers. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  21. ^ Putnam, Eben. "A History of the Putnam family in England and America (1891)". The Salem press publishing printing co. Retrieved 22 December 2012.

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