Ben Bradlee, the legendary Washington Post editor who became famous for challenging the Nixon Whitehouse during the Watergate scandal, died on Tuesday, October 21st at the age of 93.
He is survived by his wife, Sally Quinn, two sons, 10 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild.
President Obama recalled Mr. Bradlee’s legacy on Tuesday night in a statement that said: “For Benjamin Bradlee, journalism was more than a profession — it was a public good vital to our democracy. A true newspaperman, he transformed the Washington Post into one of the country’s finest newspapers, and with him at the helm, a growing army of reporters published the Pentagon Papers, exposed Watergate, and told stories that needed to be told — stories that helped us understand our world and one another a little bit better. The standard he set — a standard for honest, objective, meticulous reporting — encouraged so many others to enter the profession. And that standard is why, last year, I was proud to honor Ben with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Today, we offer our thoughts and prayers to Ben’s family, and all who were fortunate to share in what truly was a good life.”
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Born Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee in Boston on August 26, 1921, Bradlee was a Naval Intelligence officer during World War II. After the war he became a reporter and later worked for the government in the Office of U.S. Information and Educational Exchange (USIE), the unit responsible for producing American propaganda.
He later went to work for Newsweek which was purchased by the Washington Post company in 1961. He became Managing Editor of the Washington Post in 1963. Under his watch the Washington Post published stories based on the Pentagon Papers. The Nixon Administration tried to quash the stories but a Supreme Court ruling upheald the paper’s right to publish. This ultimately lead to the Post’s ability to break the Watergate story.
Bradlee received many accolades over his storied life. He was awarded the Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
