Journalist. He served as Editor of The Washington Post from 1965 until 1991 and during his leadership, the stories of "The Pentagon Papers" and "Watergate" were reported. He was born Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee, his father was an investment banker, Ben (as he was called throughout his life) was educated at Harvard College. During World War II, he was assigned to the Pacific and served in communications at the Office of Naval Intelligence. Upon returning home, he helped establish the small publication New Hampshire Sunday News, while working as a reporter and editor. In 1948, he was hired by the Post but three-years later, he took a press position at the US Embassy in France. While in Europe, he landed a job as a correspondent with Newsweek and in 1957, he returned to the United States. During this period, he met John F. Kennedy (then-Senator from Massachusetts) and the two became good friends until President Kennedy's assassination in 1963. He was rehired at the Washington Post by Publisher Katharine Graham in 1965 and served as deputy Managing Editor. In 1968, he was promoted to Executive Editor. When the "Watergate" scandal broke, reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein became household names. Jason Robards received an Academy Award for his portrayal of Bradlee in the film "All the President's Men" (1976). In 1995, his autobiography "A Good Life" was published and in 2013, he was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom" from President Obama. Bradlee died of complications from Alzheimer's Disease.
Journalist. He served as Editor of The Washington Post from 1965 until 1991 and during his leadership, the stories of "The Pentagon Papers" and "Watergate" were reported. He was born Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee, his father was an investment banker, Ben (as he was called throughout his life) was educated at Harvard College. During World War II, he was assigned to the Pacific and served in communications at the Office of Naval Intelligence. Upon returning home, he helped establish the small publication New Hampshire Sunday News, while working as a reporter and editor. In 1948, he was hired by the Post but three-years later, he took a press position at the US Embassy in France. While in Europe, he landed a job as a correspondent with Newsweek and in 1957, he returned to the United States. During this period, he met John F. Kennedy (then-Senator from Massachusetts) and the two became good friends until President Kennedy's assassination in 1963. He was rehired at the Washington Post by Publisher Katharine Graham in 1965 and served as deputy Managing Editor. In 1968, he was promoted to Executive Editor. When the "Watergate" scandal broke, reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein became household names. Jason Robards received an Academy Award for his portrayal of Bradlee in the film "All the President's Men" (1976). In 1995, his autobiography "A Good Life" was published and in 2013, he was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom" from President Obama. Bradlee died of complications from Alzheimer's Disease.
Bio by: C.S.
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Bradlee memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
