Ben Bradlee
Born 1921 · Age 104
American journalist; managing editor (1965) and executive editor (1968–1991) of The Washington Post; led publication of the Pentagon Papers and the Post's Watergate coverage; later vice president at-large of the Post and philanthropic trustee.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Boston, Massachusetts
Born into the Bradlee and de Gersdorff families in Boston.
Stricken with polio while at St. Mark's School
Contracted polio at age 14, lost use of his legs for months, then recovered through exercise.
Worked as a copy boy for a local newspaper
Within a year of recovery from polio he was working as a copy boy, his first newspaper job.
Finished high school at St. Mark's School
Completed secondary education at St. Mark's; played varsity baseball.
World War II service aboard USS Philip and Pacific campaigns
Served as communications officer in the Pacific; participated in battles including Vella Lavella, Saipan, Tinian, Bougainville and the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Graduated Harvard College (BA in English & Greek)
Graduated Harvard College in 1942 with a combined Greek–English major and had participated in Naval ROTC.
Commissioned in U.S. Navy (Naval ROTC)
Received naval commission the same day as graduation; assigned to Office of Naval Intelligence and to USS Philip in the Pacific.
Married Jean Saltonstall
Married his college sweetheart Jean Saltonstall on the day he graduated and entered the Navy.
Served as training officer (third year of service)
During his naval service he served as a training officer in his third year.
Founded New Hampshire Sunday News
Helped found the New Hampshire Sunday News, a new Sunday paper in Manchester, NH.
New Hampshire Sunday News folded and sold (~25 months after founding)
The paper struggled with advertising and circulation and was sold to the Manchester Union-Leader after about 25 months.
Joined The Washington Post as a reporter
Recruited to interview at The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post; stayed on train to Washington and was hired by the Post.
Present during Blair House assassination attempt
On Nov 1, 1950 he was alighting from a streetcar in front of the White House when two Puerto Rican nationalists attempted to shoot their way into Blair House.
Assistant press attaché at U.S. Embassy in Paris
Took a post as assistant to the press attaché in Paris, later joined the U.S. Information and Educational Exchange (USIE).
Became European correspondent for Newsweek
Left USIE to work for Newsweek as European correspondent.
Arrested/ordered to leave France after attempting to interview Algerian rebels
After a failed attempt to interview FLN guerrillas in Algeria he was detained by French police and told to leave France within 48 hours; diplomatic and press intervention overturned the decision.
Divorced first wife Jean Saltonstall
Divorced Jean Saltonstall while serving as an overseas correspondent.
Married Antoinette 'Tony' Pinchot and returned to Washington
Married Antoinette Pinchot and continued as Newsweek's Washington correspondent.
Covered 1960 presidential campaigns and befriended John F. Kennedy
Toured with both Kennedy and Nixon during their campaigns; developed a close friendship with JFK.
Phil Graham purchased Newsweek ($15M); Bradlee made Washington bureau chief
Bradlee encouraged Post owner Phil Graham to buy Newsweek; Graham bought it for $15,000,000; Bradlee was made Newsweek's Washington bureau chief and received Post Company shares as a finder's fee.
Philip Graham committed suicide
Philip Graham, associate publisher of the Post and owner who had purchased Newsweek, committed suicide in August 1963; Katharine Graham became publisher.
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
President Kennedy, a personal friend and neighbor, was assassinated in Dallas; a pivotal national event affecting Bradlee personally and professionally.
Published That Special Grace (book)
Published his first book about Kennedy, 'That Special Grace' (listed in timeline 1964).
Became managing editor of The Washington Post
Returned to The Washington Post at Katharine Graham's invitation and became deputy managing editor then managing editor (national and international affairs) in 1965.
Appointed executive editor of The Washington Post
Promoted to executive editor in 1968, a post he held until 1991 and used to expand national and international coverage.
Introduced Style section at The Washington Post
Under his leadership the Post introduced a Style section covering cultural news (Britannica cites 1969).
Published Pentagon Papers (Post joined NYT)
Led the Post in publishing excerpts of the classified Pentagon Papers; organized team meetings in his Georgetown home; Supreme Court later affirmed right to publish (June 30, 1971).
Watergate break-in reported
Assigned/supporting Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in probing the break-in at Democratic National Committee headquarters (began June 17, 1972).
The Washington Post received Pulitzer Prize for Watergate reporting
The Post was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 1973 for its Watergate reporting.
Published iconic 'Nixon Resigns' front page
Led the newsroom as President Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974; the Post produced one of journalism's most iconic front pages.
Labor dispute and coordinated attack on Post presses
A violent strike erupted and coordinated attack damaged 72 printing machines; after the strike the Post gained full control of publishing.
Published Conversations with Kennedy
Published a memoir about his friendship with JFK titled 'Conversations with Kennedy' (1975).
Portrayed by Jason Robards in 'All the President's Men' (film)
Jason Robards portrayed Bradlee in the 1976 film adaptation of 'All the President's Men'; Robards later won an Oscar (Best Supporting Actor) for the performance.
Divorce from Antoinette 'Tony' Pinchot finalized
Marriage to Antoinette Pinchot ended (divorce year cited as 1977).
Married Washington Post reporter Sally Quinn
Married Sally Quinn, a reporter at The Washington Post.
Janet Cooke 'Jimmy's World' fabrication and returned Pulitzer
Under Bradlee's editorship a fabricated story won a Pulitzer; after discovery the Post returned the prize and Bradlee ordered a full inquiry and apologized publicly.
Birth of son Quinn Bradlee
Quinn Bradlee was born in 1982; his mother Sally Quinn was 40, Bradlee was about 60.
Appointed Leonard Downie Jr. managing editor
Bradlee appointed Leonard Downie Jr. as managing editor (Downie later succeeded him as executive editor in 1991).
Received Golden Plate Award (American Academy of Achievement)
Awarded the Golden Plate Award in 1988 by the Academy of Achievement.
Endowed Harvard professorship of Government and the Press (approximate)
In later years he endowed a professorship of Government and the Press at Harvard (text references the endowment but not a firm year).
Under Bradlee's leadership: doubled The Washington Post circulation & accrued Pulitzers
Over his 26 years as editor the Post nearly doubled circulation and won some 18 Pulitzers while he oversaw major expansion of reporting.
Accepted chairmanship of Historic St. Mary's City Commission
Persuaded by Maryland governor William Donald Schaefer to accept the chairmanship; served through 2003.
Delivered Theodore H. White lecture at Harvard Kennedy School
Delivered the Theodore H. White lecture at the JFK School of Government; criticized lying in Washington and urged truth in public life.
Retired as Executive Editor; became Vice President at-large
Stepped down as executive editor in September 1991 after 23 years in the role and continued as vice president at-large of The Washington Post until his death.
Acted in Born Yesterday (1993 remake)
Had an acting role in the 1993 remake of Born Yesterday.
Memoir 'A Good Life' influenced public understanding of his career
The 1995 memoir detailed his career, friendships (notably with JFK), and newsroom decisions (Pentagon Papers, Watergate).
Published memoir 'A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventures'
Autobiography published by Simon & Schuster in October 1995.
Received Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism
Awarded the Walter Cronkite Award in recognition of his work as editor of The Washington Post.
Raised significant funds for National Children's Medical Center (approximate)
The biography notes he raised millions for the National Children's Medical Center; exact dates and amounts not specified in the sources provided.
Started Benjamin Bradlee Distinguished Lecture at St. Mary's College
Helped start an annual event for the school's Center for the Study of Democracy — the Benjamin Bradlee Distinguished lecture in Journalism.
Son Ben Bradlee Jr. received Pulitzer Prize (family milestone)
His eldest son Ben Bradlee Jr. became an author/editor and received a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting at The Boston Globe (date unspecified in primary text; milestone included as family accomplishment).
Interviewed at International Achievement Summit (Academy of Achievement)
Appeared and was interviewed at the 2003 Achievement Summit; continued public speaking and appearances.
Received Doctor of Humane Letters from Georgetown University
Georgetown conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters; he also taught occasional journalism courses there.
PBS documentary 'Free Speech: Jim Lehrer and Ben Bradlee' premiered
Jim Lehrer interviewed Bradlee for six hours; the edited hour-long documentary premiered on PBS on June 19, 2006.
Received French Legion of Honor
Awarded the French Legion of Honor (Légion d'honneur) in Paris in recognition of his career.
Named Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient
President Obama named him a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on August 8, 2013.
Presented Presidential Medal of Freedom at White House ceremony
Was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House ceremony on November 20, 2013.
Entered hospice care
In late September 2014 he entered hospice care due to declining health related to Alzheimer's disease.
Died in Washington, D.C.
Died at his home in Washington, D.C., on October 21, 2014; buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Funeral at Washington National Cathedral
Funeral service held at the Washington National Cathedral on October 29, 2014.
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