James Wechsler
James Wechsler | |
---|---|
Born | James Arthur Wechsler October 31, 1915 New York City, US |
Died | September 11, 1983 New York City, US | (aged 67)
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Columbia University |
Occupation(s) | Newspaper columnist and editor |
Employer | New York Post |
Awards | James Wechsler Award |
James Arthur Wechsler (October 31, 1915 – September 11, 1983) was an American journalist who worked as a newspaper columnist, Washington bureau chief, editor-in-chief, and editorial page editor of The New York Post. He was a prominent voice of American liberalism for 40 years and was considered one of the most highly informed and responsible political writers in Washington.
Early life
Born on October 31, 1915, he entered Columbia University when he was just shy of 16. Wechsler graduated in 1935 after rising to editor-in-chief of the Columbia Daily Spectator.[1] In his first year, he attended a speech by Columbia President Nicholas Murray Butler, who said that democracies are incapable of choosing strong leaders like totalitarian nations could, which shocked him. He was shocked again when his friend Reed Harris was fired as editor of the Spectator for criticizing the professionalization of college football.[2]
Career
Between 1934 and 1937, Wechsler belonged to the
From 1942 to 1946, except for one year in the
In May 1949, at 33, Wechsler became the editor of
In 1961, Wechsler was shifted to the position of editorial page editor after being replaced as editor of the news section by Paul Sann; he held that position until 1980. Besides editorials, Wechsler also wrote a regular column, which continued until shortly before his death.
Opposed by McCarthy and Nixon
Senator
Journalist Michael C. Moynihan wrote:
When Wechsler testified before McCarthy’s Senate committee, the senator’s deep paranoia was on prominent display. He suggested that Wechsler’s well-documented hostility to
Stalin was an elaborate ruse. As his quarry shifted in his chair, McCarthy speculated that Post editorials critical of his committee were planted by the Manchurian editor: 'Perhaps the most effective way of [propagandizing for communism] would be to claim that we deserted the party and, if we got in control of the paper, use that paper to attack and smear anybody who actually was fighting Communism.'[3]
Wechsler's work earned him a place on the
Death and legacy
Wechsler died of lung cancer on September 11, 1983, in New York City.[5][6]
In his honor, Columbia University launched the James Wechsler Award.[7] The Wisconsin Historical Society holds a collection of Wechsler's papers.[8]
Works
- 1936: Revolt on the Campus
- 1940: (with Garland Publishing
- 1943: Labor Baron, a biography of labor leader John L. Lewis
- 1953: The Age of Suspicion, an autobiography explaining his rebellion against the American university system and why he chose Communism, then why he renounced it, warning of the dangers of McCarthyism
- 1960: Reflections of an Angry Middle-Aged Editor
- 1972: In a Darkness, a memoir of his son's mental illness and suicide
References
- ^ "Columbia Forum | Columbia College Today". www.college.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
- JSTOR 2126009.
- ^ a b Moynihan, Michael McCarthy and His Friends, Reason
- ^ James Wechsler: The Editor Who Dared Challenge J. Edgar Hoover
- ^ Saxon, Wolfgang (September 12, 1983). "JAMES WECHSLER, A COLUMNIST AND EX-EDITOR OF POST, DIES". The New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- ^ "James A. Wechsler, a veteran newsman, liberal columnist and..." United Press International. September 12, 1983. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- ^ "About Al Anwar". Promo Prints. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "James Arthur Wechsler papers, 1935-1983". University of Wisconsin–Madison. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
External sources
- Meet the Press (May 17, 1953): Martha Rountree with James Wechsler, Marquis Childs, Frank Waldrop, Bert Andrews, and Lawrence Spivak.