BEN BRADLEEBy Damon Brown

Biography

• Bradlee was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 26, 1921.• Bradlee received his undergrad at Harvard University and

graduated in 1942.• He received his naval commission 2 hours after

graduating and went on to join the Office of Naval Intelligence. • He participated in a few battles including the biggest

naval battle ever fought, which was called the Battle of Leyte Gulf.• Bradlee eventually went on to attend the Columbia

University Graduate School of Journalism.

Employment• In 1952 Bradlee was hired as a staff member of the

propaganda unit by the Office of U.S. Information and Educational Exchange (USIE).

• The USIE was in charge of a variety of things including producing films, magazines, news items, for the CIA to use throughout Europe.

• Bradlee eventually quit his government job and came back to the United States.

• He found himself as the chief editor for Washington Post by 1968.

• Bradlee retired as the executive editor of the post in 1991, but still remains the Post’s Vice President to this day.

Articles

• Pentagon Papers (1971)

• Watergate (1972)

Impact• Editor of Washington

Post for 2 decades.• Helped transform local

newspaper which covered broad topics that ran all across the country.• His career influenced

many young journalists with his leadership and bold moves.• Medal of Freedom

honoree

Bradlee’s Highlights

• Bradlee was the overseer of Woodward and Bernstein.

• Vice President of the Washington Post • Was able to challenge the Federal Government

over the Pentagon Papers• Joined the staff of U.S. Information and

Educational Exchange, the embassy’s propaganda unit.

• Recipient of the presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013

More Than a Role Model

• Students should research him because of his persistence in his field.

• He retired as the executive editor of the Washington Post.

•Always consistent in writing accurate stories that broke large stories and scandals

Bradlee Interview• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ob-WOniDw

Sources• http://

www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2012/0509/Did-Ben-Bradlee-have-lingering-doubts-about-Watergate

• http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/oliver-burkemans-blog/2012/apr/30/watergate-ben-bradlee-doubt-woodward-bernstein

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_C._Bradlee• http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/30/bradlee-intervi

ew-raises-doubts-about-woodward-watergate-narrative/

• http://collections.mdch.org/cdm/ref/collection/saac/id/14946