Andrew Roth
Encyclopedia
Andrew Roth was a biographer and journalist
known for his compilation of Parliamentary Profiles, a directory of British Members of Parliament
, which is available online in The Guardian
. A well known figure amongst the politicians and journalists in Westminster
for fifty years, he was also known for his appearances on British television.
He scoured Hansard
, gossip columns, vote papers, and committee reports to compile his profiles of the personnel of the U.K. Parliament
and assessed their character traits, history, opinions, and psychological drives. The profiles also included cartoon caricatures by Terry Roth.
Roth's detailed obituaries
were composed for international and national figures of note, using the skills and information he collected in his biographical research. A catalogue of his published obituaries in the archives of The Guardian provides an insightful and historical perspective to contemporary news as the deaths of the noteworthy are documented and he reviews their lives.
He was born to Hungarian parents in New York and attended City College, Columbia
, Michigan
, and Harvard
universities where he studied Far Eastern History. During 1940, he was a researcher at the Institute of Pacific Relations
. He served as a Lieutenant with U.S. Naval Intelligence
in World War II
. In June 1945, he and five others were arrested during an FBI investigation into the leaking of documents to the journal, Amerasia
. He subsequently was cleared.
Roth was a journalist and foreign correspondent
in twenty countries before settling in the United Kingdom in 1950. He was political correspondent
for the Manchester Evening News
from 1972-1984, contributed to the New Statesman
from 1984-1997, and was an obituarist and contributor to The Guardian from 1996.
Roth had a son, Neil, a daughter, Terry, and three grandchildren. He died of prostate cancer at the age of 91
.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
known for his compilation of Parliamentary Profiles, a directory of British Members of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, which is available online in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. A well known figure amongst the politicians and journalists in Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
for fifty years, he was also known for his appearances on British television.
He scoured Hansard
Hansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
, gossip columns, vote papers, and committee reports to compile his profiles of the personnel of the U.K. Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
and assessed their character traits, history, opinions, and psychological drives. The profiles also included cartoon caricatures by Terry Roth.
Roth's detailed obituaries
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
were composed for international and national figures of note, using the skills and information he collected in his biographical research. A catalogue of his published obituaries in the archives of The Guardian provides an insightful and historical perspective to contemporary news as the deaths of the noteworthy are documented and he reviews their lives.
He was born to Hungarian parents in New York and attended City College, Columbia
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, and Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
universities where he studied Far Eastern History. During 1940, he was a researcher at the Institute of Pacific Relations
Institute of Pacific Relations
The Institute of Pacific Relations was an international NGO established in 1925 to provide a forum for discussion of problems and relations between nations of the Pacific Rim. The International Secretariat, the center of most IPR activity over the years, consisted of professional staff members who...
. He served as a Lieutenant with U.S. Naval Intelligence
Office of Naval Intelligence
The Office of Naval Intelligence was established in the United States Navy in 1882. ONI was established to "seek out and report" on the advancements in other nations' navies. Its headquarters are at the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In June 1945, he and five others were arrested during an FBI investigation into the leaking of documents to the journal, Amerasia
Amerasia
Amerasia was a journal of Far Eastern affairs best known for the 1940s "Amerasia Affair" in which several of its staff and their contacts were suspected of espionage and charged with unauthorized possession of government documents.-Publication:...
. He subsequently was cleared.
Roth was a journalist and foreign correspondent
Foreign correspondent
Foreign Correspondent may refer to:*Foreign correspondent *Foreign Correspondent , an Alfred Hitchcock film*Foreign Correspondent , an Australian current affairs programme...
in twenty countries before settling in the United Kingdom in 1950. He was political correspondent
Correspondent
A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is a journalist or commentator, or more general speaking, an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, location. A foreign correspondent is stationed in a foreign...
for the Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
The Manchester Evening News is a regional daily newspaper covering Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. It is published every day except Sunday and is owned by Trinity Mirror plc following its sale by Guardian Media Group in early 2010. It has an average daily circulation of 90,973 copies...
from 1972-1984, contributed to the New Statesman
New Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
from 1984-1997, and was an obituarist and contributor to The Guardian from 1996.
Roth had a son, Neil, a daughter, Terry, and three grandchildren. He died of prostate cancer at the age of 91
.