Ed Guthman
Encyclopedia
Edwin O. Guthman was a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and university professor.
, graduating from the University of Washington
in 1941. He entered the Army in 1941. During World War II
, he served as an infantry regiment reconnaissance platoon leader in both North Africa
and Italy
. In 1946, he was discharged as a captain. During his tour, he was awarded the Silver Star
and Purple Heart
.
He was a reporter for the Seattle Star
(1941–1947), and a reporter for The Seattle Times
(1947–1961). While at the Seattle Times, he won that paper's first Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting
in 1950. His articles proved that the Washington State Un-American Activities Committee subverted evidence that cleared University of Washington professor Melvin Rader of false charges of being a Communist.
In 1961, he was tapped by Attorney General Robert Kennedy to be his press secretary. He later served Kennedy in a similar position for one year when RFK became U.S. Senator from New York
in 1965. As a result of his work with Kennedy, he was third on Nixon's Enemies List
.
He was the national editor for the Los Angeles Times
from 1965 to 1977 and then the editorial page editor for The Philadelphia Inquirer
(1977–1987).
He was a senior lecturer at the USC Annenberg School for Communication
at the University of Southern California
in Los Angeles, California
, where he had been a professor since 1987. He retired in 2007.
Guthman died August 31, 2008 at his home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles
, at the age of 89. He suffered from amyloidosis
, a rare disease that attacks the internal organs.
Biography
Guthman was born in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, graduating from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1941. He entered the Army in 1941. During 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...
, he served as an infantry regiment reconnaissance platoon leader in both North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. In 1946, he was discharged as a captain. During his tour, he was awarded the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
and Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
.
He was a reporter for the Seattle Star
Seattle Star
The Seattle Star was a daily newspaper that ran from February 25, 1899, to August 13, 1947. It was owned by E.W. Scripps and in 1920 was transferred to Scripps McRae League of Newspapers , after a falling-out within the Scripps family...
(1941–1947), and a reporter for The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
(1947–1961). While at the Seattle Times, he won that paper's first Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting
Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting
The Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting has been awarded since 1948 for a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award....
in 1950. His articles proved that the Washington State Un-American Activities Committee subverted evidence that cleared University of Washington professor Melvin Rader of false charges of being a Communist.
In 1961, he was tapped by Attorney General Robert Kennedy to be his press secretary. He later served Kennedy in a similar position for one year when RFK became U.S. Senator from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1965. As a result of his work with Kennedy, he was third on Nixon's Enemies List
Nixon's Enemies List
Nixon’s Enemies List is the informal name of what started as a list of President of the United States Richard Nixon’s major political opponents compiled by Charles Colson, written by George T. Bell , and sent in memorandum form to John Dean on September 9, 1971...
.
He was the national editor for the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
from 1965 to 1977 and then the editorial page editor for The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
(1977–1987).
He was a senior lecturer at the USC Annenberg School for Communication
USC Annenberg School for Communication
The USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism comprises a School ofCommunication and a School of Journalism at the University of Southern California . It is led by Dean Ernest J. Wilson III, Ph.D....
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, where he had been a professor since 1987. He retired in 2007.
Guthman died August 31, 2008 at his home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, at the age of 89. He suffered from amyloidosis
Amyloidosis
In medicine, amyloidosis refers to a variety of conditions whereby the body produces "bad proteins", denoted as amyloid proteins, which are abnormally deposited in organs and/or tissues and cause harm. A protein is described as being amyloid if, due to an alteration in its secondary structure, it...
, a rare disease that attacks the internal organs.