Thomas O'Neill (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Thomas M. O'Neill was an American
journalist
. His work while at the Baltimore Sun landed him on the White House "Enemies List" compiled by the staff of President Richard Nixon
.
Born in Norfolk, Virginia
, he attended public schools in Palmetto, Florida
. He worked as a reporter for the Baltimore News and later the Baltimore Evening Sun and Baltimore Morning Sun, covering almost every beat. His work was complimented by H. L. Mencken
, and he moved up to covering state politics. He became, successively, a national political writer (starting with covering the Al Smith
presidential campaign in 1928), the Sun's correspondent in London
at the height of World War II
, a foreign correspondent who made studies of postwar conditions in Greece
, France
and the Low Countries
. His work was hailed by, among others, New York Times columnist Russell Baker
(in his book Good Times) and by essayist and BBC
correspondent Alistair Cooke
, who described O'Neill's coverage of the trials of Alger Hiss
as "incomparable" in A Generation on Trial.
In 1943, he opened the London bureau of the Sun to cover war news and remained in Europe for the duration. This period of his career is described in Combat Correspondents—The Baltimore Sun in World War II, written by former Sun editorial page editor Joseph R.L. Sterne and published by the Maryland Historical Society.
It was during his assignment to the Hiss case in the early 50's that he first met Richard Nixon
. O'Neill covered at least 16 national political conventions up through those that nominated Hubert Humphrey
and Nixon in 1968, with the exception of the years he worked abroad. For almost 20 years, starting in 1953, he wrote a column, "Politics and People" that appeared in the morning Sun and was syndicated to many other papers.
O'Neill died in Baltimore, Maryland in 1971. The "Sun" marked his passing with an editorial that observed, "his standards of public morality were so high that not many could measure up to them. Looking always for honest men, he found but a few in public life whose motives were not those of self-serving expediency; and he said so. That politicians often quailed under his gaze was no wonder, for the gaze was piercing."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
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...
. His work while at the Baltimore Sun landed him on the White House "Enemies List" compiled by the staff of President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
.
Born in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, he attended public schools in Palmetto, Florida
Palmetto, Florida
Palmetto is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was listed as 12,606 It is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Palmetto is located at ....
. He worked as a reporter for the Baltimore News and later the Baltimore Evening Sun and Baltimore Morning Sun, covering almost every beat. His work was complimented by H. L. Mencken
H. L. Mencken
Henry Louis "H. L." Mencken was an American journalist, essayist, magazine editor, satirist, acerbic critic of American life and culture, and a scholar of American English. Known as the "Sage of Baltimore", he is regarded as one of the most influential American writers and prose stylists of the...
, and he moved up to covering state politics. He became, successively, a national political writer (starting with covering the Al Smith
Al Smith
Alfred Emanuel Smith. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American statesman who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York three times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928...
presidential campaign in 1928), the Sun's correspondent in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the height of 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...
, a foreign correspondent who made studies of postwar conditions in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
. His work was hailed by, among others, New York Times columnist Russell Baker
Russell Baker
Russell Wayne Baker is an American Pulitzer Prize-winning writer known for his satirical commentary and self-critical prose, as well as for his autobiography, Growing Up.-His career:...
(in his book Good Times) and by essayist and BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
correspondent Alistair Cooke
Alistair Cooke
Alfred Alistair Cooke KBE was a British/American journalist, television personality and broadcaster. Outside his journalistic output, which included Letter from America and Alistair Cooke's America, he was well known in the United States as the host of PBS Masterpiece Theater from 1971 to 1992...
, who described O'Neill's coverage of the trials of Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss was an American lawyer, government official, author, and lecturer. He was involved in the establishment of the United Nations both as a U.S. State Department and U.N. official...
as "incomparable" in A Generation on Trial.
In 1943, he opened the London bureau of the Sun to cover war news and remained in Europe for the duration. This period of his career is described in Combat Correspondents—The Baltimore Sun in World War II, written by former Sun editorial page editor Joseph R.L. Sterne and published by the Maryland Historical Society.
It was during his assignment to the Hiss case in the early 50's that he first met Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. O'Neill covered at least 16 national political conventions up through those that nominated Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
and Nixon in 1968, with the exception of the years he worked abroad. For almost 20 years, starting in 1953, he wrote a column, "Politics and People" that appeared in the morning Sun and was syndicated to many other papers.
O'Neill died in Baltimore, Maryland in 1971. The "Sun" marked his passing with an editorial that observed, "his standards of public morality were so high that not many could measure up to them. Looking always for honest men, he found but a few in public life whose motives were not those of self-serving expediency; and he said so. That politicians often quailed under his gaze was no wonder, for the gaze was piercing."