Warren Rogers
Encyclopedia
Warren Joseph Rogers, Jr. (May 6, 1922 - August 31, 2003) was a political reporter and an author. Born in New Orleans, Rogers took a liking to the press at an early age, working as a night messenger boy for the Postal Telegraph Co. and later as a copy boy for the New Orleans Item.
During World War II
, Rogers served as a U.S. Marine and took part in the first offensive at Guadalcanal
. He also served at Tulagi
.
After returning home, Rogers work as a journalist with a New Orleans paper, but later joined the Associated Press
and transferred to Baton Rouge to cover Louisiana
politics
.
In 1956, during the Adlai Stevenson campaign, Rogers first met Robert Kennedy, who was traveling with the press to prepare for his brother's 1960 presidential campaign. Despite the frequent arguments that they had with one another, Rogers and Kennedy became good friends as they sat on buses on Stevenson's campaign trail.
Rogers joined the Washington bureau of the New York Herald Tribune
in 1959 and began reporting on the military, foreign affairs, the presidency, and national politics. During his time with the Herald Tribune, he was nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes: one for a series called "Our Man on the Bus," and one for a series of reporting on Green Beret
combat in Vietnam
, for which he made 10 trips to that country. He also covered the Cuban Missile Crisis
, the civil rights movement
, the White House
and the McCarthy Hearings
.
Rogers became bureau chief for the Hearst Corporation
in 1963, and then was named Washington Editor for Look Magazine
in 1966. In 1968, Rogers' friendship with Bobby Kennedy allowed him an insider's view of Kennedy's campaign for the Democractic nomination. Rogers not only served as a reporter to the Kennedy campaign, but also as a near-staff member. In fact, Rogers was present during Kennedy's assassination
on June 5, 1968, and even helped subdue the gunman, Sirhan Sirhan
. In 1993, Rogers published a book called When I Think of Bobby: A Personal Memoir of the Kennedy Years (see below).
Warren Rogers died on August 31, 2003 from a perforated ulcer
. He was 81 at the time of his death
.
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...
, Rogers served as a U.S. Marine and took part in the first offensive at Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
. He also served at Tulagi
Tulagi
Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida Island. The town of the same name on the island Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island (5.5 km by 1 km) in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida...
.
After returning home, Rogers work as a journalist with a New Orleans paper, but later joined the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and transferred to Baton Rouge to cover Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
.
In 1956, during the Adlai Stevenson campaign, Rogers first met Robert Kennedy, who was traveling with the press to prepare for his brother's 1960 presidential campaign. Despite the frequent arguments that they had with one another, Rogers and Kennedy became good friends as they sat on buses on Stevenson's campaign trail.
Rogers joined the Washington bureau of the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
in 1959 and began reporting on the military, foreign affairs, the presidency, and national politics. During his time with the Herald Tribune, he was nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes: one for a series called "Our Man on the Bus," and one for a series of reporting on Green Beret
United States Army Special Forces
The United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations force tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and...
combat in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, for which he made 10 trips to that country. He also covered the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
, the civil rights movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
, the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
and the McCarthy Hearings
Army-McCarthy Hearings
The Army–McCarthy hearings were a series of hearings held by the United States Senate's Subcommittee on Investigations between April 1954 and June 1954. The hearings were held for the purpose of investigating conflicting accusations between the United States Army and Senator Joseph McCarthy...
.
Rogers became bureau chief for the Hearst Corporation
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
in 1963, and then was named Washington Editor for Look Magazine
Look (American magazine)
Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles...
in 1966. In 1968, Rogers' friendship with Bobby Kennedy allowed him an insider's view of Kennedy's campaign for the Democractic nomination. Rogers not only served as a reporter to the Kennedy campaign, but also as a near-staff member. In fact, Rogers was present during Kennedy's assassination
Robert F. Kennedy assassination
The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, a United States Senator and brother of assassinated President John F. Kennedy, took place shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, in Los Angeles, California...
on June 5, 1968, and even helped subdue the gunman, Sirhan Sirhan
Sirhan Sirhan
Sirhan Bishara Sirhan is a Jordanian citizen who was convicted for the assassination of United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy. He is serving a life sentence at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, California.Sirhan was a Christian Arab born in Jerusalem who strongly opposed Israel...
. In 1993, Rogers published a book called When I Think of Bobby: A Personal Memoir of the Kennedy Years (see below).
Warren Rogers died on August 31, 2003 from a perforated ulcer
Peptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
. He was 81 at the time of his death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
.