Bradlee Discusses Future of Journalism

The future success of journalism lies in the freedom afforded journalists to investigate their subjects, former executive editor of the Washington Post Ben Bradlee '43 said during a breakfast meeting at the Kennedy School of Government.

"What attracted me to journalism was to get at the truth," Bradlee told a group of about 120. "I lived and breathed it."

Bradlee, who worked for the Post from 1968 to 1991, was executive editor of the paper during the Watergate scandal. He recently published a memoir entitled A Good Life, in which he his life as an undergraduate during World War II and his sensational career at the Post.

Yesterday he recalled that time as one of the most trying in his career.

"Deep Throat told me my life was in danger, and I was sure the phones were being tapped," said Bradlee, who spoke in the Malkin Penthouse.

The former editor described the heavy penalties he said he would have faced in publishing the story had the information the paper received been incorrect.

His friends cautioned him, saying, "You guys better be right because [the government is] after you," Bradlee said.

Bradlee said he agreed with the Post's recent decision to publish the manifesto of the so-called Unabomber. He added that he doubted anyone even read the special insert in the paper which carried the manifesto's full text.

"It was absolutely unread," Bradlee said.

Despite his success as a reporter, Bradlee said his dedication to investigative journalism has strained many of his personal relationships, most notably his friendship with former President John F. Kennedy '40.

"I chose to try to be a friend and a reporter, but a reporter first," he said. "Jackie [Kennedy] never did like that. The day she came into Bethesda Hospital with blood on her dress she saw my wife and I and started to tell me what happened and then she had to stop herself and say, 'You can't print this... This is off the record.'"

Under Bradlee's direction, Post writers were awarded 18 Pulitzer Prizes. Bradlee has also received several individual awards and honors for his work at the Washington Bureau Chief's desk and as a foreign correspondent with Newsweek magazine.

Bradlee has been credited with revolutionizing the Post by creating an award-winning "Style" section, said Thomas F. Mulvoy Jr., Managing Editor of the Boston Globe.

"[It is] the best thing [he] ever did," Mulvoy said.

In response to charges by audience members that the section is based on Washington gossip rather than real news, Bradlee said: "Gossip is news in that town. Lyndon B. Johnson and Kennedy lived on that and so does Clinton."

Bradlee said he frowns on government intervention in the realm of what he considers an inherently free press.

"The press should be undisciplined," Bradlee said. "Let them make mistakes."

Bradlee said it is important for newspapers to remain interesting while not sacrificing their integrity

"It was absolutely unread," Bradlee said.

Despite his success as a reporter, Bradlee said his dedication to investigative journalism has strained many of his personal relationships, most notably his friendship with former President John F. Kennedy '40.

"I chose to try to be a friend and a reporter, but a reporter first," he said. "Jackie [Kennedy] never did like that. The day she came into Bethesda Hospital with blood on her dress she saw my wife and I and started to tell me what happened and then she had to stop herself and say, 'You can't print this... This is off the record.'"

Under Bradlee's direction, Post writers were awarded 18 Pulitzer Prizes. Bradlee has also received several individual awards and honors for his work at the Washington Bureau Chief's desk and as a foreign correspondent with Newsweek magazine.

Bradlee has been credited with revolutionizing the Post by creating an award-winning "Style" section, said Thomas F. Mulvoy Jr., Managing Editor of the Boston Globe.

"[It is] the best thing [he] ever did," Mulvoy said.

In response to charges by audience members that the section is based on Washington gossip rather than real news, Bradlee said: "Gossip is news in that town. Lyndon B. Johnson and Kennedy lived on that and so does Clinton."

Bradlee said he frowns on government intervention in the realm of what he considers an inherently free press.

"The press should be undisciplined," Bradlee said. "Let them make mistakes."

Bradlee said it is important for newspapers to remain interesting while not sacrificing their integrity