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Washington Post former editor Ben Bradlee dies at 93 Washington Post former editor Ben Bradlee dies at 93
(35 minutes later)
Ben Bradlee, the editor of the Washington Post during the Watergate scandal that toppled President Nixon, has died aged 93, the newspaper says. Ben Bradlee, the editor of the Washington Post during the Watergate scandal that toppled President Richard Nixon, has died aged 93.
It says he died at his Washington home of natural causes. The newspaper reports he died at his Washington home of natural causes.
As executive editor from 1968-1991, Bradlee was credited for transforming the Post into one the most respected newspapers in America.As executive editor from 1968-1991, Bradlee was credited for transforming the Post into one the most respected newspapers in America.
In 2013, he was given the country's highest civilian honour - the Presidential Medal of Freedom.In 2013, he was given the country's highest civilian honour - the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
"He (Bradlee) transformed that newspaper into one of the finest in the world," President Barack Obama said at the time. "For Benjamin Bradlee, journalism was more than a profession - it was a public good vital to our democracy," President Barack Obama said in a statement released by the White House on Tuesday evening.
"A true newspaperman, he transformed the Washington Post into one of the country's finest newspapers, and with him at the helm, a growing army of reporters published the Pentagon Papers, exposed Watergate, and told stories that needed to be told - stories that helped us understand our world and one another a little bit better."
"Ben Bradlee was the best American newspaper editor of his time and had the greatest impact on his newspaper of any modern editor," said Donald Graham, the former publisher of the Washington Post."Ben Bradlee was the best American newspaper editor of his time and had the greatest impact on his newspaper of any modern editor," said Donald Graham, the former publisher of the Washington Post.
'Aggressive reporting''Aggressive reporting'
Bradlee - who fought in the Navy during World War Two - became a reporter in the 1950s.Bradlee - who fought in the Navy during World War Two - became a reporter in the 1950s.
He soon became close friends with the then senator and future President John F Kennedy.He soon became close friends with the then senator and future President John F Kennedy.
Bradlee became managing editor at the Washington Post in 1965 and was then promoted to executive editor three years later. Bradlee became managing editor at the Washington Post in 1965 and was promoted to executive editor three years later.
"From the moment he took over The Post newsroom in 1965, Mr Bradlee sought to create an important newspaper that would go far beyond the traditional model of a metropolitan daily," the newspaper wrote in its obituary."From the moment he took over The Post newsroom in 1965, Mr Bradlee sought to create an important newspaper that would go far beyond the traditional model of a metropolitan daily," the newspaper wrote in its obituary.
"He achieved that goal by combining compelling news stories based on aggressive reporting with engaging feature pieces of a kind previously associated with the best magazines.""He achieved that goal by combining compelling news stories based on aggressive reporting with engaging feature pieces of a kind previously associated with the best magazines."
In 1971, Bradlee decided to publish the so-called Pentagon Papers - a secret study of the Vietnam War broken by The New York Times.In 1971, Bradlee decided to publish the so-called Pentagon Papers - a secret study of the Vietnam War broken by The New York Times.
Bradlee acted against the advice of lawyers and the entreaties of top government officials. A legal battle then began, with the Supreme Court later upholding the right of newspapers to print the leaked papers.Bradlee acted against the advice of lawyers and the entreaties of top government officials. A legal battle then began, with the Supreme Court later upholding the right of newspapers to print the leaked papers.
Bradlee played a key role in toppling President Richard Nixon in 1974.Bradlee played a key role in toppling President Richard Nixon in 1974.
He encouraged two journalists - Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein - to pursue relentlessly the unfolding story in which some of Nixon's closest aides became involved in illegal activities, followed by a political cover-up in which the president himself was implicated.He encouraged two journalists - Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein - to pursue relentlessly the unfolding story in which some of Nixon's closest aides became involved in illegal activities, followed by a political cover-up in which the president himself was implicated.
The story of the newspaper's coverage of the Watergate scandal was later portrayed in the film All The President's Men. The story of the newspaper's coverage of the Watergate scandal was later portrayed in the film All The President's Men, with Bradlee played by Jason Robards.