James Arthur Wechsler (October 31, 1915 – September 11, 1983) was an American journalist who worked as a newspaper columnist, Washington bureau chief, editor-in-chief, and editorial page editor of The New York Post. He was a prominent voice of American liberalism for 40 years and was considered one of the most highly informed and responsible political writers in Washington.
Born on October 31, 1915, he entered Columbia University when he was just shy of 16. Wechsler graduated in 1935 after rising to editor-in-chief of the Columbia Daily Spectator.[1] In his first year, he attended a speech by Columbia President Nicholas Murray Butler, who said that democracies are incapable of choosing strong leaders like totalitarian nations could, which shocked him. He was shocked again when his friend Reed Harris was fired as editor of the Spectator for criticizing the professionalization of college football.[2]
Careeredit
Between 1934 and 1937, Wechsler belonged to the Young Communist League and was a leader of the pro-Communist American Student Union. He left the League after "an eye-opening trip to the Soviet Union."[3] He publicly condemned the 1939 Hitler-Stalin pact and was repeatedly attacked by official Communist organs.
From 1942 to 1946, except for one year in the US Army, Wechsler was national editor of the newspaper PM.
In May 1949, at 33, Wechsler became the editor of The New York Post and, in an unusual arrangement, he was in charge of both the news operation and the editorial page. The Post then became known as a crusading liberal newspaper, undertaking investigate exposés of figures like J. Edgar Hoover, Walter Winchell, and Robert Moses. In September 1952, the paper published a story about a fund financed by wealthy California businessmen to supplement Senator Richard Nixon's office expenses that led Nixon to respond in his famous televised Checkers speech during his successful quest for the vice-presidency.
In 1961, Wechsler was shifted to the position of editorial page editor after being replaced as editor of the news section by Paul Sann; he held that position until 1980. Besides editorials, Wechsler also wrote a regular column, which continued until shortly before his death.
Opposed by McCarthy and Nixonedit
Senator Joseph McCarthy questioned his conversion to anticommunism. Wechsler testified before McCarthy's committee in 1953 on his past adherence to communism and named other party members.[4]
When Wechsler testified before McCarthy’s Senate committee, the senator’s deep paranoia was on prominent display. He suggested that Wechsler’s well-documented hostility to Stalin was an elaborate ruse. As his quarry shifted in his chair, McCarthy speculated that Post editorials critical of his committee were planted by the Manchurian editor: 'Perhaps the most effective way of [propagandizing for communism] would be to claim that we deserted the party and, if we got in control of the paper, use that paper to attack and smear anybody who actually was fighting Communism.'[3]
1943: Labor Baron, a biography of labor leader John L. Lewis
1953: The Age of Suspicion, an autobiography explaining his rebellion against the American university system and why he chose Communism, then why he renounced it, warning of the dangers of McCarthyism
1960: Reflections of an Angry Middle-Aged Editor
1972: In a Darkness, a memoir of his son's mental illness and suicide
Referencesedit
^"Columbia Forum | Columbia College Today". www.college.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
^Gosnell, Cullen B. (1954). "Reviewed work: The Age of Suspicion., James A. Wechsler". The Journal of Politics. 16 (3): 554–556. doi:10.2307/2126009. JSTOR 2126009.
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James Arthur Wechsler October 31 1915 September 11 1983 was an American journalist who worked as a newspaper columnist Washington bureau chief editor in chief and editorial page editor of The New York Post He was a prominent voice of American liberalism for 40 years and was considered one of the most highly informed and responsible political writers in Washington James WechslerBornJames Arthur Wechsler 1915 10 31 October 31 1915New York City USDiedSeptember 11 1983 1983 09 11 aged 67 New York City USNationalityAmericanAlma materColumbia UniversityOccupation s Newspaper columnist and editorEmployerNew York PostAwardsJames Wechsler Award Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Opposed by McCarthy and Nixon 4 Death and legacy 5 Works 6 References 7 External sourcesEarly life editBorn on October 31 1915 he entered Columbia University when he was just shy of 16 Wechsler graduated in 1935 after rising to editor in chief of the Columbia Daily Spectator 1 In his first year he attended a speech by Columbia President Nicholas Murray Butler who said that democracies are incapable of choosing strong leaders like totalitarian nations could which shocked him He was shocked again when his friend Reed Harris was fired as editor of the Spectator for criticizing the professionalization of college football 2 Career editBetween 1934 and 1937 Wechsler belonged to the Young Communist League and was a leader of the pro Communist American Student Union He left the League after an eye opening trip to the Soviet Union 3 He publicly condemned the 1939 Hitler Stalin pact and was repeatedly attacked by official Communist organs From 1942 to 1946 except for one year in the US Army Wechsler was national editor of the newspaper PM In May 1949 at 33 Wechsler became the editor of The New York Post and in an unusual arrangement he was in charge of both the news operation and the editorial page The Post then became known as a crusading liberal newspaper undertaking investigate exposes of figures like J Edgar Hoover Walter Winchell and Robert Moses In September 1952 the paper published a story about a fund financed by wealthy California businessmen to supplement Senator Richard Nixon s office expenses that led Nixon to respond in his famous televised Checkers speech during his successful quest for the vice presidency In 1961 Wechsler was shifted to the position of editorial page editor after being replaced as editor of the news section by Paul Sann he held that position until 1980 Besides editorials Wechsler also wrote a regular column which continued until shortly before his death Opposed by McCarthy and Nixon editSenator Joseph McCarthy questioned his conversion to anticommunism Wechsler testified before McCarthy s committee in 1953 on his past adherence to communism and named other party members 4 Journalist Michael C Moynihan wrote When Wechsler testified before McCarthy s Senate committee the senator s deep paranoia was on prominent display He suggested that Wechsler s well documented hostility to Stalin was an elaborate ruse As his quarry shifted in his chair McCarthy speculated that Post editorials critical of his committee were planted by the Manchurian editor Perhaps the most effective way of propagandizing for communism would be to claim that we deserted the party and if we got in control of the paper use that paper to attack and smear anybody who actually was fighting Communism 3 Wechsler s work earned him a place on the master list of Nixon political opponents Death and legacy editWechsler died of lung cancer on September 11 1983 in New York City 5 6 In his honor Columbia University launched the James Wechsler Award 7 The Wisconsin Historical Society holds a collection of Wechsler s papers 8 Works edit1936 Revolt on the Campus 1940 with Harold Lavine War Propaganda and the United States Institute for Propaganda Analysis reprinted 1972 by Garland Publishing 1943 Labor Baron a biography of labor leader John L Lewis 1953 The Age of Suspicion an autobiography explaining his rebellion against the American university system and why he chose Communism then why he renounced it warning of the dangers of McCarthyism 1960 Reflections of an Angry Middle Aged Editor 1972 In a Darkness a memoir of his son s mental illness and suicideReferences edit Columbia Forum Columbia College Today www college columbia edu Retrieved 2022 01 31 Gosnell Cullen B 1954 Reviewed work The Age of Suspicion James A Wechsler The Journal of Politics 16 3 554 556 doi 10 2307 2126009 JSTOR 2126009 a b Moynihan Michael McCarthy and His Friends Reason James Wechsler The Editor Who Dared Challenge J Edgar Hoover Saxon Wolfgang September 12 1983 JAMES WECHSLER A COLUMNIST AND EX EDITOR OF POST DIES The New York Times Retrieved February 16 2022 James A Wechsler a veteran newsman liberal columnist and United Press International September 12 1983 Retrieved February 16 2022 About Al Anwar Promo Prints Archived from the original on September 27 2013 Retrieved September 9 2013 James Arthur Wechsler papers 1935 1983 University of Wisconsin Madison Retrieved February 16 2022 External sources editMeet the Press May 17 1953 Martha Rountree with James Wechsler Marquis Childs Frank Waldrop Bert Andrews and Lawrence Spivak Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Wechsler amp oldid 1175051117, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
