Walter Lippmann

Walter Lippmann

Throughout the 20th Century the primary way of receiving news would be through the newspaper. For this reason, journalists carried an immense amount of power influencing American opinion. One of the most influential American journalists of the century was Walter Lippmann, from New York. In 1913, Lippmann became a founding member of The New Republic, a progressive leaning newspaper. Soon after this, Lipmann fought and became a captain in the army during World War I, after his service Lipmann became an advisor to President Woodrow Wilson, advising him on his famous Fourteen Points Speech. (Britannica editors, 2020) Lippmann however is known most for his writing, whether it be his books or his thousands of published columns throughout his successful life. 

In 1925 Lippmann was such a well known journalist that when his wife ended up in the hospital, it was reported on by the New York Times, explaining that after dropping her off in Baltimore he returned to New York but would soon be going back to join his wife in Baltimore. (New York Times, 1925, 21) 

By 1929 Lippmann was one of the most respected Americans on the topic of foreign policy, and the New York Times reported on his meeting with Italian dictator Benito Musollini, in which they discussed American politics, and the links between prohibition and the Ku Klux Klan. (New York Times, 1929, 18) 

The respect for Lippmann was not refrained to America and Mousilini however, as respected newspaper The Times said “The views of Mr. Walter Lippmann deserves attention not merely from his own reputation as a publicist, but because they may very often be taken as informed American opinion.”, making note that Lippmann’s ideas should be listened to when it came to reparations from World War I, and they are about as educated an opinion one could get from The United States of America. (The Times Editorial, 1932, 18) 

Throughout his life, regarded as one of the most respected journalists of his era it is no surprise that he received a glowing article in the New York Times after his death in December, 1974. In the article columnist Alden Whitman writes “Mr. Lippmann was for millions of readers the conscience of the nation through the trials of depression, wars and international confrontation.” showing that many Americans looked to Whippmann’s wisdom during some of the most trying times in American History. (Whitman, 1974, 66) 

The article also goes on to list some of the accomplishments of his storied career including winning Pulitzer Prizes in 1958 and 1962, The Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964, Overseas Press Club awards for interpretation of foreign news, and received New York cities highest honor, The Bronze Medallion, from New York’s mayor just two months before dying.  

These awards made Lippmann perhaps the most decorated American journalist of his time, and the respect that has been given to him can be seen as represented through the respect he received form his peers, along with the admiration of the next generation of political commentator. 

Works Cited

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2020, December 10). Walter Lippmann. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Walter-Lippmann

“Advice to Europe.” The Times, 21 Jan. 1932.

“Mrs. Walter Lippman III.” New York Times, 17 June 1925, pp. 21–21.

“Walter Lippman Back.” New York Times, 1 May 1929, p. 18.

Whitman, Alden. “Walter Lippmann, Political Analyst, Dead at 85.” New York Times, 15 Dec. 1974, p. 66.