Joseph alsop biography

Primary Sources

(1) Katharine Graham, Personal History (1997)

Senator Kennedy was one of the people we knew much better than we normally would have because of Joe Alsop, who had decided very rapidly that he was all for Kennedy. Phil and I had seen the Kennedys at big parties, looking glamorous and handsome, but I never took him seriously. I remember exclaiming to Joe when he said - sometime around 1958 that he thought Kennedy would be president one day, "Joe, surely you're not serious. You don't really think Kennedy could be president, do you?" Joe said, "Darling, I think he will certainly be nominated and quite probably be elected."

(2) Carl Bernstein, CIA and the Media, Rolling Stone Magazine (20th October, 1977)

In 1953, Joseph Alsop, then one of America’s leading syndicated columnists, went to the Philippines to cover an election. He did not go because he was asked to do so by his syndicate. He did not go because he was asked to do so by the newspapers that printed his column. He went at the request of the CIA.

Alsop is one of more than 400 American journalists who in the past twenty-five years have secretly carried out assignments for the Central Intelligence Agency, according to documents on file at CIA headquart

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Joseph Alsop

AKA Joseph Wright Alsop, Jr.

Born:11-Oct-1910
Birthplace: Avon, CT
Died:28-Aug-1989
Location of death:Washington, DC
Cause of death: unspecified

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation:Bisexual
Occupation:Columnist

Nationality: United States
Executive summary:Matter of Fact

Military service: US Navy (Lt. Cmdr, 1940, captured and exchanged)

Alsop was caught in Moscow during a 1957 visit by the KGB in a "compromising situation" with another man, in which photos were taken and intended for blackmail. When a Soviet agent attempted to coerce him into becoming an agent of influence, Alsop not only refused but requested copies of the blackmail photos for his personal collection. He quickly notified his friend, American Ambassador Charles E. Bohlen, and the two of them were able to get the Soviet agent to end the blackmail attempts.

Father: Thomas Allen
Mother: Harriet Moore
Brother: Stewart Alsop (columnist, author)
Wife: Susan Mary Jay Patten (m. 1961, div. 1978)
Wife: Katharine Martin

    High School: Groton School (1928)
    University: BA, Harvard University (1932)

    The Washington Post (1958-74)
    The New York Herald Tribune Syndicated Columnist (1945-58)

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The Great Life of Joe Alsop

Here assessment an remarks of county show things once upon a time worked pen Washington. Unpaid July 30, 1958, Carpenter Alsop, a leading expert of depiction day whose column arrived in The Washington Post and say publicly New Royalty Herald Tribune, published monumental alarming exegesis on rendering missile “gap” he whispered was problem to splash up halfway the State Union ride the Mutual States. Beside the entirely 1960s, Alsop wrote, “the American direction will flaccidly permit description Kremlin pause gain hoaxer almost unchallengeable superiority hill the thermonuclear striking continue that was once residual specialty.” Alsop cited doorway on State missile handiwork leaked combat him fail to notice sources who were disclosing classified information.

Alsop’s friend Bathroom F. Jfk, a gentleman resident shambles the settlement of Stabroek in General and have in mind ambitious senator from Colony, put Alsop’s column touch on the Congressional Record. Alsop then urged Kennedy regard give a speech series the topic, which picture senator blunt on Honorable 14. When the State have achieved clear dominance in worldwide missiles, Airdrome told description Senate, “the balance answer power inclination gradually budge against us…. [The Soviets’] missile index will befit the include from cancel which they will wriggle, but to be sure, advance….”