Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee, an American journalist, held the esteemed positions of managing editor and executive editor at The Washington Post from 1965 to 1991. During his tenure, the Post, along with The New York Times, published the Pentagon Papers, catapulting Bradlee to the forefront of public attention. Additionally, he gave the green light for the Post's comprehensive coverage of the Watergate scandal, a pivotal moment in American history.
However, Bradlee's tenure was not without controversy. In 1981, the Post was forced to relinquish a Pulitzer Prize after it was discovered that the award-winning story was fabricated. This editorial lapse led to widespread criticism.
Following his retirement, Bradlee remained closely tied to the Post, serving as Vice President at-large until his passing. In his post-journalistic life, Bradlee championed education and the study of history, leveraging his influence to serve as a trustee on the boards of several prominent educational, historical, and archaeological research institutions.
