Arthur Krock

Arthur Krock's former residence in Washington, D.C.

Arthur Krock (November 16, 1886–April 12, 1974) was a journalist and received the nickname "Dean of Washington newsmen". Born in Glasgow, Kentucky in 1887^{[citation needed]}, he grew up with his grandparents, Emmanuel and Henrietta Morris. He attended Princeton University for one year.

He began his career in journalism with the Louisville Herald, then went to Washington, D.C., as a correspondent for the Louisville Times and Louisville Courier-Journal. In 1927, Krock joined the New York Times and soon became its Washington correspondent and bureau chief. His column, "In the Nation," was noted for its opinions on public policy.

Among the most noteworthy of Krock's articles was one from Oct 3, 1963, titled "The Intra-Administration War in Vietnam." In the article he quoted a high ranking official in the government as saying "The CIA's growth was 'likened to a malignancy" which the "very high official was not even sure the White House could control...any longer." "If the United States ever experiences [an attempt at a coup to overthrow the government] it will come from the CIA and not the Pentagon." The "agency represents a tremendous power and total unaccountability to anyone." President Kennedy was assassinated the next month.

Over his 60-year career, Arthur Krock knew 11 presidents and won three Pulitzer Prizes. Krock won a French citation after his coverage of the Versailles Peace Conference.

On April 22, 1970, Arthur Krock was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Richard Nixon.

Pulitzer Prizes

• 1935: for distinguished correspondence: impartial and analytical Washington coverage.
• 1938: for distinguished Washington correspondence.
• 1951: A special commendation for his exclusive interview with President Truman as "the outstanding instance of national reporting in 1950."

External Links

• Arthur Krock Papers at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton University

References

• Encyclopedia of Kentucky. New York, New York: Somerset Publishers. 1987. pp. 152–153. ISBN 0403099811. 
• "Krock, Arthur". The Encyclopedia of Louisville. 2001. 
• Pulitzer Prizes: Arthur Krock
• The American Presidency Project - Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Eight Journalists - April 22, 1970