Murray Kempton
Murray Kempton: A Prolific Journalist and Pulitzer Prize Winner
Full Name and Common Aliases
Murray Kempton was an American journalist, columnist, and essayist. He is also known as "The Dean of the Liberal Press" for his contributions to liberal journalism.
Birth and Death Dates
Kempton was born on March 29, 1916, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He passed away on May 5, 1997, at the age of 81.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Murray Kempton's nationality was American, and he worked as a journalist and columnist for most of his career. He wrote for various publications, including _The New York Post_ and _The New Yorker_.
Early Life and Background
Kempton grew up in Philadelphia with an interest in politics from an early age. His father was a prominent figure in the city's Democratic Party, which likely influenced Kempton's initial leanings towards liberalism. He graduated from Harvard University in 1938 before pursuing a career in journalism.
Major Accomplishments
Murray Kempton is most notable for his work as a journalist and columnist. Throughout his career, he was recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including:
A Pulitzer Prize in 1955 for National Reporting
The George Polk Award in 1971 for Commentary
Kempton's writing often focused on politics, social justice, and human rights. He had a unique ability to balance his opinions as a liberal with objective reporting.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Kempton's notable works include:
His coverage of the Alger Hiss trial in 1950
His reports from South Africa during the apartheid era
His essays on American politics, which were often featured in _The New Yorker_
Kempton was known for his wit and insight as a commentator. He had a way of making complex issues accessible to readers.
Impact and Legacy
Murray Kempton's impact on journalism is immense. He helped shape the landscape of liberal commentary and paved the way for future generations of journalists. His legacy extends beyond his writing, as he inspired many young reporters to pursue careers in journalism.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Kempton is widely quoted and remembered due to his:
Insightful commentary on politics and social issues
Ability to balance opinion with objective reporting
Commitment to human rights and social justice
As a pioneering journalist, Kempton left an indelible mark on the world of journalism. His work continues to inspire readers today.
This biography aims to provide an informative and engaging account of Murray Kempton's life, highlighting his major accomplishments, notable works, and lasting impact on the field of journalism.
Quotes by Murray Kempton
It is not the least of a martyr’s scourges to be canonized by the persons who burned him.
A political convention is just not a place where you come away with any trace of faith in human nature.
It is not the least of a martyr's scourges to be canonized by the persons who burned him.
America... an economic system prouder of the distribution of its products than of the products themselves.
It is a measure of the Negro's circumstance that, in America, the smallest things usually take him so very long, and that, by the time he wins them, they are no longer little things: they are miracles.
There is a raging tiger inside every man whom God put on this earth. Every man worthy of the respect of his children spends his life building inside himself a cage to pen that tiger in.
A critic is someone who enters the battlefield after the war is over and shoots the wounded.
We are all addicts in various stages of degradation where I live on the Upper West Side, some to heroin, some to small dogs, and some to the New York Times. The heroin is cut, the dogs are paranoid, and the Times cheats by skimping on the West Coast ball scores. No matter, each of us goes upon the street solely in pursuit of his own particular curse.
Men very seldom change, try though we will, beneath the shifts of exterior doctrine, our hearts so often remain what they were.