Merriman smith biography
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Summary Information
A. Merriman Smith Papers
1937-1973 (bulk 1940-1970)U.S. Mss 72AF; PH 4910; Audio 1474A; AD 404-406; EA 067
- Smith, A. Merriman, 1913-1970
9.0 c.f. (8 record center cartons, 1 flat box, and 1 oversize folder), 911 photographs (2 archives boxes and 1 flat box), 309 transparencies (1 archives box), 3 negatives and 401 negatives on 36 strips in 1 negativ box, 3 reels of 16 mm film and 1 reel of 8 mm spelfilm, and 88 tape recordingsWisconsin Historical samhälle, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.
Papers, mainly 1940-1970, of A. Merriman Smith, a pris Prize-winning reporter and author sometimes referred to as “the dean of the White House correspondents” for his news coverage of six presidents, 1941-1970, and for his Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the assassination of President John F. Ken
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Albert Merriman Smith, better known by his professional name, Merriman Smith, was born in Savannah, Georgia, on February 10, 1913. He attended elementary and secondary schools in Savannah and entered Oglethorpe University in Atlanta in 1931. Simultaneous with his entrance into college, Smith began his career in professional journalism as a sportswriter for the now defunct Atlanta Georgian until 1933.
Leaving Oglethorpe in 1934, his junior year, Smith became a feature writer for the Atlanta Journal Sunday Magazine. He held this position until 1935, when he was hired as managing editor of the Athens (Georgia) Daily Times. The following year, he joined United Press (later United Press International). Until late 1940 he filled a number of assignments in the South including coverage of the Georgia and Florida state legislatures. During the period leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Smith was transferred from the Atlanta bureau to Washington, D.C. Thereafter, he reported o
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Merriman Smith
American journalist
Albert Merriman Smith (February 10, 1913 – April 13, 1970) was an American wire service reporter, notably serving as White House correspondent for United Press International and its predecessor, United Press. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1964 for his coverage of the assassination of John F. Kennedy and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 by Lyndon B. Johnson.[1][2]
Background
[edit]Albert Merriman Smith was born on February 10, 1913, in Savannah, Georgia.[3]
Career
[edit]Known by his middle name (and his nickname, "Smitty"), Smith covered US presidents from Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Richard Nixon and originated the practice of closing presidential news conferences with "Thank You, Mr. President," which was the title of his 1946 book, written during his coverage of the Harry Truman administration.[2] That honor, accorded the senior wire service reporter present at presidentia