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October 07, 2014
Ben Bradlee Story #2: "What did you do in WWII, Ben?"
In our series, and also from the June 6, 2012 edition of Vanity Fair:
in 1984, the Washington Post published data it had obtained about a satellite payload, and some officials in the Reagan administration were not pleased. Managing editor Bradlee's patriotism was publicly questioned. There were even suggestions that at one time he had worked for the Kremlin. Bradlee, like his friend John Kennedy, was a World War II veteran who had served in the Navy. One right wing writer made the mistake of asking Bradlee "What did you do during WWII?". Bradlee's response began:
Dear Asshole:
I suspect I did more for my country in the war than you did. I spent four years in destroyers in the Pacific Ocean. My theatre ribbon has 10 battle stars on it.
That's just for starters.
Bradlee receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 20, 2013.
Posted by JD Hull at October 7, 2014 11:28 PM
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