Lippmann, Walter

Lippmann, Walter
born Sept. 23, 1889, New York, N.Y., U.S.
died Dec. 14, 1974, New York

U.S. newspaper commentator and author.

Educated at Harvard, he became an editor at the fledgling New Republic (1914–17). His thinking influenced Woodrow Wilson, and he took part in the negotiations that culminated in the Treaty of Versailles. After writing for and editing the reformist World, he moved to the New York Herald-Tribune, where he began his "Today and Tomorrow" column in 1931; eventually widely syndicated, it won two Pulitzer Prizes (1958, 1962), and Lippmann became one of the most respected political columnists in the world. His books include A Preface to Politics (1913); Public Opinion (1922), perhaps his most influential work; The Phantom Public (1925); and The Good Society (1937).

* * *

▪ American journalist
born Sept. 23, 1889, New York City
died Dec. 14, 1974, New York City

      American newspaper commentator and author who in a 60-year career made himself one of the most widely respected political columnists in the world.

      While studying at Harvard (B.A., 1909), Lippmann was influenced by the philosophers William James and George Santayana. He helped to found (1914) The New Republic (New Republic, The) and served as its assistant editor under Herbert David Croly. Through his writings in that liberal weekly and through direct consultation, he influenced Pres. Woodrow Wilson (Wilson, Woodrow), who is said to have drawn on Lippmann's ideas for the post-World War I settlement plan (Fourteen Points) and for the concept of the League of Nations. Lippmann was briefly (1917) an assistant to Secretary of War Newton D. Baker. Wilson sent him to take part in the negotiations for the Treaty of Versailles (1919).

      After writing editorials (1921–29) for the reformist World, Lippmann served as its editor (1929–31) and then moved to the New York Herald Tribune. On Sept. 8, 1931, his column, “Today and Tomorrow,” first appeared; eventually, it was syndicated in more than 250 newspapers in the United States and about 25 other nations and won two Pulitzer Prizes (1958, 1962). In preparing his commentaries, he traveled throughout the world. His first book, A Preface to Politics (1913), was mildly socialistic, but Drift and Mastery (1914) was anti-Marxist, and in The Good Society (1937) he repudiated socialism entirely. During World War II he warned against a postwar return of the United States to an isolationist policy. Essays in the Public Philosophy (1955) evoked some criticism for its natural-law theory.

      In perhaps his most influential book, Public Opinion (1922; reissued 1956; paperback ed., 1965), Lippmann seemed to imply that ordinary citizens can no longer judge public issues rationally, since the speed and condensation required in the mass media tend to produce slogans rather than interpretations. In The Phantom Public (1925) he again treated the problem of communication in politics; while continuing to doubt the possibility of a true democracy, he nonetheless rejected government by an elite.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • LIPPMANN, WALTER — (1889–1974), U.S. journalist, whose writing exerted influence on public policy. Born in New York, Lippmann was for several years an assistant to the philosopher George Santayana. In 1914 he began his journalistic career as founder and associate… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Lippmann, Walter — (1889 1974)    Born to wealthy German Jewish parents in New York City, Walter Lippmann made a name as a brilliant student at Harvard. He left the university in 1910 to become a journalist at the socialist newspaper Boston Common. Part of the… …   Historical Dictionary of the Roosevelt–Truman Era

  • Lippmann, Walter — (23 sep. 1889, Nueva York, N.Y., EE.UU.–14 dic. 1974, Nueva York). Comentarista y columnista de periódicos estadounidense. Lippmann se educó en Harvard y fue editor en la revista The New Republic en sus comienzos (1914–17). Sus ideas influyeron… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Lippmann,Walter — Lipp·mann (lĭpʹmən), Walter. 1889 1974. American journalist. He cofounded (1914) the weekly New Republic and won a Pulitzer Prize in 1958 and 1962. * * * …   Universalium

  • Lippmann, Walter — (1889 1974)    American journalist. Born in New York, he studied at Harvard. He became editor of Lincoln Steffen s Everybody s Magazine in 1911, and published A Preface to Politics inl913.The next year he was a founder of the New Republic. In… …   Dictionary of Jewish Biography

  • Lippmann, Walter —  (1889–1974) American journalist …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • Walter Lippmann — (Nueva York, 23 de septiembre de 1889 – Nueva York, 14 de diciembre de 1974)[1] fue un intelectual estadounidense. Como periodista, comentarista político, crítico de medios y filósofo, intentó reconciliar la tensión existente entre libertad y… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Walter Lippmann — (September 23, 1889 December 14, 1974) was an influential American writer, journalist, and political commentator.Early lifeLippmann was born in New York City to German Jewish parents, Jacob and Daisy Baum Lippmann. The family lived a comfortable …   Wikipedia

  • Walter — Walter, Bruno Walter, John * * * (as used in expressions) Adams, Walter S(ydney) Alvarez, Luis W(alter) Bagehot, Walter Walter Lanier Barber Beaton, Sir Cecil (Walter Hardy) Benjamin, Walter Brattain, Walter H(ouser) Richard Walter Jenkins, Jr.… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Walter Lippmann — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Lippmann. Walter Lippmann, né à New York le 23 septembre 1889, mort le 14 décembre 1974, penseur et commentateur politique américain. Il fut journaliste au New Republic, au World, au New York Herald Tribune où il …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”