James Russell Wiggins
James Russell Wiggins | |
|---|---|
 Wiggins' photo as U.S. ambassador to the UN | |
| 8th United States Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office October 7, 1968 – January 20, 1969 | |
| President | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | George Ball |
| Succeeded by | Charles Yost |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 4, 1903 Luverne, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | November 19, 2000 (aged 96) Brooklin, Maine, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
James Russell Wiggins (December 4, 1903 – November 19, 2000) was an American executive editor of The Washington Post and United States Ambassador to the United Nations.[1]
In Minnesota
[edit]James Russell Wiggins was born on December 4, 1903 to James and Edith (Binford) Wiggins.[2] He graduated from Luverne High School in 1922[3], where he worked on the school newspaper, the Echo.[2] His first professional job in journalism was as reporter for the Rock County Star in Luverne, Minnesota immediately out of high school. He then served as its advertising manager, and then associate editor (1925).[4]In February 1926, at the age of 22, he borrowed $10,000 and bought the newspaper.[4] In 1930, he sold the Star and moved to St. Paul to become an editorial writer for the St Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch and later served as its Washington correspondent before becoming managing editor in 1938.[2]
Washington Post years
[edit]During World War II, Wiggins served in Army Air Corps intelligence. While serving in the army, he met Philip Graham who would later become publisher of The Washington Post.
Graham made Wiggins managing editor of The Post in 1947 and promoted him to executive editor in 1955.[1]
One of his first acts as editor was to end racial identification in news articles. In 1954, Wiggins received the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award as well as an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Colby College. He was president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1959-60. Wiggins took over the Post's editorial page in 1961.
He served as executive editor until President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed him U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in 1968. He was succeeded by Ben Bradlee, who had served as his managing editor since 1965.[5]
UN ambassador
[edit]President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Wiggins U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in 1968 to 1969. In 1969, Wiggins received an LL.D. from Bates College.
Later years
[edit]After his tenure as ambassador, Wiggins moved to Brooklin, Maine where he became editor and publisher of The Ellsworth American of Ellsworth, Maine.[2] He received the Eugene Cervi Award from the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors in 1987.
Wiggins was married to his high school sweetheart, Mabel Preston, and their marriage lasted 67 years until her death in 1990.
Wiggins died on November 19, 2000 in his home in Brooklin, Maine at the age of 96.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Smith, J. Y. (November 20, 2000). "Post Editor J. Russell Wiggins Dies at 96; Longtime Journalist Headed News, Editorial Departments, Was U.N. Ambassador". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Ehde, Lori (November 21, 2000). "Hall of Fame member dies at 96". Rock County Star Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- ^ Mann, Betty. "1922: Commencement conducted at Palace Theatre". Rock County Star Hearld. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on May 26, 1922
- ^ a b Mann, Betty (February 26, 2013). "1926 Star: J. Russell Wiggins buys newspaper publishing business". Rock County Star Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
The following appeared in the Rock County Star on February 19, 1926
- ^ Roberts, Chalmers M. (1977). The Washington Post: The First 100 Years. Gene Berry and Jeffrey Campbell Collection (Library of Congress). Boston : New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-25854-5.
- Estabrook, Robert H. "James Wiggins, journalistic legend". The Masthead. Spring 2001
External links
[edit]
- James Russell Wiggins Papers at the Raymond H. Fogler Library, University of Maine
- Appearances on C-SPAN
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- 1903 births
- 2000 deaths
- American newspaper editors
- American newspaper reporters and correspondents
- Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award recipients
- Lyndon B. Johnson administration cabinet members
- People from Brooklin, Maine
- People from Luverne, Minnesota
- Permanent Representatives of the United States to the United Nations
- The Washington Post people