National Press Club Mourns Loss of Ben Bradlee

The National Press Club mourns the loss of Ben Bradlee, who leaves a legacy of unparalleled journalism achievements as editor of The Washington Post.

He will be remembered as a leader, a legend in journalism and among the greatest newspaper editors of all time.

Our profession has lost an advocate who raised the standards of journalism throughout his career and who will be particularly remembered for all that he and The Washington Post achieved on every major story of his tenure as editor including Watergate and the Pentagon Papers.

His death sadly came a day after The National Press Club was honored on Oct. 20 to have hosted a major event at which Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, the lead reporters of The Washington Post's Watergate coverage, paid tribute to Mr. Bradlee's leadership and courage as editor during that period. They spoke at the "Kalb Report" organized to coincide with the 40th anniversary year of the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

Mr. Bradlee himself spoke at the National Press Club many times, including as a Luncheon speaker when he talked about his own childhood experiences with polio, something he had seldom addressed in public.

Early in his career, when Mr. Bradlee was part of the Newsweek bureau, his office was on the 12th floor of the Press Building, one floor below the Club. His presence was felt here. He will be missed.