If you have been a long-time reader of the well-known American newspaper The New York Times, I am sure you knew who Arthur Ochs Sulzberger was. Sulzberger was very involved with The New York Times, and was the paper’s publisher from 1963-1997.
Arthur was not the only one in his family involved within the newspaper-publishing business. His mother, Iphigene was the daughter of Adolph Ochs, who was a former owner and publisher of The New York Times as well (along with The Chattanooga Times). His father, Arthur Hayes Sulzberger was also a publisher of The New York Times, serving from 1935-1961. His family’s involvement with the paper gave Arthur a thorough understand and passion for overseeing the paper’s publications.
In 1972, Sulzberger won a Pulitzer prize award for his publication of “The Pentagon Papers,” (United States – Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967: A Study Prepared by the Department of Defense). This was a written documented history of the America’s political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945-1967; however, this document was declassified, but then released to the public in 2011.
After Sulzberger’s tenure at the paper, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. (his son) became publisher of The New York Times as well, starting in 1997.
Unfortunately, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger died this past Saturday (September 29th, 2012) after suffering a long illness at the age of 86. According to The New York Times on Saturday, U.S. President Barack Obama praised Sulzberger with the following statement:
“Mr. Sulzberger was a firm believer in the importance of a free and independent press, one that isn’t afraid to seek the truth, hold those in power accountable and tell the stories that need to be told.”
