194:'s visit. He traveled in the motorcade in the White House Pool car, which had a radiotelephone. When the shots were fired, Smith grabbed the phone and called the UPI office. He stayed on the phone while Jack Bell, the AP reporter in the car, started punching Smith and yelling at him to hand the phone over. At 12:34 PM CST, four minutes after the presidential shooting, the report went out over UPI wire. In 1964, he received the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the assassination of US President
959:
952:
31:
186:
Smith began covering the White House in 1940. After the United States entered the Second World War, he was designated as one of the wire service reporters to follow the president on all his travels. They agreed for security purposes not to file their stories until after each trip had ended.
264:
for excellence in presidential news coverage under deadline pressure. His name was removed from the award in 2022 because of his support of excluding Black and female journalists from membership in the
868:
179:
administration. That honor, accorded the senior wire service reporter present at presidential news conferences, became more popularly known when it was continued by Smith's UPI colleague
1693:
406:
175:
and originated the practice of closing presidential news conferences with "Thank You, Mr. President," which was the title of his 1946 book, written during his coverage of the
1688:
1698:
1683:
861:
1718:
1713:
1708:
187:
Consequently, Smith was in Warm
Springs, Georgia, on April 12, 1945, and filed one of the first reports on the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
270:
261:
257:
854:
1703:
877:
233:, on April 13, 1970, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Although he never served in the military himself, his grave is in Section 32 of
266:
1678:
518:
487:
1003:
132:
123:(February 10, 1913 – April 13, 1970) was an American wire service reporter, notably serving as White House correspondent for
210:
136:
109:
1599:
1514:
1452:
1275:
234:
1190:
124:
827:
1463:
1115:
930:
168:
1271:
1415:
1305:
1121:
1091:
229:
and perhaps suffering from PTSD as a result of witnessing the
Kennedy assassination, Smith died at his home in
1097:
443:
1584:
1520:
1473:
1390:
1345:
1135:
237:
next to his son's, by special permission of the
Commanding General of the Military District of Washington.
1668:
1065:
538:
1131:
609:
610:"His reporting on the Kennedy assassination made him a legend. Then a press group looked into his past"
1623:
1230:
360:
1673:
1663:
1313:
1186:
241:
230:
156:
1595:
1279:
30:
1615:
1575:
1554:
1408:
1015:
841:
614:
510:
339:
1467:
582:
462:
1637:
1569:
1503:
1399:
1364:
1309:
1248:
1214:
924:
555:
Lim, Young Joon; Sweeney, Michael S. (2016). "UPI's
Merriman Smith may have suffered from PTSD".
245:
1603:
767:
Good New Days: A Not
Entirely Reverent Study of Native Habits and Customs in Modern Washington
1608:
1561:
1530:
1427:
1261:
1141:
991:
514:
152:
140:
54:
1546:
1337:
1289:
1208:
1196:
1103:
1025:
973:
918:
906:
564:
72:
1491:
1352:
1293:
1265:
1180:
1162:
1145:
979:
958:
951:
784:
195:
191:
846:
389:
198:. He was the first to publicly use the term "grassy knoll" regarding the assassination.
167:
Known by his middle name (and his nickname, "Smitty"), Smith covered US presidents from
1540:
1534:
1510:
1483:
1444:
1434:
1325:
1319:
1226:
1109:
1071:
1037:
940:
788:
214:
128:
104:
1657:
1591:
1202:
1081:
1053:
1031:
997:
985:
934:
172:
240:
At the end of the
President's press conference of May 8, 1970, concentrating on the
201:
In the 1960s, Smith was a frequent guest on television interview programs hosted by
1498:
1458:
1356:
1331:
1242:
1174:
1168:
1077:
1043:
1019:
1009:
912:
542:
206:
180:
176:
887:
Previously the
Pulitzer Prize for Telegraphic Reporting – National from 1942–1947
1440:
1283:
1234:
1220:
1047:
900:
833:
226:
248:, Nixon called on the White House press corps to stand in Smith's remembrance.
1628:
1619:
1419:
1371:
1255:
1125:
91:
568:
1526:
1479:
1087:
534:
202:
1298:
488:"How this forgotten journalist scored the 20th century's biggest scoop"
425:
Reporting from
Washington: The History of the Washington Press Corps
190:
On
November 22, 1963, Smith was the main UPI reporter in Dallas for
463:"Fifty Years Ago This Minute: How the Assassination Story Broke"
850:
366:. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. p. 43
811:
Merriman Smith's Book of
Presidents: A White House Memoir
327:
Merriman Smith's Book of Presidents: A White House Memoir
289:
Danke sehr, Herr Präsident! Notizbuch aus dem Weissen Haus
151:
Albert Merriman Smith was born on February 10, 1913, in
507:
Bulletins from Dallas: Reporting the JFK Assassination
390:"Deadline Every Minute The Story Of The United Press"
401:
399:
1381:
1155:
966:
893:
828:
President Truman Correspondence with Merriman Smith
97:
87:
79:
61:
40:
21:
842:Reflections of a Newsosaur: Not Your Father's UPI
677:Thank You, Mr. President: A White House Notebook
659:Thank You, Mr. President: A White House Notebook
641:Thank You, Mr. President: A White House Notebook
444:"Merriman Smith's account of JFK's assassination"
283:Thank You, Mr. President: A White House Notebook
127:and its predecessor, United Press. He won the
1694:Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting winners
862:
8:
225:Despondent over the death of his son in the
675:(1948). "translation (Herbert MĂĽhlbauer)".
437:
435:
433:
869:
855:
847:
383:
381:
29:
18:
589:. White House Correspondents’ Association
1689:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
1699:Suicides by firearm in Washington, D.C.
351:
258:White House Correspondents' Association
1684:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
878:Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting
7:
835:Albert Merriman Smith, News Reporter
583:"2013 WHCA Journalism Award Winners"
533:Pages documenting this are held by
505:Sanderson, Bill (1 November 2016).
1719:20th-century American male writers
793:News Media – A Service and a Force
321:News Media – A Service and a Force
271:White House Correspondents' Dinner
14:
1714:United Press International people
1709:20th-century American journalists
795:. Memphis State University Press.
262:The Merriman Smith Memorial Award
957:
950:
809:(1972). Timothy G. Smith (ed.).
133:assassination of John F. Kennedy
131:in 1964 for his coverage of the
359:Judy Muhlberg (June 14, 1976).
244:and his decision to expand the
209:. Smith was presented with the
838:at Arlington National Cemetery
608:Farhi, Paul (March 11, 2022).
1:
1704:20th-century American writers
830:Shapell Manuscript Foundation
252:Merriman Smith Memorial Award
211:Presidential Medal of Freedom
137:Presidential Medal of Freedom
110:Presidential Medal of Freedom
413:. June 24, 1985. p. A2.
1453:The San Diego Union-Tribune
235:Arlington National Cemetery
1735:
557:Newspaper Research Journal
423:Donald A. Ritchie (2005),
125:United Press International
1679:American male journalists
948:
884:
169:Franklin Delano Roosevelt
28:
643:. Harper & Brothers.
569:10.1177/0739532916648956
461:Sanderson, Bill (2013).
388:Joe Alex Morris (1957).
1585:The Wall Street Journal
1391:The Wall Street Journal
1346:The Wall Street Journal
269:and from attending the
1066:Louis M. Kohlmeier Jr.
713:Meet Mister Eisenhower
539:The Sixth Floor Museum
407:"Helen Thomas honored"
303:Meet Mister Eisenhower
1088:Nathan K. (Nick) Kotz
695:President is Many Men
297:President is Many Men
121:Albert Merriman Smith
1492:St. Petersburg Times
1314:The Kansas City Star
1299:Gannett News Service
1187:Bette Swenson Orsini
411:The Pittsburgh Press
242:Kent State shootings
231:Alexandria, Virginia
135:and was awarded the
1616:T. Christian Miller
1576:The Washington Post
1555:The Washington Post
1504:The New York Times
1459:Copley News Service
1409:The Washington Post
1004:Charles L. Bartlett
749:President's Odyssey
731:President's Odyssey
679:. Vienna: Humboldt.
615:The Washington Post
511:Skyhorse Publishing
340:1964 Pulitzer Prize
309:President's Odyssey
267:National Press Club
16:American journalist
1638:The New York Times
1570:The New York Times
1400:The New York Times
1365:The New York Times
1249:The New York Times
1215:John Noble Wilford
1044:Nathan G. Caldwell
925:Edward T. Folliard
807:Smith, A. Merriman
781:Smith, A. Merriman
763:Smith, A. Merriman
751:. Greenwood Press.
745:Smith, A. Merriman
727:Smith, A. Merriman
709:Smith, A. Merriman
691:Smith, A. Merriman
673:Smith, A. Merriman
655:Smith, A. Merriman
637:Smith, A. Merriman
494:. 6 November 2016.
361:"Medal of Freedom"
1651:
1650:
1609:The Seattle Times
1562:David Fahrenthold
1531:Elizabeth McGowan
1428:Los Angeles Times
1262:Donald L. Barlett
1221:Thomas J. Knudson
1142:Donald L. Barlett
537:, the curator of
442:Sanderson, Bill.
246:war into Cambodia
141:Lyndon B. Johnson
118:
117:
55:Savannah, Georgia
51:February 10, 1913
1726:
1624:Robert Faurtechi
1547:Carol D. Leonnig
1338:Alix M. Freedman
1290:Marjie Lundstrom
1243:The Miami Herald
1231:George Rodrigues
1209:The Boston Globe
1197:John M. Crewdson
1191:Charles Stafford
1104:William J. Eaton
1026:Howard Van Smith
1016:Clark Mollenhoff
974:Edwin O. Guthman
961:
954:
919:Edward A. Harris
907:Dewey L. Fleming
871:
864:
857:
848:
815:
814:
803:
797:
796:
785:Smith, Howard K.
777:
771:
770:
769:. Bobbs-Merrill.
759:
753:
752:
741:
735:
734:
723:
717:
716:
705:
699:
698:
687:
681:
680:
669:
663:
662:
661:. Da Capo Press.
651:
645:
644:
633:
627:
626:
624:
622:
605:
599:
598:
596:
594:
579:
573:
572:
552:
546:
531:
525:
524:
502:
496:
495:
484:
478:
477:
475:
473:
458:
452:
451:
448:www.pulitzer.org
439:
428:
421:
415:
414:
403:
394:
393:
385:
376:
375:
373:
371:
365:
356:
73:Washington, D.C.
68:
50:
48:
33:
19:
1734:
1733:
1729:
1728:
1727:
1725:
1724:
1723:
1654:
1653:
1652:
1647:
1573:& Staff of
1501:& Staff of
1456:& Staff of
1377:
1353:Russell Carollo
1294:Rochelle Sharpe
1266:James B. Steele
1246:& Staff of
1181:James V. Risser
1175:Gaylord D. Shaw
1163:James V. Risser
1151:
1146:James B. Steele
1110:Lucinda Franks
980:Anthony Leviero
962:
956:
955:
946:
889:
880:
875:
824:
819:
818:
805:
804:
800:
779:
778:
774:
761:
760:
756:
743:
742:
738:
725:
724:
720:
707:
706:
702:
689:
688:
684:
671:
670:
666:
653:
652:
648:
635:
634:
630:
620:
618:
607:
606:
602:
592:
590:
581:
580:
576:
554:
553:
549:
532:
528:
521:
504:
503:
499:
486:
485:
481:
471:
469:
460:
459:
455:
441:
440:
431:
422:
418:
405:
404:
397:
387:
386:
379:
369:
367:
363:
358:
357:
353:
348:
336:
279:
254:
223:
196:John F. Kennedy
192:John F. Kennedy
165:
149:
114:
75:
70:
66:
57:
52:
46:
44:
36:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1732:
1730:
1722:
1721:
1716:
1711:
1706:
1701:
1696:
1691:
1686:
1681:
1676:
1671:
1666:
1656:
1655:
1649:
1648:
1646:
1645:
1642:
1633:
1613:
1596:Steve Miletich
1589:
1580:
1565:
1559:
1550:
1544:
1541:David Philipps
1538:
1535:David Hasemyer
1524:
1518:
1515:Jake Bernstein
1511:Jesse Eisinger
1508:
1496:
1487:
1484:Barton Gellman
1477:
1474:Charlie Savage
1471:
1448:
1445:Eric Lichtblau
1438:
1435:Walt Bogdanich
1432:
1423:
1413:
1404:
1395:
1385:
1383:
1379:
1378:
1376:
1375:
1369:
1360:
1350:
1341:
1335:
1329:
1326:Eileen Welsome
1323:
1320:David Maraniss
1317:
1303:
1287:
1280:Mary Ann Gwinn
1269:
1259:
1253:
1238:
1227:Craig Flournoy
1224:
1218:
1212:
1206:
1200:
1194:
1184:
1178:
1172:
1166:
1159:
1157:
1153:
1152:
1150:
1149:
1139:
1129:
1119:
1113:
1107:
1101:
1095:
1085:
1075:
1072:Haynes Johnson
1069:
1063:
1060:Merriman Smith
1057:
1051:
1048:Gene S. Graham
1041:
1038:Edward R. Cony
1035:
1029:
1023:
1013:
1007:
1001:
995:
992:Richard Wilson
989:
983:
977:
970:
968:
964:
963:
949:
947:
945:
944:
941:C. P. Trussell
938:
928:
922:
916:
910:
904:
897:
895:
891:
890:
885:
882:
881:
876:
874:
873:
866:
859:
851:
845:
844:
839:
831:
823:
822:External links
820:
817:
816:
798:
789:Elliot, Osborn
772:
754:
736:
718:
700:
682:
664:
646:
628:
600:
574:
563:(2): 113–123.
547:
526:
520:978-1510712645
519:
497:
479:
453:
429:
416:
395:
377:
350:
349:
347:
344:
343:
342:
335:
332:
331:
330:
324:
318:
312:
306:
300:
294:
293:
292:
278:
275:
253:
250:
222:
219:
215:Lyndon Johnson
164:
161:
148:
145:
129:Pulitzer Prize
116:
115:
113:
112:
107:
105:Pulitzer Prize
101:
99:
95:
94:
89:
85:
84:
81:
77:
76:
71:
69:(aged 57)
65:April 13, 1970
63:
59:
58:
53:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
23:Merriman Smith
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1731:
1720:
1717:
1715:
1712:
1710:
1707:
1705:
1702:
1700:
1697:
1695:
1692:
1690:
1687:
1685:
1682:
1680:
1677:
1675:
1672:
1670:
1669:1970 suicides
1667:
1665:
1662:
1661:
1659:
1643:
1640:
1639:
1634:
1631:
1630:
1625:
1621:
1617:
1614:
1611:
1610:
1605:
1601:
1597:
1593:
1592:Dominic Gates
1590:
1587:
1586:
1581:
1578:
1577:
1572:
1571:
1566:
1563:
1560:
1557:
1556:
1551:
1548:
1545:
1542:
1539:
1536:
1532:
1528:
1525:
1522:
1519:
1516:
1512:
1509:
1506:
1505:
1500:
1497:
1494:
1493:
1488:
1485:
1481:
1478:
1475:
1472:
1469:
1465:
1461:
1460:
1455:
1454:
1449:
1446:
1442:
1439:
1436:
1433:
1430:
1429:
1424:
1421:
1417:
1414:
1411:
1410:
1405:
1402:
1401:
1396:
1393:
1392:
1387:
1386:
1384:
1380:
1373:
1370:
1367:
1366:
1361:
1358:
1354:
1351:
1348:
1347:
1342:
1339:
1336:
1333:
1330:
1327:
1324:
1321:
1318:
1315:
1311:
1307:
1304:
1301:
1300:
1295:
1291:
1288:
1285:
1281:
1277:
1276:Bill Dietrich
1273:
1272:Ross Anderson
1270:
1267:
1263:
1260:
1257:
1254:
1251:
1250:
1245:
1244:
1239:
1236:
1232:
1228:
1225:
1222:
1219:
1216:
1213:
1210:
1207:
1204:
1203:Rick Atkinson
1201:
1198:
1195:
1192:
1188:
1185:
1182:
1179:
1176:
1173:
1170:
1167:
1164:
1161:
1160:
1158:
1154:
1147:
1143:
1140:
1137:
1136:James R. Polk
1133:
1130:
1127:
1123:
1120:
1117:
1116:Jack Anderson
1114:
1111:
1108:
1105:
1102:
1099:
1096:
1093:
1089:
1086:
1083:
1082:Monroe Karmin
1079:
1076:
1073:
1070:
1067:
1064:
1061:
1058:
1055:
1054:Anthony Lewis
1052:
1049:
1045:
1042:
1039:
1036:
1033:
1032:Vance Trimble
1030:
1027:
1024:
1021:
1017:
1014:
1011:
1008:
1005:
1002:
999:
998:Anthony Lewis
996:
993:
990:
987:
986:Don Whitehead
984:
981:
978:
975:
972:
971:
969:
965:
960:
953:
942:
939:
936:
935:Nat S. Finney
932:
929:
926:
923:
920:
917:
914:
911:
908:
905:
902:
899:
898:
896:
892:
888:
883:
879:
872:
867:
865:
860:
858:
853:
852:
849:
843:
840:
837:
836:
832:
829:
826:
825:
821:
812:
808:
802:
799:
794:
790:
786:
782:
776:
773:
768:
764:
758:
755:
750:
746:
740:
737:
732:
728:
722:
719:
714:
710:
704:
701:
696:
692:
686:
683:
678:
674:
668:
665:
660:
656:
650:
647:
642:
638:
632:
629:
617:
616:
611:
604:
601:
588:
584:
578:
575:
570:
566:
562:
558:
551:
548:
544:
540:
536:
530:
527:
522:
516:
512:
508:
501:
498:
493:
489:
483:
480:
468:
464:
457:
454:
449:
445:
438:
436:
434:
430:
426:
420:
417:
412:
408:
402:
400:
396:
391:
384:
382:
378:
362:
355:
352:
345:
341:
338:
337:
333:
328:
325:
322:
319:
316:
315:Good New Days
313:
310:
307:
304:
301:
298:
295:
290:
287:
286:
285:(1946, 1976)
284:
281:
280:
276:
274:
272:
268:
263:
259:
256:In 1970, the
251:
249:
247:
243:
238:
236:
232:
228:
220:
218:
216:
213:by President
212:
208:
204:
199:
197:
193:
188:
184:
182:
178:
174:
173:Richard Nixon
170:
162:
160:
158:
154:
146:
144:
142:
138:
134:
130:
126:
122:
111:
108:
106:
103:
102:
100:
96:
93:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
64:
60:
56:
43:
39:
35:Smith in 1962
32:
27:
20:
1636:
1632: (2020)
1627:
1607:
1588: (2019)
1583:
1579: (2018)
1574:
1568:
1564: (2017)
1558: (2016)
1553:
1549: (2015)
1543: (2014)
1537: (2013)
1523: (2012)
1517: (2011)
1507: (2010)
1502:
1499:Matt Richtel
1495: (2009)
1490:
1486: (2008)
1476: (2007)
1470: (2006)
1468:Jerry Kammer
1464:Marcus Stern
1457:
1451:
1437: (2005)
1431: (2004)
1426:
1422: (2003)
1412: (2002)
1407:
1403: (2001)
1398:
1394: (2000)
1389:
1374: (1999)
1368: (1999)
1363:
1359: (1998)
1357:Jeff Nesmith
1349: (1997)
1344:
1340: (1996)
1334: (1995)
1332:Tony Horwitz
1328: (1994)
1322: (1993)
1316: (1992)
1302: (1991)
1297:
1286: (1990)
1268: (1989)
1258: (1988)
1252: (1987)
1247:
1241:
1237: (1986)
1223: (1985)
1217: (1984)
1211: (1983)
1205: (1982)
1199: (1981)
1193: (1980)
1183: (1979)
1177: (1978)
1171: (1977)
1169:Walter Mears
1165: (1976)
1148: (1975)
1138: (1974)
1128: (1973)
1118: (1972)
1112: (1971)
1106: (1970)
1100: (1969)
1094: (1968)
1092:Howard James
1084: (1967)
1078:Stanley Penn
1074: (1966)
1068: (1965)
1062: (1964)
1059:
1056: (1963)
1050: (1962)
1040: (1961)
1034: (1960)
1028: (1959)
1022: (1958)
1020:Relman Morin
1012: (1957)
1010:James Reston
1006: (1956)
1000: (1955)
994: (1954)
988: (1953)
982: (1952)
976: (1950)
943: (1949)
937: (1948)
931:Bert Andrews
927: (1947)
921: (1946)
915: (1945)
913:James Reston
909: (1944)
903: (1942)
886:
834:
813:. WW Norton.
810:
806:
801:
792:
780:
775:
766:
762:
757:
748:
744:
739:
730:
726:
721:
712:
708:
703:
694:
690:
685:
676:
672:
667:
658:
654:
649:
640:
636:
631:
619:. Retrieved
613:
603:
591:. Retrieved
586:
577:
560:
556:
550:
543:Dealey Plaza
529:
506:
500:
491:
482:
470:. Retrieved
466:
456:
447:
424:
419:
410:
368:. Retrieved
354:
326:
320:
314:
311:(1961, 1975)
308:
302:
296:
288:
282:
260:established
255:
239:
224:
207:Merv Griffin
200:
189:
185:
181:Helen Thomas
177:Harry Truman
166:
150:
120:
119:
67:(1970-04-13)
1674:1970 deaths
1664:1913 births
1441:James Risen
1416:Alan Miller
1310:Mike McGraw
1306:Jeff Taylor
1284:Eric Nalder
1235:Arthur Howe
1122:Robert Boyd
1098:Robert Cahn
901:Louis Stark
472:4 September
227:Vietnam War
139:in 1969 by
80:Nationality
1658:Categories
1629:ProPublica
1620:Megan Rose
1604:Lewis Kamb
1600:Mike Baker
1521:David Wood
1462:including
1420:Kevin Sack
1372:Jeff Gerth
1256:Tim Weiner
1132:Jack White
1126:Clark Hoyt
587:whca.press
492:nypost.com
346:References
147:Background
92:Journalist
88:Occupation
47:1913-02-10
1635:Staff of
1582:Staff of
1567:Staff of
1552:Staff of
1527:Lisa Song
1489:Staff of
1480:Jo Becker
1450:Staff of
1425:Staff of
1406:Staff of
1397:Staff of
1388:Staff of
1382:2000–2009
1362:Staff of
1343:Staff of
1240:Staff of
1156:1976–2000
967:1950–1975
894:1942–1950
733:. Harper.
715:. Harper.
697:. Harper.
621:March 11,
593:March 11,
535:Gary Mack
427:, p. 121.
217:in 1969.
203:Jack Paar
1644:] (2023)
791:(1970).
765:(1962).
747:(1975).
729:(1961).
711:(1955).
693:(1948).
657:(1976).
639:(1946).
467:Observer
334:See also
153:Savannah
83:American
370:May 11,
157:Georgia
1641:(2022)
1622:&
1612:(2020)
1602:&
1533:&
1513:&
1482:&
1466:&
1447:(2006)
1443:&
1418:&
1355:&
1312:&
1296:&
1282:&
1264:&
1233:&
1189:&
1144:&
1134:&
1124:&
1090:&
1080:&
1046:&
1018:&
933:&
517:
329:(1972)
323:(1970)
317:(1962)
305:(1955)
299:(1948)
291:(1948)
163:Career
98:Awards
364:(PDF)
277:Works
221:Death
623:2022
595:2022
515:ISBN
474:2018
372:2020
205:and
62:Died
41:Born
1626:of
1606:of
565:doi
541:at
171:to
1660::
1618:,
1598:,
1594:,
1529:,
1308:,
1292:,
1278:,
1274:,
1229:,
787:;
783:;
612:.
585:.
561:37
559:.
513:.
509:.
490:.
465:.
446:.
432:^
409:.
398:^
380:^
273:.
183:.
159:.
155:,
143:.
870:e
863:t
856:v
625:.
597:.
571:.
567::
545:.
523:.
476:.
450:.
392:.
374:.
49:)
45:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.