WASHINGTON — Ben Bradlee, the longtime executive editor of The Washington Post during some of its proudest moments, was remembered as a “journalistic warrior” Wednesday during his funeral at Washington National Cathedral.
Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and many government officials and journalists were among hundreds who filled the massive church. Few cities could honor a gruff, profane and aggressive journalist quite like Washington.
Bradlee died last week at 93 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in recent years.
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were among eight men who paid tribute to the man who led the Post newsroom from 1968 to 1991 — through the coverage of the Watergate scandal that toppled the presidency of Richard Nixon and elevated the newspaper to new heights.
“What is the central part of his character?” Bernstein said. “It’s this: He was not afraid.”
The former Post reporter recalled Bradlee’s unwavering support of his young reporters as they confronted the Nixon administration and faced threats and intimidation.
“We live now in an era where too many of us are not unafraid,” Bernstein said. “The dominant political and media culture is too often geared to the lowest common denominator — make noise, get eyeballs, cover the political battles like a football game and manufacture as much controversy as can be ginned up.”
Woodward, who partnered with Bernstein in covering Watergate and now is an associate editor at the Post, said he loved Bradlee and remembered how he prowled the newsroom like a wolf in search of news, gossip or any signs of hidden truth.
“He was a journalistic warrior, unequaled and probably never to be matched,” Woodward said. “He had the courage of an army, a lion in all seasons. He wanted his newspaper to be like the Navy destroyer he served on in World War II.”
Several years ago, Woodward and Bradlee were invited to speak at the Nixon presidential library in California.
“Ben was astonished that this was happening,” Woodward said. “He could not believe that the world had turned so much.”
“‘Well, how do you like them apples?’” Woodward recalled Bradlee saying.
Other journalists, including Tom Brokaw, also offered tributes.
Post columnist David Ignatius said Bradlee was immensely funny, especially in story meetings.
“If you were too sentimental in making a story pitch, Ben would play an imaginary violin. If you went on too long, Ben would roll his eyes or put his hands to his throat in a choking motion. If you didn’t have the story, he told you to go get it,” Ignatius said. “Being an editor is often mundane and exhausting. Ben made it seem fun. No wonder we all tried so desperately to be like him.”
Donald Graham, whose mother, Katharine Graham, hired Bradlee to lead the newspaper the family controlled until last year, said Bradlee was greater, smarter and even more fun than his reputation.
At times, Bradlee was called a “male chauvinist pig” for his language and style, but he also had the confidence to work for one of the few women leading a major company in the 1960s and 1970s, Graham said.
“The Post staff could be fairly described as hard bitten. They were a group of men and women who proudly had no heroes,” Graham said. “But he was our hero, Benjamin C. Bradlee, and he will be always.”
Select quotes recalling journalist Ben Bradlee
WASHINGTON — A collection of quotes and remembrances of longtime Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee from those who knew him from the Watergate era and beyond:
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“To be honest, I was frightened. Bob and I were 28 and 29 years old. Raw threats from the former attorney general, the official closest to Nixon, was not normal in the course of business as we knew it. … Ben didn’t miss a beat. He was not just cool, but ‘hey this is a great story, get it in the paper fast.’ — Former Washington Post journalist Carl Bernstein remembering Bradlee’s leadership of the newspaper’s Watergate coverage.
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“He was a journalistic warrior, unequaled and probably never to be matched. He had the courage of an army, a lion in all seasons. He wanted his newspaper to be like the Navy destroyer he served on in World War II. … Not chronologically but psychologically, Ben’s passing is in some respects and in some very clear ways marks the end of the 20th century. He is gone, and for that we are diminished, and the world is smaller. I will never forget the leadership and the smile of this man we loved so much.” — Bob Woodward, now an associate editor at The Washington Post.
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“My generation considered 26 years of Ben Bradlee’s life in the Washington Post newsroom as our golden age of journalism. He was the greatest motivator … and the best protector a reporter could ask for. There was nothing better than Ben coming to your desk the morning you beat The New York Times.” — Walter Pincus, Washington Post journalist.
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“In 1973, I was a young correspondent assigned to the White House and Watergate. … But in Washington there was a lot of skepticism about whether I was up to the job. And after about a month of being on the air from the White House morning, noon and night, Ben Bradlee, who I barely knew, put his arm around me and said ‘Kid, you know what you’re doing.’ And it took me to a different level, and I was forever grateful. It was the beginning of a great friendship, which was only deepened when he married my friend Sally.” — Tom Brokaw, former NBC “Nightly News” anchor.
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“So how lucky were we? This is Washington, a city of big reputations. Some of those reputations get punctured, and Ben was responsible for more than a few of those punctures. This is a very large building, but everyone in it knows people whose enormous reputations are undeserved. We knew somebody much better than his very large reputation, even greater, even smarter, much more fun.” — Don Graham, former Washington Post chairman and publisher.
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