A. Merriman Smith papers, 1937-1973 (bulk 1940-1970)

Author / Creator

Smith, A. Merriman, 1913-1970

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Physical

Summary

Papers of A. Merriman Smith, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author sometimes referred to as "the dean of the White House correspondents" for his news coverage of six presidents, 1941-1970,...

Papers of A. Merriman Smith, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author sometimes referred to as "the dean of the White House correspondents" for his news coverage of six presidents, 1941-1970, and for his Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The papers, which include correspondence, subject files, speeches and writings, working files, presidential memorabilia, and photographs, document both reporting for United Press International (UPI) and his personal life. Coverage of both an informational and evidential nature is strong for those periods when the President was away from the White House. Smith's journalism is represented by draft and printed news stories, articles, speeches, fiction stories, interviews, reporters' notebooks, and drafts of four books: A President Is Many Men (1948), Meet Mr. Eisenhower (1956), A President's Odyssey (1961), and The Good New Days (1962).

Smith's association with UPI is documented by correspondence and memoranda exchanged with executives C. Edmond Allen, Hugh Baillie, Frank Bartholmew, Julius Frandsen, Earl J. Johnson, Mims Thomason, Gerald J. Rock, H. Roger Tatarian, and Lyle Wilson.

The photographs show Smith at work, the six Presidents he covered, and some images of Smith posed with Presidents. Snapshots of Nixon and color slides of Eisenhower while golfing and Johnson during his travels were taken by Smith.

The films in the collection consist of: two home movies of his second wife Gailey Johnson Smith as a child (1935); Smith receiving the Medal of Freedom from President Johnson; and President Truman in Rio de Janeiro and Key West in 1947.

The audio recordings include press conferences with Johnson, Nixon, and George McGovern and a 1965 interview of President Eisenhower.

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