A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventuresby Ben Bradlee
As Executive Editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991, Ben Bradlee not only printed history, he also made it. Momentous events were covered, careers fashioned, reputations ruined and social movements spotlighted. Bradlee was at the center of all this, directing his reporters, dictating policy and discharging journalistic shells whose recoils are still felt even today. Yet Bradlee was not above or beyond the common man. I remember, as a young man uncertain of my future, applying for a position on the Post. Unfortunately, my qualifications were insufficient to meet the standards expected of journalists. However, I still have Mr Bradlee's courteous rejection letter which is worth citing:
'Leemydear
My name is Ben and I'm an alcoholi... hang on... wrong place... let me start again.
My Dear Lee
Having read your application, in which you listed Teetotalism as one of your 'strengths', I am shocked that you would even dare read a newspaper, let alone imagine yourself working on one. Let's get one gin straight... sorry... one thing straight. The tradition of Common Journalistic Insobriety has taken decanters... whoops... decades to establish and your flagrant? flagon?... no, I was right the first time... flagrant disregard for such tradition proves that you aren't fit for either a by-line at the Post or a bar stool in the Journalists' Club. In short, a pen and pad are not compatible with Perrier Water.
I hope you will receive this letter in the spirit in which it is soaked.
Yours sincerely,
Ernest Hemmingwa... no, that's not it... where did I put that bottle... Johnnie Walker... no... it's... Richard Nixo... hey Woodward, make mine a double!...'
'A Good Life' is also a very entertaining read.
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