Clayton Kirkpatrick facts for kids

Clayton Kirkpatrick (born January 8, 1915 – died June 19, 2004) was an American journalist. He was the editor of the Chicago Tribune newspaper from 1969 to 1979. He is known for making the Tribune more modern. He changed its news and opinion pages to be more fair and less biased. He also wrote a very famous editorial in 1974 asking President Richard Nixon to resign.

Early Life and School

Clayton Kirkpatrick was born on January 8, 1915. He grew up in Waterman, Illinois. His father owned a machine shop and garage. Clayton went to college at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He graduated in 1937.

Starting His Career

After working different jobs around the country, Kirkpatrick joined the City News Bureau in Chicago in 1938. He wanted to work for the Chicago Daily News. Instead, he joined the Chicago Tribune in 1938. His first jobs there were reporting general news and covering the federal courts.

In 1942, Kirkpatrick joined the United States Army. He worked in Army intelligence, mostly in England. He became a master sergeant and received the Bronze Star medal. He left the Army in November 1945.

Rising at the Tribune

Kirkpatrick worked as a reporter at the Tribune for 15 years. In 1954, he became a copy editor. He then held many other important jobs. He was a make-up editor, chief of neighborhood news, and an assignment editor.

He continued to get promoted. In 1961, he became city editor. He was named assistant managing editor in 1963. Then he became managing editor in 1965 and executive editor in 1967.

Editor of the Tribune

On January 1, 1969, Clayton Kirkpatrick became the editor of the Tribune. He quickly changed how the newspaper worked. He made sure the news was balanced and fair. Before him, the paper often showed strong political opinions.

Kirkpatrick also changed the look of the Tribune. He added new sections that readers would find interesting. These changes even influenced other newspapers across the country. In February 1974, Time magazine called the Tribune one of the ten best newspapers in the United States.

The Watergate Scandal

In 1974, Kirkpatrick wanted the Tribune to be the first newspaper to print all the Watergate scandal transcripts. These were recordings of conversations from the White House. Kirkpatrick and the Tribune reporters in Washington worked with President Nixon's press secretary, Ron Ziegler. They got the transcripts early.

The Tribune flew the transcripts to Chicago on a company jet. A team quickly prepared them for printing. They were published in a special 44-page section.

One week later, Kirkpatrick read the transcripts himself. He had supported Nixon before. But after reading them, he decided the Tribune should ask Nixon to resign. He wrote an editorial on May 9, 1974. It used very strong words.

The editorial said, "We saw the public man in his first administration, and we were impressed. Now in about 300,000 words we have seen the private man, and we are appalled." It explained that the transcripts showed a lack of concern for high principles. It said Nixon was "devious" and "humorless."

The editorial ended by saying the country needed a quick end to the Watergate affair. It suggested two ways: Nixon could resign, or he could be impeached. This editorial was very important. The Tribune had always been known for supporting Republican politics. So, its call for Nixon's resignation had a big impact in the U.S. and around the world.

Later Life and Retirement

In 1979, Kirkpatrick was promoted again. He became president and CEO of the Tribune Company. He retired on June 1, 1981.

After retiring, Kirkpatrick enjoyed playing golf. He served on the board of the Cantigny Trust. He helped approve plans for a 27-hole golf course. This course, called the Cantigny Golf Club, was built on the estate of a former Tribune publisher, Robert R. McCormick.

Personal Life

Clayton Kirkpatrick was married to Thelma Kirkpatrick for 55 years. She passed away in 1998. He had four children. He lived in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Kirkpatrick died at his home on June 19, 2004. He was 89 years old.