Don Oberdorfer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don Oberdorfer
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|---|---|
| Born |
Donald Oberdorfer Jr.
May 28, 1931 |
| Died | July 23, 2015 (aged 84) |
| Alma mater | Princeton University |
| Occupation | Journalist, author, professor |
| Spouse(s) | Laura Oberdorfer |
Donald Oberdorfer Jr. (born May 28, 1931 – died July 23, 2015) was an American journalist, author, and professor. He spent 25 years working for The Washington Post newspaper. Later, he became a professor at Johns Hopkins University, where he taught about international studies, especially focusing on Korea.
Oberdorfer also wrote five books and many academic papers. One of his books, Senator Mansfield: The Extraordinary Life of a Great American Statesman and Diplomat, won an award called the D.B. Hardeman Prize in 2003.
Contents
A Journalist's Journey
Donald Oberdorfer graduated from Princeton University. After college, he went to South Korea as a U.S. Army lieutenant. This was right after the armistice (a peace agreement) was signed, which ended the Korean War.
Starting in News
In 1955, Oberdorfer began his journalism career. He first worked for The Charlotte Observer newspaper. Later, he got a job at The Washington Post, a very famous newspaper.
Reporting for The Washington Post
For the next 25 years, Oberdorfer worked at The Washington Post. He had many important roles there:
- White House correspondent: This meant he reported on the U.S. President and events happening at the White House.
- Northeast Asia correspondent: He covered news from countries like Korea and Japan.
- Diplomatic correspondent: He reported on how different countries worked together and talked to each other.
He stopped working at The Washington Post in 1993.
Teaching and Korea Focus
After his journalism career, Oberdorfer became a professor. He taught at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University. This school focuses on how countries interact with each other.
Leading the U.S.-Korea Institute
Beyond teaching, Oberdorfer also helped lead the U.S.-Korea Institute. This institute studies the relationship between the United States and Korea. He was the chairman from when it started in 2006. In 2013, he was named chairman emeritus, which means he kept his title as a special honor even after stepping down from the main role.
About His Family
Donald Oberdorfer was married to Laura Klein. They had two children, named Daniel and Karen. He also had a brother, Eugene.
