Hugh Sidey facts for kids

Hugh Swanson Sidey (born September 3, 1927 – died November 21, 2005) was a famous American journalist. He studied at Iowa State University. He worked for Life magazine starting in 1955. Later, he moved to Time magazine in 1957.

Hugh Sidey reported on nine different U.S. Presidents. These included presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Bill Clinton. He also wrote a book called Hugh Sidey's Portraits of the Presidents.

Hugh Sidey's Life Story

Hugh Sidey was born in Greenfield, Iowa, in 1927. He went to Iowa State College. There, he earned a degree in journalism. After college, he worked for local newspapers. These papers were in Council Bluffs and Omaha.

Early Career and Lessons Learned

While working in Omaha, Hugh Sidey also taught journalism classes. He taught at Creighton University. At Creighton, he often heard long discussions about politics. These talks involved people with different ideas. From this, he learned important lessons. He realized it was key to always have all your facts correct. He also learned that how you say something can be as important as what you say.

An older teacher at Creighton suggested him for a job in New York. This led Sidey to a job at Life magazine. He quickly made a big impression there.

Reporting on Presidents

Hugh Sidey was very good at noticing small details. In 1966, he saw President Lyndon B. Johnson wearing brown shoes with a gray suit. This was unusual for the very neat president. Sidey correctly guessed that something big was about to happen. Later that day, President Johnson flew to Vietnam for a surprise visit.

Sidey also hosted a TV show on PBS called The American Presidents. He was also the president of the board of directors for the White House Historical Association. He held this role from 1998 to 2001. This was during the White House's 200th birthday celebration.

Later Life and Legacy

Hugh Sidey passed away from a heart attack in Paris, France. He was 78 years old. Former President George H. W. Bush spoke at Sidey's funeral. Hugh Sidey left behind his wife, Anne, and their four children.

In 2006, a special scholarship was created in his honor. It is called The Hugh S. Sidey Scholarship in Print Journalism. This scholarship helps students at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communications at Iowa State University. It was started by The White House Historical Association.