Lawrence Spivak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawrence Spivak
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Spivak in 1960
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| Born |
Lawrence Edmund Spivak
June 11, 1900 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
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| Died | March 9, 1994 (aged 93) Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Occupation | Broadcast journalist Publisher |
| Spouse(s) |
Charlotte Beir Ring
(m. 1924; died 1983) |
| Children | 2 |
Lawrence Edmund Spivak (born June 11, 1900 – died March 9, 1994) was an American publisher and journalist. He is best known for helping to create, produce, and host the famous public affairs TV show Meet the Press. He started the show with journalist Martha Rountree to promote his magazine, The American Mercury. Meet the Press later became the longest-running TV series in history. For 28 years, Spivak was known for asking tough questions to important people who made big decisions.
Contents
Lawrence Spivak's Early Life and Career
Lawrence E. Spivak was born on June 11, 1900, in Brooklyn, a part of New York City. He went to Harvard University and graduated with honors in 1921. After college, he started working in publishing. His first job was as a business manager for Antiques magazine.
In 1924, he married Charlotte Beir Ring, who was a psychologist. They had two children together. From 1930 to 1933, Spivak worked for Hunting and Fishing and National Sportsman magazines. He helped manage their circulation and assisted the publisher.
Spivak and The American Mercury Magazine
In 1934, Lawrence Spivak became the business manager for The American Mercury. This was a literary magazine that looked closely at American life and culture. At the time, the famous journalist H. L. Mencken was its editor.
Spivak bought the magazine in 1939. He then became its editor from 1944 until 1950, when he sold it.
In 1937, Spivak also started his own publishing company called Mercury Publications, Inc. This company published many different types of books and magazines. They released inexpensive small-sized paperback books. These often included shorter versions of works by popular mystery writers. Some of these authors were Agatha Christie, Erle Stanley Gardner, and Dashiell Hammett. Mercury Publications also published magazines like Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Spivak sold his part of Mercury Publications in 1954.
Creating and Hosting Meet the Press
In 1945, Lawrence Spivak and journalist Martha Rountree created a weekly radio show. It was called Meet the Press. They produced it together to promote The American Mercury magazine. The show was about public affairs, meaning it discussed important news and government topics.
In November 1947, a television version of Meet the Press started on NBC. Both the radio and TV shows ran separately until the radio version ended in 1950. Spivak bought Rountree's share of the program in 1953.
Spivak sold Meet the Press to NBC in 1955. However, he continued to be the show's moderator, producer, and a panelist. He retired on November 9, 1975. His last show was a special one-hour broadcast with President Gerald R. Ford. This show also marked the 28th anniversary of Meet the Press on television. Spivak continued to advise NBC until 1989. His very last appearance on Meet the Press was in 1983.
Arthur Unger, a writer for The Christian Science Monitor, once wrote about Spivak. He said that presidents and world leaders who appeared on Meet the Press were all treated fairly. He noted that they had to face Lawrence Spivak, who had a serious look and asked challenging questions. Spivak was known for being independent and fair. He had a strong mission: to get accurate information from the people who made the news.
Spivak was known for his neat appearance. He often wore a bowtie and thick glasses. He was usually the only permanent member of the show's panel of reporters. He would ask the first questions. As the moderator, he would ask the first question to the guest. Then, he would let the other journalists on the panel ask their questions. There were usually four journalists on the panel during his 28 years as host.
Later Years and Achievements
From 1985 to 1994, Spivak helped produce TV programs for PBS. These shows were for the Southern Center for International Studies.
Spivak's office was at the Sheraton-Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. He also lived there. His wife passed away in 1983. Lawrence Spivak died on March 9, 1994, at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington. He was 93 years old and died from heart failure.
Awards and Recognition for Lawrence Spivak
Lawrence Spivak received many awards for his work. He won two Peabody Awards, which are very important awards in broadcasting. He also won two Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Other honors include the Robert Eunson Award from the Associated Press Broadcasters. He also received the Mass Media Award from the Institute of Human Relations of the American Jewish Committee. The United States Conference of Mayors gave him an award, and he won a Christopher Award. He was added to the Hall of Fame of the Washington chapter of Sigma Delta Chi. In 1968, he received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
See also
In Spanish: Lawrence E. Spivak para niños
