Raymond Gram Swing facts for kids

Raymond Gram Swing (born March 25, 1887 – died December 22, 1968) was an important American journalist. He worked in both newspapers and radio. Many people around the world listened to him during World War II. He was a leading American voice broadcasting from Britain. Originally known as Raymond Swing, he added his wife's last name, Gram, in 1919.

Raymond Swing's College Days

Raymond Swing was born in Cortland, New York, on March 25, 1887. He went to Oberlin College in Ohio for a year. His father was a professor there. Even though he left early, Swing later said he was thankful for what Oberlin taught him. He learned about music and other arts. He also gained a strong belief in equality for all people.

Starting a Career in Journalism

After college, Swing started working in journalism at age 19. His first job was with the Cleveland Press in 1906. He then worked for several other newspapers. These included The Richmond (Indiana) Evening News and the Indianapolis Star. He worked very hard to prove himself.

Swing's career grew quickly. By age 23, he became the managing editor of the Indianapolis Sun. Later, he became the London bureau chief for the Philadelphia Public Ledger. He also wrote for The Nation magazine.

Reporting from Europe

By 1913, Swing was the Berlin and Germany bureau chief for the Chicago Daily News. When World War I began in 1914, he covered major battles. He was the first to report about "Big Bertha". This was a huge 420mm artillery cannon.

Swing was known for his brave reporting. In 1915, the Chicago Daily News sent him to Turkey. He covered the attack on the Dardanelles. This reporting made him famous. Once, while on a Turkish ship, a British submarine stopped them. The British commander asked, "Who are you?" Swing was supposed to say the ship's name. Instead, he famously replied, "I am Raymond Swing, of the Chicago Daily News."

After World War I: Radio and War Reporting

In 1922, Swing left the New York Herald to join The Wall Street Journal. He became the head of their European staff. By 1930, he led the London Bureau for the New York Evening Post.

A Voice on the Radio

During the 1920s, Swing moved into the new world of radio journalism. His calm and clear speaking style was perfect for it. After covering the 1932 presidential election, he was offered a job at CBS. He turned it down.

Instead, Swing joined the Mutual Broadcasting System. In 1936, he began broadcasting about European events. He became a strong voice against Adolf Hitler and Fascism. As the Nazis grew more powerful, Mutual increased his broadcasts. He spoke five times a week. He also gave many talks in the United States and other countries. He warned people about the dangers of Fascism.

Supporting Democracy in World War II

Because of his strong reputation, Swing was chosen to lead the Council for Democracy. This group was started in 1940. Its goal was to support America preparing for war. It also worked to fight against people who wanted America to stay out of the war. The Council was funded by Henry Luce, who owned Time magazine.

During World War II, Swing was one of the highest-paid radio commentators. After the war, he worked for ABC, BBC, and the Blue Network.

Challenges and Return to Broadcasting

In 1951, Swing was offered a job with the Voice of America (VOA). This is a U.S. government-funded international broadcaster. A magazine called Counterattack claimed he was a Communist sympathizer. However, he passed a security check and joined the VOA in May.

In 1953, he was asked to speak before Senator Joseph McCarthy's committee. He was questioned privately for only a few minutes. Swing later resigned from the VOA. He protested how McCarthy treated the VOA and how the State Department did not defend its employees. He said the VOA was "crippled" by unfair attacks.

Swing returned to the Voice of America as a political commentator. He worked there again from 1959 to 1964.

Raymond Swing's Personal Life and Awards

Raymond Swing married Suzanne Morin and had two children. He later married Betty Gram Swing in 1919. She was a feminist who believed in equal rights for women. Because he shared her views on equality, he adopted her last name, Gram. He became known as Raymond Gram Swing. They had three children together. They divorced in 1944, and he stopped using "Gram" in his name. He then married Mary Hartshorne. His final marriage was to Meisung Loh.

Oberlin College gave him an honorary degree in 1940. In 1943, he received the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award. This award recognizes excellence in broadcast journalism.

In 1962, Folkways Records released an album called Raymond Swing: Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Album. It featured highlights from his long career.

Raymond Gram Swing passed away at his home in Washington D.C. on December 22, 1968.

Sources

• "Radio Find", an admiring profile of Raymond Swing in Time, Jan. 8, 1940
• Historian John Simkin
• Oberlin Alumni Magazine Spring 2000
• Culbert, David Holbrook. News for everyman: radio and foreign affairs in thirties America, Greenwood Press, 1976.
• Good Evening! - A Professional Memoir - Raymond Swing Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc. 1964