The Washington Post is reporting this hour the death of managing editor, then executive editor Ben Bradlee at his Washington home. Mr. Bradlee was 93.
Under his leadership, the Post faced two major confrontations with the United States government over the principle of press freedom and, in each case, Bradlee and publisher Katharine Graham made the hard choice to defend their reporters, their paper and their profession in the face of unbelievable threats. Getting one's tit caught in a big wringer sounds bad, but going to prison is bad, but Bradlee and Graham were willing to take the risks, demanding only of their reporters, "Don't f--- up."
We owe Mr. Bradlee, and Ms. Graham, a debt that can only be repaid with our own courage, our own willingness to speak truth to the greatest power and to not f--- up, to get our facts right, to be sure of our ground and to stand it, whatever the price.
Whatever you may think of the state of media, the press, even the Post today, Mr. Bradlee and Mrs. Graham set an example for every citizen of conscience and intelligence.
Rest in peace, sir. Should we ever have to face tests so harsh, we hope we may live up to your example.