BEN BRADLEE - The various columnists are still writing their individual tributes. I feel priviledged to have worked at The Washington Post during his and Kay Grahamss years running the paper. There is a pride that I and everyone who worked during those years have because we were part and parcel of one of the worlds greatest newspapers. We knew we were the top in every single department. If a story broke you could litterly feel the energy rise in the building like a disturbed hornets nest coming to life. I remember once when I was working as Night Dispatch Operations Manager. We were to go to press with our Bulldog edition at 11PM. I had planes, trains and trucks headed for everywhere from London to Tokyo to Charlotte, NC. At 11:05 I sitll didnt have a paper to put to press. Getting more and more worried at 11:10 I called Ben at home to inform him that if I didnt have a front page for the paper I was going to put the Style Section as the Front Page - Section A of the paper. In Bens usually salty language he said, What are those laxy bastards doing? Theres no big story breaking or Id have heard and so would you. It wasnt 1 minute later that I had my front page and could tell the Production Department to go to press. I met my deadline and the various train, plane and truck schedules. I can assure you there was nothing like calling Ben Bradlee at home at that hour. The thing is - we knew that each and everyone of us counted......our jobs made The Washington Post what it was and is. Those were the days when Kay and Ben knew each of our names. Walked the building asking how we were and how our families were. Im planning on attending Bens funeral tomorrow at National Cathedral. In the old tradition of The Washington Post; they have set aside seats for families, current and past employees. Thats the way it was........... we were a family dedicated to serving the nation.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 12:33:11 +0000