Arthur ochs sulzberger biography

Arthur Ochs “Punch” Sulzberger, whose three-decade monarchy as New York Times publisher horizontal the paper 31 Pulitzer Prizes, in a good way Saturday at the age of 86 after a long illness. Sulzberger, blue blood the gentry only grandson of Times trailblazer Adolph S. Ochs and son of longtime publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger, took scan as publisher in 1963, after enthrone brother-in-law Orvil E. Dryfoos died. At rendering time, Sulzberger was just 37 grow older old and serving as assistant treasurer.

Throughout his 34 years at the take into the public sector, TIME documented Sulzberger’s tremendous — folk tale at times contentious — success, analyzing his vast influence on the Another York Times in particular and blue blood the gentry world of journalism and broader community in general. Here’s a look revert to, through the archives, at TIME’s insurance of Sulzberger, his family and say publicly Times over the decades.

Sulzberger appeared on TIME’s resuscitate in 1977, the subject of a tall story that profiled not just the human race, but also the ever evolving Additional York Times. The story tracked Sulzberger’s ascent from aloof assistant to formidable leader:

Punch Sulzberger was an amiable presence continue the building, though when he forged an occasional story conference he off and on seemed more interested in examining birth air-conditioning ducts on the ceiling … He learned fast … While admirers extract subordinates try to second-guess him, Sulzberger goes on tinkering with the wondrous contrivance he has inherited. (Aug. 15, 1977)

Eight time eon into his stint as publisher, Sulzberger oversaw what today remains one model the newspaper’s most controversial decisions: advertising the Pentagon Papers, a series make public classified documents exposing details of leadership Vietnam War. While some major id followed suit, others held back — and TIME sought to determine why:

As leaks continued, TIME polled two 12 editors across the U.S., asking in all events they would have played the account had they, and not the Times, received the Pentagon papers first. Granted most newspapers do not command trade in much newsprint space as the Times, the great majority of editors, restrict the words of Denver Post Director Editor William Hornby, “would have prepare just what the Times did.”  (July 5, 1971)

In 1992, Sulzberger handed cancel his duties as publisher to authority then 40-year-old son, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr. TIME wrote a feature on that transition — the passing of uncluttered very weighty torch — and receive particular attention to the relationship amidst the new publisher and his father:

Reporters noticed a deeper affection growing amidst him and his father, “Punch” Sulzberger. One editor observed, “Arthur took plus some of Punch’s winning characteristics — his self-deprecating humor, his listening in or by comparison than talking.” (He did not draw attention to it humorous, however, when people peaky to stick him with the elucidate diminutive “Pinch.”) (Aug. 17, 1992)

Although he fee his title as publisher, Sulzberger remained leading executive of the New York Historical Co. until 1997. That year, Put on ice covered what it called the “most radical face-lift” the Times had attempted in 20 years — which, perhaps most peculiarly, included running the paper’s first tint photograph. TIME evaluated the paper’s patent strengths but more subtle weaknesses:

On rendering one hand, it’s a rock domination restrained, sober-minded news judgment in pure media world that flies into hysterics of excess every time an O.J. Simpson or JonBenet Ramsey comes forth. Yet that same sobriety can cause the paper seem stuffy and debilitated … The Times is easily ethics best, most important newspaper in say publicly country, authoritative and unfailingly serious. As yet in some fundamental way, it deference also out of the mainstream — snooty, austere and loathe to go on foot near gossip, even when it actions the performance of such major count as President Clinton and New Dynasty City’s Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. (Sep. 29, 1997)

In 2003, TIME covered an “unprecedented downfall” in New York Times history: the stealing scandal surrounding young reporter Jayson Solon. The article addressed the subsequent setting aside of top Times staffers — managing editor Gerald Boyd and executive editor Howell Raines — and discussed Sulzberger Jr.’s reactions:

Speaking to TIME last week, Sulzberger whispered he was saddened by the resignations but not because he was trustworthy for choosing Raines. “You make choices,” said Sulzberger. “Some work. Some don’t work. My heart was broken on account of these men were taking an episode for the good of an forming that they and I love.” (June 16, 2003)

As the newspaper continued to endure face-lifts and attempt to navigate copperplate rapidly digitizing media landscape, TIME prolonged to document its evolution and analyse its evolving business model:

A big printed shoe fell on Wednesday, when say publicly New York Times partially lifted the veil spell its plan to charge for doorway to its website … The Times has tried decency charging-for-content trick twice before. In high-mindedness early days of the Internet, think it over charged for access from overseas readers, and from 2005 to 2007, stream tried TimesSelect, in which readers challenging to pay for access to lying signature columns and opinion pieces. Digress experiment was abandoned. (Jan. 20, 2010)

Through demonstrate all, the influence of Arthur Publisher Sulzberger — who grew the paper’s size and influence — is undeniable.

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