Drew Pearson (journalist)
A pioneering and fearless muckraking columnist whose 'Washington Merry-Go-Round' exposed corruption and infuriated the powerful for decades.
1897–1969 (age 72)·American journalist·Birthday: December 13·The Lost Generation
Biography
For mid-20th century America, Drew Pearson was the source for political scandal. His syndicated column, 'Washington Merry-Go-Round,' co-written initially with Robert S. Allen, was a must-read dose of insider gossip and hard-hitting investigation that presidents and senators feared. Pearson operated with a vast network of sources, breaking stories on corruption, infidelity, and bureaucratic waste long before the era of televised hearings. He took on Senator Joseph McCarthy, exposed the secrets of the Truman and Eisenhower administrations, and his radio broadcasts reached millions. His methods were sometimes controversial, relying on leaks and anonymous tips, and he faced numerous lawsuits—winning most. Pearson's work laid crucial groundwork for the investigative journalism that would flourish in the decades to follow, proving that a single determined columnist could hold the establishment to account.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Drew was born in 1897, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Drew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1897
Drew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1897Born
President: William McKinley
1902Started school
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Became a teenager
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1913Could drive
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1915Could vote
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Turned 21
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Turned 30
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1937Turned 40
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 50
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 60
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 70
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1969Died at 72
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
Key Achievements
- Authored the massively influential syndicated newspaper column 'Washington Merry-Go-Round' for over 35 years.
- Hosted a popular weekly radio program, 'Drew Pearson Comments,' that extended his reach to a national audience.
- His reporting was instrumental in exposing the corruption behind the Teapot Dome scandal's lingering aftermath.
- Played a key role in undermining Senator Joseph McCarthy's influence through persistent critical reporting.
Did You Know?
He was sued for libel over 275 times but never lost a case that went to trial.
Pearson's famous feud with Senator McCarthy included a physical altercation in the cloakroom of a Washington club.
He helped pioneer the use of the 'political leak' as a standard journalistic tool.
His successor on the column was Jack Anderson, another legendary investigative reporter.
“I have always believed that the only way to get at the truth is to dig for it.”
