Charles Griffith Ross
Encyclopedia
Charles Griffith Ross was a White House Press Secretary
between 1945 and 1950 for Harry S. Truman
.
in Independence, Missouri
from Independence High School (now known as William Chrisman High School
) Class of 1901. He was initiated into the Sigma Chi
fraternity and graduated from the University of Missouri
in 1905. In 1908 he became the first professor of the newly formed Missouri School of Journalism
.
In 1918 he became the Chief Washington correspondent for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
. He won the 1932 Pulitzer Prize
for his article entitled, "The Country's Plight, What Can Be Done About It?", a discussion of the economic situation of the United States
.
In 1934 he became the editorial page editor for the Post-Dispatch and then in 1939 became a contributing editor for the paper.
Despite Ross' personal relationship with Truman, he was to be accused by reporters of not running a tight ship in coordinating press releases, not being aware of everything going on in the Presidency, not burnishing the President's image, not being aware of the needs for spot news, and being a poor public speaker.
editor Roy A. Roberts
in 1953.
His grandson, John Ross
is the author of the novel Unintended Consequences.
White House Press Secretary
The White House Press Secretary is a senior White House official whose primary responsibility is to act as spokesperson for the government administration....
between 1945 and 1950 for Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
.
Early life
Ross graduated with Truman and Truman's eventual wife Bess TrumanBess Truman
Bess Truman , was the wife of Harry S. Truman and First Lady of the United States from 1945 to 1953.-Early life:...
in Independence, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
from Independence High School (now known as William Chrisman High School
William Chrisman High School
William Chrisman High School is a high school located in Independence, Missouri as part of the Independence School District. The school was founded in 1888 and was originally known as Independence High School. The first building was located at the intersection of Pleasant and Truman Road, the...
) Class of 1901. He was initiated into the Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity and graduated from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in 1905. In 1908 he became the first professor of the newly formed Missouri School of Journalism
Missouri School of Journalism
The Missouri School of Journalism at University of Missouri in Columbia, claims to be the oldest formal journalism school in the world. Founded in 1908, only the Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme de Paris established in 1899 may be older...
.
Pulitzer prizewinning journalist
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the major city-wide newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. Although written to serve Greater St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch is one of the largest newspapers in the Midwestern United States, and is available and read as far west as Kansas City, Missouri, as far south as...
. He won the 1932 Pulitzer Prize
1932 Pulitzer Prize
-Journalism awards:*Public Service:**Indianapolis News for its successful campaign to eliminate waste in city management and to reduce the tax levy.*Reporting:...
for his article entitled, "The Country's Plight, What Can Be Done About It?", a discussion of the economic situation of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1934 he became the editorial page editor for the Post-Dispatch and then in 1939 became a contributing editor for the paper.
White House Press Secretary
In 1945 Truman asked him to become his Press Secretary.Despite Ross' personal relationship with Truman, he was to be accused by reporters of not running a tight ship in coordinating press releases, not being aware of everything going on in the Presidency, not burnishing the President's image, not being aware of the needs for spot news, and being a poor public speaker.
Reputation for trustworthiness
However, Ross' personal relationship with Truman had its advantages, as reporters knew Ross spoke for the president both on and off the record. Very few reporters felt Ross led them astray, either.Death in 1950
Ross died at his desk in the White House in December 1950 after giving a press conference as he was preparing to make some comments to the television news.Family
His widow Florence Griffin married The Kansas City StarThe Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star is a McClatchy newspaper based in Kansas City, Missouri, in the United States. Published since 1880, the paper is the recipient of eight Pulitzer Prizes...
editor Roy A. Roberts
Roy A. Roberts
Roy Allison Roberts was a managing editor, president, editor and general manager of The Kansas City Star who guided the paper during its influential period during the Presidencies of Harry S. Truman and Dwight D...
in 1953.
His grandson, John Ross
John Ross (author)
John Franklin Ross is the author of the underground bestselling novel Unintended Consequences, author of a regular column on the Internet, and was the Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in 1998 in Missouri's 2nd congressional district...
is the author of the novel Unintended Consequences.