Thomas N. Schroth
Encyclopedia
Thomas Nolan Schroth was an American
journalist who specialized in coverage of inside the Beltway
politics as editor of Congressional Quarterly
starting in 1955 and then establishing The National Journal in 1969 after he was fired from CQ due to policy conflicts.
, together with an identical twin, Raymond. His father, Frank D. Schroth
, was publisher of the Brooklyn Eagle
. He attended Dartmouth College
and enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces
immediately after his graduation and served for three years during World War II
. He had started his career as a reporter at Time
magazine and United Press International
. He joined his father as a reporter at the Brooklyn Eagle, and was on its staff until its demise in 1955 in the wake of a strike by The Newspaper Guild, having served as the paper's managing editor in the last three years of its existence. Following the paper's final issue on January 29, negotiations in June coordinated by Schroth to sell the name and associated goodwill of the Eagle to the publishers of The Brooklyn Daily were unsuccessful.
He was elected in October 1955 as executive editor and vice president of Congressional Quarterly, a publication established in 1945 by Nelson Poynter
, publisher of the St. Petersburg Times
. Schroth built the publication's impartial coverage of the United States Congress
, with annual revenue growing during his tenure from $150,000 when he started to $1.8 million. In addition to adding a book division, Schroth added many staff members who achieved future journalistic success, including David S. Broder
and Elizabeth Drew
. He was fired from the Congressional Quarterly in 1969 after festering disagreements with Poynter over editorial policy at the publication and Schroth's efforts to advocate "more imaginative ways of doing things" reached a boil.
Shortly after his termination he established The National Journal, a publication covering high-level policymaking in Washington, D.C.
, with many of his employees at CQ coming over to join him at the Journal.
Schroth resigned on February 3, 1970, from his post as editor at The National Journal and as director of the Center for Political Research, and was succeeded by Cliff Sessions who had been the publication's managing editor.
He moved to Maine in 1972, where he became executive editor for five years of The Ellsworth American
, a newspaper published by his father-in-law. He left to publish Maine Life, a magazine he started with his wife in 1977 and ran for six years.
, who was managing editor of The Washington Post
at the time of his marriage and later served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations
.
After moving to Maine, Schroth become active in the Maine Democratic Party
, including service on the Maine State Democratic Committee. He was elected as a selectman in Sedgwick, serving in office from 1989 until 1994.
Schroth died at age 88 on July 23, 2009, due to congestive heart failure
suffered at his home in Sedgwick, Maine
. He was survived by his second wife and their three daughters, a daughter from his first marriage and five grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist who specialized in coverage of inside the Beltway
Inside the Beltway
"Inside the Beltway" is a phrase used to characterize parts of the real or imagined American political system. The name refers to the Capital Beltway , a circumferential highway , completed in 1964, that encircles Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States.The phrase is commonly used to...
politics as editor of Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
starting in 1955 and then establishing The National Journal in 1969 after he was fired from CQ due to policy conflicts.
Early life and career
Schroth was born on December 21, 1920, in Trenton, New JerseyTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, together with an identical twin, Raymond. His father, Frank D. Schroth
Frank D. Schroth
Frank D. Schroth was an American newspaper publisher who owned and operated the Brooklyn Eagle from 1938 until its demise in 1955 after a strike by The Newspaper Guild.-Life and career:...
, was publisher of the Brooklyn Eagle
Brooklyn Eagle
The Brooklyn Daily Bulletin began publishing when the original Eagle folded in 1955. In 1996 it merged with a newly revived Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and now publishes a morning paper five days a week under the Brooklyn Daily Eagle name...
. He attended Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
and enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
immediately after his graduation and served for three years during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He had started his career as a reporter at Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine and United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
. He joined his father as a reporter at the Brooklyn Eagle, and was on its staff until its demise in 1955 in the wake of a strike by The Newspaper Guild, having served as the paper's managing editor in the last three years of its existence. Following the paper's final issue on January 29, negotiations in June coordinated by Schroth to sell the name and associated goodwill of the Eagle to the publishers of The Brooklyn Daily were unsuccessful.
He was elected in October 1955 as executive editor and vice president of Congressional Quarterly, a publication established in 1945 by Nelson Poynter
Nelson Poynter
Nelson Poynter was an American publisher. He was born in Sullivan, Indiana in 1903. His family moved to Florida nine years later when his father bought the St. Petersburg Times. Nelson returned to Indiana to get his B.A...
, publisher of the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
. Schroth built the publication's impartial coverage of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, with annual revenue growing during his tenure from $150,000 when he started to $1.8 million. In addition to adding a book division, Schroth added many staff members who achieved future journalistic success, including David S. Broder
David S. Broder
David Salzer Broder was an American journalist, writing for The Washington Post for over forty years. He also was an author, television news show pundit, and university lecturer....
and Elizabeth Drew
Elizabeth Drew
Elizabeth Drew is an American political journalist and author.- Biography :A graduate of Wellesley College, she was Washington correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker...
. He was fired from the Congressional Quarterly in 1969 after festering disagreements with Poynter over editorial policy at the publication and Schroth's efforts to advocate "more imaginative ways of doing things" reached a boil.
Shortly after his termination he established The National Journal, a publication covering high-level policymaking in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, with many of his employees at CQ coming over to join him at the Journal.
Schroth resigned on February 3, 1970, from his post as editor at The National Journal and as director of the Center for Political Research, and was succeeded by Cliff Sessions who had been the publication's managing editor.
He moved to Maine in 1972, where he became executive editor for five years of The Ellsworth American
The Ellsworth American
The Ellsworth American is a local newspaper from Ellsworth, Maine.Thomas N. Schroth, former editor of The Brooklyn Eagle and Congressional Quarterly and founder of the National Journal, served as editor of The Ellsworth American from 1972 until 1977, while it was owned by his father-in-law, James...
, a newspaper published by his father-in-law. He left to publish Maine Life, a magazine he started with his wife in 1977 and ran for six years.
Personal
His first marriage, in May 1948, to the former Colette Streit, ended in divorce. He married his second wife, the former Patricia Wiggins, in September 1958. She was a reporter for United Press International and the daughter of James Russell WigginsJames Russell Wiggins
James Russell Wiggins was managing editor of The Washington Post and United States Ambassador to the United Nations.-In Minnesota:...
, who was managing editor of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
at the time of his marriage and later served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
The United States Ambassador to the United Nations is the leader of the U.S. delegation, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The position is more formally known as the "Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador...
.
After moving to Maine, Schroth become active in the Maine Democratic Party
Maine Democratic Party
The Maine Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Maine.-Current Democratic officeholders:The Maine Democratic Party is the minority party in both the Maine Senate and Maine House of Representatives. The party, however, holds both of the state's U.S...
, including service on the Maine State Democratic Committee. He was elected as a selectman in Sedgwick, serving in office from 1989 until 1994.
Schroth died at age 88 on July 23, 2009, due to congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
suffered at his home in Sedgwick, Maine
Sedgwick, Maine
Sedgwick is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,102 at the 2000 census. The town includes the village of Sargentville....
. He was survived by his second wife and their three daughters, a daughter from his first marriage and five grandchildren.