James Russell Wiggins | |
|---|---|
 Wiggins' photo as U.S. ambassador to the UN | |
| 8thUnited States Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office October 7, 1968 – January 20, 1969 | |
| President | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | George Ball |
| Succeeded by | Charles Yost |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1903-12-04)December 4, 1903 |
| Died | November 19, 2000(2000-11-19) (aged 96) |
| Political party | Democratic |
James Russell Wiggins (December 4, 1903 – November 19, 2000) was an American executive editor ofThe Washington Post andUnited States Ambassador to the United Nations.[1]
James Russell Wiggins was born on December 4, 1903, to James and Edith (Binford) Wiggins.[2]He graduated from Luverne High School in 1922,[3] where he worked on the school newspaper, theEcho.[2] His first professional job in journalism was as reporter for theRock County Star inLuverne, Minnesota immediately out of high school. He then served as its advertising manager, and then associate editor (1925).[4] In February 1926, at the age of 22, he borrowed $10,000 and bought the newspaper.[4]In 1930, he sold theStar and moved toSt. Paul to become an editorial writer for theSt Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch and later served as its Washington correspondent before becoming managing editor in 1938.[2]
DuringWorld War II, Wiggins served in Army Air Corps intelligence. While serving in the army, he metPhilip Graham who would later become publisher ofThe Washington Post.
Graham made Wiggins managing editor ofThe Post in 1947 and promoted him to executive editor in 1955.[1]
One of his first acts as editor was to end racial identification in news articles. In 1954, Wiggins received theElijah Parish Lovejoy Award as well as an honoraryDoctor of Laws degree fromColby College. He was president of theAmerican Society of Newspaper Editors in 1959–60. Wiggins took over thePost's editorial page in 1961.
He served as executive editor until PresidentLyndon B. Johnson appointed him U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in 1968. He was succeeded byBen Bradlee, who had served as his managing editor since 1965.[5]
PresidentLyndon B. Johnson appointed Wiggins U.S. ambassador to theUnited Nations in 1968 to 1969. In 1969, Wiggins received an LL.D. fromBates College.
After his tenure as ambassador, Wiggins moved to Brooklin, Maine where he became editor and publisher ofThe Ellsworth American ofEllsworth, Maine.[2] He received the Eugene Cervi Award from the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors in 1987.
Wiggins was married to his high school sweetheart, Mabel Preston, and their marriage lasted 67 years until her death in 1990.
Wiggins died on November 19, 2000, in his home in Brooklin, Maine at the age of 96.[2]
The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on May 26, 1922
The following appeared in the Rock County Star on February 19, 1926
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to the United Nations 1968–1969 | Succeeded by |
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Italics indicates acting | |||
