R. Peter Straus | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 15, 1923 Manhattan,New York City, U.S. |
| Died | August 6, 2012 (aged 89) Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Lincoln School Riverdale Country School Loomis Chaffee School |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Occupation | Media proprietor |
| Spouse(s) | Ellen Louise Sulzberger Marcia Lewis |
| Children | 1 son 3 daughters (includingDiane Straus) |
| Parent(s) | Nathan Straus Jr. Helen Sachs |
| Relatives | Nathan Straus(paternal grandfather) Bernard Sachs (maternal grandfather) Isidor Straus(paternal great-uncle) Oscar Straus(paternal great-uncle) Monica Lewinsky(stepdaughter) |
Ronald Peter Straus (February 15, 1923 – August 6, 2012) was an American media proprietor. He was the president ofWMCA, a radio station inNew York City, and the chairman of Straus News, a publisher of newspapers in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He was the director ofVoice of America from 1977 to 1979.
Ronald Peter Straus was born on February 15, 1923, inManhattan, New York City.[1][2] His father,Nathan Straus Jr., was a state senator and the owner ofWMCA, a radio station in New York City.[1] His mother was Helen Sachs, daughter ofBernard Sachs, a neurologist for whomTay–Sachs disease is named.[3] His grandfather,Nathan Straus, was the owner ofMacy's.[2]
Straus graduated fromYale University in 1944,[4] and served in theUnited States Air Force in Germany duringWorld War II.[1]
Straus began his career by working in public relations forEdward Bernays.[2] He worked for theInternational Labor Office in Geneva, Switzerland, from 1950 to 1955, and was the head of its Washington office from 1955 to 1958.[2]
Straus was appointed president of WMCA, the radio station his family owned, in 1959.[1] According toThe New York Times, he "turned it into one of the nation's most innovative radio stations, broadcasting what are regarded as the first radio editorials and political endorsements and helping to popularize rock 'n' roll."[1]
Straus was a delegate from New York to the1960 and1964 Democratic National Conventions and "a longtime supporter of theDemocratic Party."[5] He was the director of African affairs at theUnited States Agency for International Development (USAID) from 1967 to 1969,[5] and the director ofVoice of America from 1977 to 1979.[1] He was the author of three books.[1]
"My daughter (Jeanne[6]) runs the print side and my son runs the radio side. I give advice"[5] — R. Peter Straus, 1998
When the Strauses sold WMCA in 1986, they purchased "several weekly newspapers in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania", and Straus became chairman of Straus News.[2] In 1986, Straus News acquired The Warwick Advertiser, The Photo News, The Advertiser and The Vernon News.[6] In 1988, Straus News acquired The Sparta Independent.[6] In 1999, Straus News started The Township Journal.[6] In 2001, Straus News started The Chronicle.[6] In 2003, Straus News started The West Milford Messenger.[6] In 2005, Straus News acquired The Pike County Courier.[6] In 2011, Straus News started dirt magazine.[6] By 2013, Straus News had acquired Our Town, The West Side Spirit, Chelsea Clinton News, and Our Town Downtown fromManhattan Media.[6]
Straus marriedEllen Louise Sulzberger, the niece ofArthur Hays Sulzberger and cousin ofArthur Ochs Sulzberger, publishers ofThe New York Times.[1][2] They had four children:Diane Straus Tucker; Katherine Straus Caple (married to Blair Charles Caple); Jeanne Straus Tofel (divorced fromRichard Tofel); and Eric Straus (married to Elisabeth Natalie Sand).[2][7][8][9] Ellen died in 1995.[10][11] In 1998, Straus married Marcia Lewis, the mother ofMonica Lewinsky.[1][2]
Straus died on August 6, 2012, in Manhattan, at 89.[1][2]
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