About John Seigenthaler
John Lawrence Seigenthaler ( SEE-gən-thaw-lər; July 27, 1927 – July 11, 2014) was an American journalist, writer, and political figure. He was known as a prominent defender of First Amendment rights. Seigenthaler joined the Nashville newspaper The Tennessean in 1949, resigning in 1960 to act as Robert F. Kennedy's administrative assistant. He rejoined The Tennessean as editor in 1962, publisher in 1973, and chairman in 1982 before retiring as chairman emeritus in 1991. Seigenthaler was also the founding editorial director of USA Today from 1982 to 1991. During this period, he served on the board of directors for the American Society of Newspaper Editors, and from 1988 to 1989, was its president. Seigenthaler won a National Headliner Award for the story. While working at The Tennessean, Seigenthaler took courses in sociology and literature at Peabody College before it became part of Vanderbilt University.
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