John Franklin Carter
Encyclopedia
John Franklin Carter was an American
journalist, columnist, biographer and novelist. He notably wrote the syndicated column, "We the People", under his pen name Jay Franklin. He wrote over 30 books on a variety of subjects including his detective novels about the character Dennis Tyler. In his column, he was notably one of the few who predicted Truman's
victory in the 1948 presidential election
.
, Massachusetts
on April 27, 1897 as one of seven children of Rev. John Franklin Carter. He attended Yale University
, but left early to become a representative of the Williamstown Institute of Politics in Italy
. He went on to become the Rome
correspondent for the London Daily Chronicle
and the New York Times. In 1928, he began working for the State Department
as an economic specialist. He then became a correspondent for the magazines Liberty
and Vanity Fair
. His syndicated column, "We, The People," was written from 1936 to 1948 under his pen name Jay Franklin, chronicling the Roosevelt
and Truman
Administrations. He worked as a speech writer for Harry S. Truman
in 1948. Carter died in Washington, D.C.
, on November 28, 1967 at the age of 70. His books "The New Dealers" (1934) and "American Messiahs" (1935) remain valuable sources for historians of the New Deal era.
partial list of other novels
Political Narrative written by the "Unofficial Observer"
"The New Dealers" (1934) Simon and Schuster
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist, columnist, biographer and novelist. He notably wrote the syndicated column, "We the People", under his pen name Jay Franklin. He wrote over 30 books on a variety of subjects including his detective novels about the character Dennis Tyler. In his column, he was notably one of the few who predicted Truman's
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...
victory in the 1948 presidential election
United States presidential election, 1948
The United States presidential election of 1948 is considered by most historians as the greatest election upset in American history. Virtually every prediction indicated that incumbent President Harry S. Truman would be defeated by Republican Thomas E. Dewey. Truman won, overcoming a three-way...
.
Biography
Carter was born in Fall RiverFall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
on April 27, 1897 as one of seven children of Rev. John Franklin Carter. He attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, but left early to become a representative of the Williamstown Institute of Politics in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He went on to become the Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
correspondent for the London Daily Chronicle
Daily Chronicle
The Daily Chronicle was a British newspaper that was published from 1872 to 1930 when it merged with the Daily News to become the News Chronicle.-History:...
and the New York Times. In 1928, he began working for the State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
as an economic specialist. He then became a correspondent for the magazines Liberty
Liberty (1924-1950)
Liberty was a weekly, general-interest magazine, originally priced at five cents and subtitled, "A Weekly for Everybody." It was launched in 1924 by McCormick-Patterson, the publisher until 1931, when it was taken over by Bernarr Macfadden until 1942. At one time it was said to be "the second...
and Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
. His syndicated column, "We, The People," was written from 1936 to 1948 under his pen name Jay Franklin, chronicling the Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
and 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...
Administrations. He worked as a speech writer 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...
in 1948. Carter died 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....
, on November 28, 1967 at the age of 70. His books "The New Dealers" (1934) and "American Messiahs" (1935) remain valuable sources for historians of the New Deal era.
Works
Detective novels written as "Diplomat"- Murder in the Embassy (1930)
- Murder in the State Department (1930)
- Scandal in the Chancery (1931)
- The Corpse on the White House Lawn (1932)
- Death in the Senate (1933)
- Slow Death at Geneva (1934)
- The Brain Trust Murder (1935)
partial list of other novels
- The Rat RaceThe Rat Race (novel)The Rat Race is a science fiction novel by Jay Franklin. It was first published in book form in 1950 by Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc. in an edition of 1,500 copies of which 1,200 were hardcover...
(1947) - Champagne Charlie (1950)
Political Narrative written by the "Unofficial Observer"
"The New Dealers" (1934) Simon and Schuster
External links
- John Franklin Carter papers at the University of WyomingUniversity of WyomingThe University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
- American Heritage CenterAmerican Heritage CenterThe American Heritage Center is the University of Wyoming's repository of manuscripts, rare books, and the university archives. Its collections focus on Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain West and a select handful of national topics: environment and conservation, the mining and petroleum industries,...