John T. McManus
Encyclopedia
John Thomas McManus was an American
journalist
active in progressive politics
in the 1950s and 1960s best known as co-founder of the National Guardian, a left
-leaning newspaper.
Born in New York City
, McManus worked from 1921 to 1937 for The New York Times
as a copy boy, police reporter, writer on bridge
, and movie reviewer, except for a few years when he left to obtain a B.A.
from Marietta College
in Ohio
. In 1937 he resigned from the Times to join the staff of Time
magazine as radio critic, a position that he in turn resigned to join the staff of PM
, a left-of-center New York City
daily.
In the postwar period, McManus was actively involved in electoral politics. In 1948, he served on the national committee of the Progressive Party
in support of the presidential candidacy of former vice-president Henry A. Wallace
. In 1950 and 1954, McManus ran for Governor of New York
on the American Labor Party
ticket. In 1958, he ran again for Governor of New York, this time on the Independent-Socialist
ticket.
In 1949, McManus co-founded the National Guardian, a progressive newspaper, with fellow former Times writer James Aronson
. The paper was critical of the Cold War
and McCarthyism
and supportive of the labor movement and racial equality
. He would co-edit the paper until his death.
In November 1955, McManus and Aronson were among 26 former and current New York Times employees subpoenaed by the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee. The subcommittee was investigating Communist
infiltration in the American media. The subpoenas were based upon the testimony of Winston Burdett
, a famous CBS
war correspondent. In 1956, McManus testified, citing Fifth Amendment
protections to avoid naming names or admit any knowledge of Communist activities.
McManus met his wife, journalist Jane Bedell McManus (ca. 1920-2005), while working at the National Guardian in the 1950s. After his death at age 56 of a heart attack in 1961, she moved in 1969 to Cuba
to live with her third husband William Lee Brent
, whom she met and married on the island, until her death.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
active in progressive politics
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
in the 1950s and 1960s best known as co-founder of the National Guardian, a left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
-leaning newspaper.
Born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, McManus worked from 1921 to 1937 for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
as a copy boy, police reporter, writer on bridge
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
, and movie reviewer, except for a few years when he left to obtain a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Marietta College
Marietta College
Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. In 1937 he resigned from the Times to join the staff of 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 as radio critic, a position that he in turn resigned to join the staff of PM
PM (newspaper)
PM was a leftist New York City daily newspaper published by Ralph Ingersoll from June 1940 to June 1948 and bankrolled by the eccentric Chicago millionaire Marshall Field III....
, a left-of-center New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
daily.
In the postwar period, McManus was actively involved in electoral politics. In 1948, he served on the national committee of the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (United States, 1948)
The United States Progressive Party of 1948 was a left-wing political party that ran former Vice President Henry A. Wallace of Iowa for president and U.S. Senator Glen H. Taylor of Idaho for vice president in 1948.-Foundation:...
in support of the presidential candidacy of former vice-president Henry A. Wallace
Henry A. Wallace
Henry Agard Wallace was the 33rd Vice President of the United States , the Secretary of Agriculture , and the Secretary of Commerce . In the 1948 presidential election, Wallace was the nominee of the Progressive Party.-Early life:Henry A...
. In 1950 and 1954, McManus ran for Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
on the American Labor Party
American Labor Party
The American Labor Party was a political party in the United States established in 1936 which was active almost exclusively in the state of New York. The organization was founded by labor leaders and former members of the Socialist Party who had established themselves as the Social Democratic...
ticket. In 1958, he ran again for Governor of New York, this time on the Independent-Socialist
Independent-Socialist
The Independent-Socialist ticket appeared on the ballot in the 1958 New York state election. Led by the candidacy of John T. McManus, one of the founders of the leftist National Guardian newspaper, for Governor of New York, the line hoped to retain the support of the former American Labor Party...
ticket.
In 1949, McManus co-founded the National Guardian, a progressive newspaper, with fellow former Times writer James Aronson
James Aronson
James Aronson was an American journalist. He founded the left-leaning National Guardian. He was a graduate of Harvard College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.- Work before the Guardian :...
. The paper was critical of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and McCarthyism
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
and supportive of the labor movement and racial equality
Racial equality
Racial equality means different things in different contexts. It mostly deals with an equal regard to all races.It can refer to a belief in biological equality of all human races....
. He would co-edit the paper until his death.
In November 1955, McManus and Aronson were among 26 former and current New York Times employees subpoenaed by the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee. The subcommittee was investigating Communist
Communist Party USA
The Communist Party USA is a Marxist political party in the United States, established in 1919. It has a long, complex history that is closely related to the histories of similar communist parties worldwide and the U.S. labor movement....
infiltration in the American media. The subpoenas were based upon the testimony of Winston Burdett
Winston Burdett
Winston Burdett was an American broadcast journalist and correspondent for the CBS Radio Network during World War II and later for CBS television news. He was born in Buffalo, New York. From 1937-1942 he was involved with the Communist Party...
, a famous CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
war correspondent. In 1956, McManus testified, citing Fifth Amendment
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law which traces back to the Magna Carta in 1215...
protections to avoid naming names or admit any knowledge of Communist activities.
McManus met his wife, journalist Jane Bedell McManus (ca. 1920-2005), while working at the National Guardian in the 1950s. After his death at age 56 of a heart attack in 1961, she moved in 1969 to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
to live with her third husband William Lee Brent
William Lee Brent
William Lee Brent was a Black Panther Party member who hijacked a passenger jet to Cuba in 1969 and spent 37 years in exile in Cuba. -Biography:...
, whom she met and married on the island, until her death.
Writings
- "M. Debalta, Reporter, Sees Ghosts," The New York Times, Aug. 15, 1937