Robert L. Bartley
Encyclopedia
Robert Leroy Bartley was the editor
of the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal
for more than 30 years. He won a Pulitzer Prize
for opinion writing and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
from the Bush administration in 2003. Bartley was famed for providing a conservative interpretation of the news every day, especially regarding economic issues.
and grew up in Ames, Iowa
. Bartley received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Iowa State University
and a master's degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. His wife Edith had three daughters with him.
, called Bartley "the most influential editorial writer of my time."
In 1983, Bartley was named a vice president
of the Dow Jones & Company
, the company that owned the Journal.
Bartley was the author of "The Seven Fat Years: And How to Do It Again," published in 1992, a book on the economic policy of the Reagan
administration.
In December 2002, Bartley stepped down as editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page. In December 2003, a week before Bartley died of cancer, President
George W. Bush
announced that Bartley was being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor.
On the free market, he said "In general, 'the market' is smarter than the smartest of its individual participants."
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
for more than 30 years. He won a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for opinion writing and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
from the Bush administration in 2003. Bartley was famed for providing a conservative interpretation of the news every day, especially regarding economic issues.
Personal
Bartley was the son of a professor of veterinary medicine. He was born in Marshall, MinnesotaMarshall, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,735 people, 4,914 households, and 2,914 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,537.0 people per square mile . There were 5,182 housing units at an average density of 625.4 per square mile...
and grew up in Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
. Bartley received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
and a master's degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. His wife Edith had three daughters with him.
Professional
Bartley started at the Journal in 1962. After working as a staff reporter in the Chicago and Philadelphia bureaus, he became part of the editorial page staff in 1964. In 1972, he became editor of the editorial page, and in 1979 the editor of the Journal. In 1980, he won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. In 1982, John Tebbel, professor emeritus of journalism at New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, called Bartley "the most influential editorial writer of my time."
In 1983, Bartley was named a vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the Dow Jones & Company
Dow Jones & Company
Dow Jones & Company is an American publishing and financial information firm.The company was founded in 1882 by three reporters: Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser. Like The New York Times and the Washington Post, the company was in recent years publicly traded but privately...
, the company that owned the Journal.
Bartley was the author of "The Seven Fat Years: And How to Do It Again," published in 1992, a book on the economic policy of the Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
administration.
In December 2002, Bartley stepped down as editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page. In December 2003, a week before Bartley died of cancer, President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
announced that Bartley was being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor.
On the free market, he said "In general, 'the market' is smarter than the smartest of its individual participants."
External links
- Robert Bartley at Find-A-Grave