Thomas Lunsford Stokes
Encyclopedia
Thomas Lunsford Stokes, Jr. (November 1,1898 – May 14, 1958) was a Pulitzer-prize
winning American journalist.
Thomas Stokes was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 1, 1898, to Thomas Stokes and Emma Layton, both descendants of colonial families. He graduated from the University of Georgia
in 1920 afters 3 years.
He began his journalism career working as a reporter for Georgia newspapers and then moved to Washington in 1921, where he took dictation from reporters at United Press
. He later worked as a copy editor and then as a reporter covering all aspects of Washington politics. He greeted the New Deal
with enthusiasm and his coverage of the early days of Franklin D. Roosevelt
's administration brought him to the attention of the Scripps-Howard
newspaper chain, which hired him as its Washington correspondent in 1933.
In 1937, the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
reprinted a series of his articles under the title Carpetbaggers of Industry to indict businesses that relocated to the South in search of lower-earning workers.
His coverage of FDR's administration grew more critical over time. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1939
for investigating how Kentucky politicians had corrupted the Works Progress Administration
(WPA) to advance their own careers. He concluded the Kentucky WPA was "a grand political racket in which the taxpayer is the victim." Stokes and WPA Administrator Harry Hopkins
traded charges for several days. Stokes explained why the WPA's investigation found fewer problems that he had:
The Kentucky politician implicated was Senator Alben Barkley
. The affair led indirectly to the passage of the Hatch Act
.
He authored an autobiography, Chip Off My Shoulder, in 1940. A reviewer described him: "He is irreverent but not flip, ironic but not bitter, a hater of pretense and arrogance but not of people.
Some of his 1941 reporting on the awarding of construction contracts provoked a contentious debate in the U.S. Senate in which Senator Claude Pepper
accused Stokes of "perfidious falsehood."
Stokes became a columnist for United Features Syndicate
in December 1944. More than 100 newspapers ran his column.
In 1947 he won the Raymond Clapper Award
for general excellence in Washington reporting and crusading. He was honored again by the Raymond Clapper Memorial Association just before his death.
His second book, The Savannah, a study of the river's role in the South, appeared in 1951.
He died of a brain tumor in Washington, D.C., on May 14, 1958. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
. His wife Hannah survived him.
The Thomas L. Stokes Award is given annually for reporting on the development, use and conservation of energy and other natural resources.
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...
winning American journalist.
Thomas Stokes was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 1, 1898, to Thomas Stokes and Emma Layton, both descendants of colonial families. He graduated from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in 1920 afters 3 years.
He began his journalism career working as a reporter for Georgia newspapers and then moved to Washington in 1921, where he took dictation from reporters at United Press
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
. He later worked as a copy editor and then as a reporter covering all aspects of Washington politics. He greeted the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
with enthusiasm and his coverage of the early days of Franklin D. 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...
's administration brought him to the attention of the Scripps-Howard
E. W. Scripps Company
The E. W. Scripps Company is an American media conglomerate founded by Edward W. Scripps on November 2, 1878. The company is headquartered inside the Scripps Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its corporate motto is "Give light and the people will find their own way."On October 16, 2007, the company...
newspaper chain, which hired him as its Washington correspondent in 1933.
In 1937, the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
The Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America was a United States labor union known for its support for "social unionism" and progressive political causes. Led by Sidney Hillman for its first thirty years, it helped found the Congress of Industrial Organizations...
reprinted a series of his articles under the title Carpetbaggers of Industry to indict businesses that relocated to the South in search of lower-earning workers.
His coverage of FDR's administration grew more critical over time. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1939
1939 Pulitzer Prize
-Journalism awards:* Public Service:** Miami Daily News for its campaign for the recall of the Miami City Commission.* Reporting:** Thomas Lunsford Stokes of Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance for his series of articles on alleged intimidation of workers for the Works Progress Administration in...
for investigating how Kentucky politicians had corrupted the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
(WPA) to advance their own careers. He concluded the Kentucky WPA was "a grand political racket in which the taxpayer is the victim." Stokes and WPA Administrator Harry Hopkins
Harry Hopkins
Harry Lloyd Hopkins was one of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's closest advisers. He was one of the architects of the New Deal, especially the relief programs of the Works Progress Administration , which he directed and built into the largest employer in the country...
traded charges for several days. Stokes explained why the WPA's investigation found fewer problems that he had:
The motives were different. I was sent to Kentucky as a reporter. I had no other instructions than to write the facts as I found them. I had no axe to grind. I lay no claims to infallibility. I yield myself to the usual margin of error. I made a careful investigation, in good faith, and I stand on my conclusions....Mr. Hopkins...sent WPA investigators to the State to investigate the WPA. WPA officials and workers, when confronted by WPA investigators, naturally see over the shoulders of the latter none other than Mr. Hopkins in Washington, the man who controls their jobs. It is only human for them to say "It isn't so." To this may be attributed, at least in part, the conflict in versions of what happened in individual cases. But to my mind-and I think to any fair-minded person, there can be no question about the broad, general picture. The whole atmosphere and tone of the WPA in Kentucky is political and has been at least since early March.
The Kentucky politician implicated was Senator Alben Barkley
Alben W. Barkley
Alben William Barkley was an American politician in the Democratic Party who served as the 35th Vice President of the United States , under President Harry S. Truman....
. The affair led indirectly to the passage of the Hatch Act
Hatch Act
Hatch Act may refer to:*Hatch Act of 1887, United States federal legislation that created agricultural experiment stations*Hatch Act of 1939, tightened in 1940, United States federal legislation aimed at corrupt political practices, prevented federal civil servants from campaigning...
.
He authored an autobiography, Chip Off My Shoulder, in 1940. A reviewer described him: "He is irreverent but not flip, ironic but not bitter, a hater of pretense and arrogance but not of people.
Some of his 1941 reporting on the awarding of construction contracts provoked a contentious debate in the U.S. Senate in which Senator Claude Pepper
Claude Pepper
Claude Denson Pepper was an American politician of the Democratic Party, and a spokesman for left-liberalism and the elderly. In foreign policy he shifted from pro-Soviet in the 1940s to anti-Communist in the 1950s...
accused Stokes of "perfidious falsehood."
Stokes became a columnist for United Features Syndicate
United Media
United Media is a large editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States, owned by The E.W. Scripps Company. It syndicates 150 comics and editorial columns worldwide. Its core business is the United Feature Syndicate and the Newspaper Enterprise Association...
in December 1944. More than 100 newspapers ran his column.
In 1947 he won the Raymond Clapper Award
National Journalism Awards
The National Journalism Awards are awards of US$10,000 to $25,000 in American journalism given by the Scripps Howard Foundation that recognize the best work in journalism in 17 categories, including: human interest writing; environmental and public service reporting; investigative reporting;...
for general excellence in Washington reporting and crusading. He was honored again by the Raymond Clapper Memorial Association just before his death.
His second book, The Savannah, a study of the river's role in the South, appeared in 1951.
He died of a brain tumor in Washington, D.C., on May 14, 1958. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
. His wife Hannah survived him.
The Thomas L. Stokes Award is given annually for reporting on the development, use and conservation of energy and other natural resources.