Dorothy Thompson

Date of Birth: July 9, 1893

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: January 30, 1961

Biography

Dorothy Thompson was a renowned American journalist and radio broadcaster, often regarded as one of the most influential women of her time. Born on July 9, 1893, in Lancaster, New York, Thompson carved out a remarkable career in an era when journalism was predominantly male-dominated. She is best known for her incisive commentary on European politics and her vehement opposition to Adolf Hitler, whom she interviewed in 1931. Thompson’s syndicated column, “On the Record,” and her radio broadcasts reached millions and made her one of the most significant voices in American media. Thompson began her journalism career in the early 1920s, working as a foreign correspondent in Europe. She became the first American journalist to be expelled from Nazi Germany in 1934, a testament to her critical reporting on the regime. Throughout her career, she worked for prominent publications like the New York Evening Post and the New York Herald Tribune. In addition to her journalism, Thompson was an accomplished author, penning several books and articles. She was married three times, most notably to Sinclair Lewis, the Nobel Prize-winning novelist. The couple had one son, Michael Lewis. Dorothy Thompson passed away on January 30, 1961, leaving behind a legacy of fearless journalism and unwavering commitment to truth and justice.

5 Interesting Facts about Dorothy Thompson

1. Dorothy Thompson was the first American journalist to be expelled from Nazi Germany in 1934 due to her critical reporting on Adolf Hitler.

2. She was one of the few female journalists of her time to have a widely syndicated column, “On the Record.”

3. Thompson was named by Time magazine as one of the two most influential women in America, the other being Eleanor Roosevelt.

4. She was an outspoken advocate for Jewish refugees during World War II and used her platform to campaign against anti-Semitism.

5. Dorothy Thompson was married to Sinclair Lewis, the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Dorothy Thompson

1. “It is not the fact of liberty but the way in which liberty is exercised that ultimately determines whether liberty itself survives.”

2. “Peace has to be created, in order to be maintained. It will never be achieved by passivity and quietism.”

3. “Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good.”

4. “The most destructive element in the human mind is fear. Fear creates aggressiveness.”

5. “When liberty is taken away by force, it can be restored by force. When it is relinquished voluntarily by default it can never be recovered.”