Neil Sheehan

Date of Birth: October 27, 1936

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: January 7, 2021

Biography

Cornelius Mahoney “Neil” Sheehan was an American journalist and author, renowned for his coverage of the Vietnam War and his role in the release of the Pentagon Papers. Born on October 27, 1936, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Sheehan grew up in a working-class Irish Catholic family. He graduated from Harvard University in 1958, where he studied history. After college, he served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1962, which included a stint as a military reporter. Sheehan’s journalistic career took off when he joined United Press International (UPI) and was stationed in Saigon in 1962, covering the early stages of the Vietnam War. His work provided significant insights into the complexities of the conflict, often highlighting the discrepancies between official statements and the realities on the ground. In 1966, Sheehan joined The New York Times, where he continued his Vietnam coverage. In 1971, he obtained the Pentagon Papers, a classified Department of Defense study detailing the U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967. The publication of these documents by The New York Times became a landmark moment in American journalism, showcasing the power of the press in holding the government accountable. Sheehan’s most acclaimed work, “A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam,” was published in 1988. The book, which took over 16 years to complete, earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Non-Fiction and the National Book Award. Neil Sheehan passed away on January 7, 2021, leaving behind a legacy of fearless reporting and a profound impact on American journalism.

5 Interesting Facts about Neil Sheehan

1. Neil Sheehan served as a reporter in Vietnam during the early 1960s for UPI, becoming one of the first American journalists to cover the conflict extensively.

2. He was instrumental in the publication of the Pentagon Papers by The New York Times in 1971.

3. Sheehan’s book “A Bright Shining Lie” won both the Pulitzer Prize for Non-Fiction and the National Book Award.

4. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in history in 1958.

5. Before becoming a journalist, Sheehan served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1962.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Neil Sheehan

1. “The government had kept the American people in the dark about the war, and I felt it was my duty to bring the truth to light.”

2. “Journalism is the first rough draft of history.”

3. “The Vietnam War was a tragedy, and it was a tragedy that was compounded by the lies that were told by our government.”

4. “The truth is always worth pursuing, no matter the cost.”

5. “In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Neil Sheehan is not publicly documented, but his contributions to journalism and his published works have left an indelible mark on the field.

Children

Neil Sheehan had two children with his wife, Susan Sheehan, who is also a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Their daughters are Catherine Sheehan and Maria Sheehan.