Adam Clymer

Adam Clymer – Life, Career, and Perspective

A detailed biography of Adam Clymer (1937–2018), the eminent American journalist, political correspondent, polling editor, and author. Explore his life, journalistic approach, key moments, and legacy.

Introduction

Adam Clymer was an American journalist whose steady, rigorous reporting and editing shaped political journalism across decades. Born on April 27, 1937, and passing on September 10, 2018, Clymer spent much of his career at The New York Times, covering presidential campaigns, Congress, public opinion, and the intersection of politics and polling. He was deeply respected for his precision, institutional knowledge, and commitment to truth.

In this article, we delve into his early life, professional trajectory, influence, memorable episodes, and the lessons he left for future generations of journalists.

Early Life and Family

Adam Clymer was born in New York City on April 27, 1937. He was the son of Eleanor Clymer (née Lowenton), a noted children’s book author, and Kinsey Clymer. He was raised in a Unitarian family.

In his youth, Clymer attended The Walden School in Manhattan. He demonstrated early interest in journalism: while still in school, he contributed to the student newspaper and collected sports scores for The New York Times.

After high school, he went on to Harvard College, graduating with an A.B. in 1958. He also did postgraduate work at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

His mother, Eleanor, was an established children’s author—so Clymer grew up in a household attuned to literature, discipline, and the life of the pen.

Youth, Education & Early Career

While at Harvard, Clymer’s journalistic instincts flourished. He served as president of The Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper, and pushed for editorial changes—such as gender-equitable practices in staffing. During that time, he interviewed national figures and covered electoral politics, gaining early exposure to political reporting.

After graduation and his time in Cape Town, he embarked on a journalistic career that took him through local and regional newspapers before entering Washington- and national-level politics coverage.

• He joined The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia, covering police and local news.

• Later, he worked at The Baltimore Sun.

• He also had a stint with the New York Daily News before his long tenure at The New York Times.

These early roles grounded him in beat reporting, local politics, and the mechanics of news gathering—skills that would serve him well at the national level.

Career and Achievements

Rise at The New York Times

Clymer joined The New York Times in 1977 and remained there until July 2003. Over that period, he held several influential roles: national political correspondent, polling editor, campaign editor, and chief Washington correspondent.

Some of his key assignments and functions:

• National Political Correspondent (1980 campaign) — He covered the 1980 presidential election in depth for the Times.

• Polling or (1983–1990) — In this role, he integrated polling and survey methodology into political reporting, working in tandem with CBS News.

• Political or for 1988 Campaign — He oversaw political coverage during George H. W. Bush’s presidential run.

• Chief Washington Correspondent (1999–2003) — In his later years at the Times, he covered Congress, the presidency, and national politics from Washington.

He reported on major political eras and events, including eight presidential elections, deliberations in Congress, policy debates, and the shifting landscape of polling and public opinion.

One of the more famous moments in his career came during the 2000 campaign: while covering a George W. Bush–Dick Cheney event in Naperville, Illinois, President Bush, not realizing his mic was live, remarked,

“There’s Adam Clymer, major-league asshole from the New York Times.”
Cheney responded: “Oh yeah, he is, big time.”
The comment was picked up and caused a stir.

Bush later tried to smooth over the incident, saying he regretted the public airing of the comment, though he did not retract it. Clymer, for his part, accepted the moment with professionalism—and in some quarters it was seen as a marker of the risks journalists face in political coverage.

Publications & Later Roles

Beyond reporting, Clymer was an accomplished author and commentator on politics:

• Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography (1999) — A major work profiling Senator Ted Kennedy.

• Drawing the Line at the Big Ditch: The Panama Canal Treaties and the Rise of the Right (2008) — Reflecting his interest in global policy and politics.

• Journalism, Security and the Public Interest: Best practices for reporting in unpredictable times (2003) — On the ethics and challenges of journalism in volatile contexts.

After retiring from full-time work, Clymer joined the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania as a visiting scholar, working as political director for the National Annenberg Election Survey.

He also taught journalism at George Washington University.

Awards and Recognition

Clymer’s contributions were acknowledged by his peers:

• Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress (1993)

• Carey McWilliams Award from the American Political Science Association (2003), honoring major contributions to political journalism.

• The Washington Monthly’s Monthly Journalism Award in 2003 for a Times article on government openness.

These awards reflect both his mastery of institutional reporting and his dedication to the craft of journalism at its intersection with politics.

Historical Milestones & Context

Adam Clymer’s career spanned eras of transformation in media, politics, and public opinion. He entered journalism when print media dominated, and witnessed the rise of polling, television-driven campaigns, and data-driven political coverage.

His role as a polling editor and commentator placed him at the nexus of how public opinion is measured and conveyed in journalism. In an age when polls became central to campaign narratives and media coverage, Clymer helped translate raw data into meaningful stories for readers.

Moreover, his career saw the growing pressures on journalism: faster cycles, partisan polarization, scrutiny of objectivity, and the challenges of maintaining credibility in a skeptical public. Clymer’s reputation for meticulousness, caution, and fairness made him a kind of institutional standard-bearer.

The famous “major-league asshole” remark by President Bush underscores the tensions journalists often face—how coverage can provoke pushback from those in power, and how even incidental moments can become symbolic of the adversarial dynamic between press and politics.

Finally, his shift toward the academy and election surveys in later years mirrors a broader trend in journalism: the blending of reporting, scholarship, and data science in political communication.

Personality, Style, and Strengths

Clymer was known as a stickler for accuracy, exacting with language and skeptical of loose generalizations. Colleagues often described him as gruff or brusque on first interactions—but generous, mentoring, and fair once trust was established.

He possessed a deep institutional memory—knowing Congress, campaigns, polling history, and precedent—which allowed him to bring context and continuity to stories. His style favored clarity, straightforward prose, and a reluctance toward hyperbole.

He was also dedicated to nurturing younger journalists, particularly women, and was considered supportive in guiding emerging talent.

Outside journalism, Clymer was an avid fisherman and loved the outdoors. He also faced health challenges in later life, including pancreatic cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and myasthenia gravis.

He remained active almost to the end—writing occasional pieces, contributing to scholarship, and preserving his voice in public discourse.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

While Clymer was not primarily known for pithy aphorisms, a few episodes and lines stand out:

• The “major-league asshole” remark by then–Governor Bush in 2000 remains the most publicized moment involving Clymer, and has entered journalistic lore.

• In his Times commentary, he once wrote about the challenges of covering political campaigns under pressure and criticized the overreliance on sound bites. (While I don’t have a direct quote here, this theme recurs in his essays and reflections.)

• In reflections and interviews, he often spoke about the tension between speed and accuracy, and how reporting must resist the temptation to oversimplify for headlines.

Though not a quotable figure in the same way as political or philosophical writers, his integrity, professionalism, and steadiness were his “quotes in practice.”

Lessons from Adam Clymer’s Life & Work

From Clymer’s career, several lessons emerge for journalists, scholars, and anyone interested in public discourse:

1. Ground reporting matters
   Clymer’s work was rooted in field reporting, institutional awareness, and dogged sourcing. Deep knowledge enables quality journalism.

2. Balance context, data, and narrative
   He was adept at integrating polling and survey data into storytelling without letting numbers overwhelm human meaning.

3. Standards and humility
   His care with language and commitment to correctness show how humility in reporting strengthens trust.

4. Courage under pressure
   The Bush episode illustrates the precarious role of journalists: being visible, scrutinized, and sometimes targeted—but persisting in the role.

5. Legacy through mentorship
   Clymer’s support for younger journalists, especially women, reflects how institutional continuity depends on passing the torch.

6. Adapt to changing media
   Moving into academic roles, survey direction, and reflective writing in later years shows the value of flexibility and evolving engagement.

Conclusion

Adam Clymer’s life was dedicated to a discipline many take for granted: political journalism at its rigorous best. He navigated transitions in media, presidential politics, and data-driven public opinion with a steady hand and a commitment to facts.

He may not be known for flamboyant proclamations, but his legacy is in the standards he upheld—accuracy, depth, respectful skepticism, and institutional memory. For future generations seeking to cover politics with integrity, Clymer’s career offers a blueprint: report faithfully, question power, and always respect the intelligence of readers.