Stewart Alsop

Stewart Alsop – Life, Career, and Influence

Learn about Stewart Alsop (1914–1974), American political columnist, journalist, and commentator — his life, his writing (with his brother Joseph), wartime service, major works, and legacy in political journalism.

Introduction

Stewart Johonnot Oliver Alsop was a prominent American newspaper columnist and political analyst whose insightful commentaries shaped mid-20th century political discourse. Born May 17, 1914, and passing May 26, 1974, his writing with his brother Joseph Alsop in “Matter of Fact”, as well as his solo columns in Saturday Evening Post and Newsweek, left a lasting mark in Washington journalism. His blend of insider access, analytical eye, and narrative flair helped define political commentary in his era.

Early Life and Background

Stewart Alsop was born on May 17, 1914, in Avon, Connecticut, into a well-established New England family.

• His father was Joseph Wright Alsop IV, a Connecticut politician and businessman.

• His mother, Corinne Douglas Robinson, linked the family to Roosevelt heritage (making Stewart and Joseph Alsop grandnephews of President Theodore Roosevelt).

• Stewart’s elder brother was Joseph Alsop, who would become a more widely known Washington columnist.

Stewart was educated at Groton School, a prestigious preparatory institution, then attended Yale University, graduating in 1936.

After Yale, he worked as an editor at Doubleday publishing.

Wartime Service & Intelligence Work

When World War II escalated, Stewart Alsop sought to serve.

• Due to high blood pressure, he was initially unable to join the U.S. Army.

• Undeterred, he joined the British Army in 1942, serving as an infantry officer on the Italian front.

• Later, he was permitted to transfer to the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the forerunner to the CIA.

• In OSS operations, he parachuted into occupied France shortly after D-Day to assist the French Resistance (Maquis).

• For his wartime work, Stewart Alsop received the Croix de Guerre with Palm (a high French military decoration).

These experiences deeply shaped his worldview, giving him firsthand encounter with espionage, diplomacy, and conflict — which would inform his later political writing.

Career as a Columnist & Political Analyst

Partnership with Joseph Alsop — Matter of Fact

After WWII, in 1945, Stewart joined his brother Joseph in writing the political column “Matter of Fact” for the New York Herald Tribune.

• Their column appeared every other day, they alternated or co-wrote it, and it was syndicated widely.

• This partnership lasted until about 1958.

• Matter of Fact combined insider Washington insight, reportage, opinion, and an eye for narrative — making it influential among political elites.

Solo Columns & Later Work

After their joint period:

• In 1958, Stewart Alsop began writing columns for the Saturday Evening Post, where he continued until 1968.

• In 1968, he joined Newsweek as a weekly columnist, where he remained until his death in 1974.

His style combined political commentary, analysis of power dynamics in Washington, and often a behind-the-scenes sensibility informed by his wartime and intelligence experience.

Major Works & Books

Stewart Alsop also authored and co-authored several books and essays, often on politics, Washington, and espionage. Some of his significant works include:

• With Thomas Braden: Sub Rosa: The O.S.S. and American Espionage, a historical account of wartime intelligence operations.

• With Joseph Alsop: We Accuse! The Story of the Miscarriage of American Justice in the Case of J. Robert Oppenheimer (1954)

• The Reporter's Trade (1958, with Joseph Alsop)

• Nixon & Rockefeller: A Double Portrait (1960)

• The Center: People and Power in Political Washington (1968) — an extended exploration of Washington power dynamics.

• Stay of Execution: A Sort of Memoir (1973) — his reflections, personal essays, and recollections toward the end of his life.

These writings showcase his dual strengths as both reporter and analyst, weaving narrative, observation, and insider insight.

Personality, Viewpoints & Influence

Stewart Alsop was known for being well-connected in Washington, thoughtful, ambitious, and sometimes controversial.

• He had a reputation for insider access and a network among political elites, which he leveraged in his columns.

• His political orientation was generally conservative, though he and his brother Joseph were considered New Deal liberals in some analyses, especially in their support for certain domestic policies.

• He was less flamboyant than his brother but brought intellectual seriousness to his commentary.

• His combination of wartime experience and journalistic skill gave him a perspective on power, foreign policy, espionage, and Washington as a system.

His influence lives on in how political journalism situates itself between insider access and public accountability.

Later Years & Death

In the early 1970s, Stewart Alsop’s health declined. He published Stay of Execution in 1973, a memoir compiling essays and personal reflections.

He passed away on May 26, 1974, in Bethesda, Maryland, at the age of 60. He was buried at Indian Hill Cemetery, Middletown, Connecticut, alongside many members of the Alsop family.

Legacy

Stewart Alsop’s contributions lie in:

1. Shaping postwar political commentary — his columns with Joseph Alsop helped define how Washington insiders informed public opinion in mid-20th century America.

2. Bridging journalism and intelligence — his wartime work lent credibility and depth to his later commentary on foreign policy and espionage.

3. Providing literary political narrative — his books remain references for historians and students of journalism and Washington history.

4. Influencing later political columnists — his combination of access, style, and analysis set a model for the “insider commentator.”

Books such as Taking on the World: Joseph and Stewart Alsop, Guardians of the American Century (by Robert Merry) reflect ongoing scholarly interest in their role in American political culture.