James R. Whelan
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James R. Whelan (July 27, 1933 – December 1, 2012) was a journalist and historian who served as the first editor in chief of ''
The Washington Times ''The Washington Times'' is an American conservative daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., that covers general interest topics with a particular emphasis on national politics. Its broadsheet daily edition is distributed throughout ...
'', holding the position from 1982 to 1984. He is also known as the author of several books, most of them on the recent political history of
Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, Amerik Latin, link=no * pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...
. He was born in
Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...
.


Early career

Whelan began a career in journalism in 1952, much of it spent in Latin America including
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
,
Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
, and
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
. He started as a local correspondent for United Press International (UPI). In 1964, while UPI manager for
Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
, he was named a
Nieman Fellow The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University awards multiple types of fellowships. Nieman Fellowships for journalists A Nieman Fellowship is an award given to journalists by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. ...
. He later served as managing editor of ''
The Miami News ''The Miami News'' was an evening newspaper in Miami, Florida. It was the media market competitor to the morning edition of the ''Miami Herald'' for most of the 20th century. The paper started publishing in May 1896 as a weekly called ''The Miami ...
''. He graduated from Florida International University in 1975 with a bachelor's degree. He served as vice president and editor of ''
The Sacramento Union ''The Sacramento Union'' was a daily newspaper founded in 1851 in Sacramento, California. It was the oldest daily newspaper west of the Mississippi River before it closed its doors after 143 years in January 1994, no longer able to compete with ' ...
''.


''The Washington Times''

In 1982 Whelan resigned from ''
The Sacramento Union ''The Sacramento Union'' was a daily newspaper founded in 1851 in Sacramento, California. It was the oldest daily newspaper west of the Mississippi River before it closed its doors after 143 years in January 1994, no longer able to compete with ' ...
'' to work at the newly created ''
Washington Times ''The Washington Times'' is an American conservative daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., that covers general interest topics with a particular emphasis on national politics. Its broadsheet daily edition is distributed throughout ...
'', serving as its first editor in chief and publisher. It was owned by the
News World Communications News World Communications Inc. is an American international news media corporation. Background It was founded in New York City, in 1976, by Unification movement founder and leader Sun Myung Moon. Its first two newspapers, ''The News World'' (l ...
, at which Whelan was later made an executive, which is affiliated with the
Unification Church The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the Unification Church, is a new religious movement, whose members are called Unificationists, or "Moonies". It was officially founded on 1 May 1954 under the name Holy Spi ...
, although Whelan himself is not a member of the church. Whelen had initially rejected the offer to work at the new publication, but a persistent recruiting effort from Colonel
Bo Hi Pak Bo Hi Pak (August 18, 1930 – January 12, 2019 in Korea. Korean: 박보희/朴普熙) was a prominent member of the Unification Church. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was a major leader in the church movement, leading projects such as newspapers ...
eventually changed his mind. In response to concerns over its church associations, Whelan promised the paper would be independent, citing a contract that promised autonomy. At a
National Press Club Organizations A press club is an organization for journalists and others professionally engaged in the production and dissemination of news. A press club whose membership is defined by the press of a given country may be known as a National Press ...
luncheon in 1983, he complained about the sloppiness and hypocrisy of complaints made about the relationship with the church, stating that he himself had met the church's leader
Sun Myung Moon Sun Myung Moon (; born Yong Myung Moon; 6 January 1920 – 3 September 2012) was a Korean religious leader, also known for his business ventures and support for conservative political causes. A messiah claimant, he was the founder of the Unif ...
only twice. In 1984 Whelan unexpectedly left the paper. At a news conference, Whelan claimed that "senior members of the Unification Church Movement—the so-called Moonies—have seized direct control" of ''The Washington Times'', and that this led to his sacking by Bo Hi Pak.
Smith Hempstone Smith Hempstone (February 1, 1929–November 19, 2006) was a journalist, author, and the United States ambassador to Kenya in 1989–93. He was a vocal proponent of democracy, advocating free elections for Kenya. Biography Hempstone atten ...
, Whelan's successor, denied this, saying that a group of executives and editors, none of whom were members of the church, felt Whelan's removal would be better for the paper's "continued integrity."


Later career

After leaving the ''Times'', Whelan worked for the Latin American News Service. He lived in
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
, serving as visiting professor at the
University of Chile The University of Chile ( es, Universidad de Chile) is a public research university in Santiago, Chile. It was founded on November 19, 1842, and inaugurated on September 17, 1843.
and writing on the nation's history. In 2008 he moved back to the United States and lived in Miami.


Death

He died of multiple organ failure at 79, at his home in
Miami, Florida Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
.


Bibliography

* ''Through the American Looking Glass: Central America's Crisis.'' Washington, D.C.
Council for Inter-American Security
1980. * ''Allende: Death of a Marxist Dream'' Westport, CT:
Arlington House Arlington House may refer to: *Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial *Arlington House (London) a hostel for the homeless in London, England, and one of the Rowton Houses *Arlington House, Margate, an eighteen-storey residential apartment bloc ...
, 1981. * ''Catastrophe in the Caribbean: The Failure of America's Human Rights Policy in Central America.'' Ottawa, IL: Jameson Books, 1984. * ''The Soviet Assault on America's Southern Flank.'' Washington D.C.:
Regnery Gateway Regnery Publishing is a politically conservative book publisher based in Washington, D.C. The company was founded by Henry Regnery in 1947, and is now a division of radio broadcaster Salem Media Group. It is led by President & Publisher Thomas Sp ...
, 1988. * ''Out of the Ashes: Life, Death and Transfiguration of Democracy in Chile, 1833-1988.'' Washington, D.C.:
Regnery Gateway Regnery Publishing is a politically conservative book publisher based in Washington, D.C. The company was founded by Henry Regnery in 1947, and is now a division of radio broadcaster Salem Media Group. It is led by President & Publisher Thomas Sp ...
, 1989. * ''Hunters in the Sky: Fighter Aces of WWII.'' Washington, D.C.:
Regnery Gateway Regnery Publishing is a politically conservative book publisher based in Washington, D.C. The company was founded by Henry Regnery in 1947, and is now a division of radio broadcaster Salem Media Group. It is led by President & Publisher Thomas Sp ...
, 1991.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Whelan, James R. American male journalists 1933 births 2012 deaths The Washington Times people Academic staff of the University of Chile