James Russell Wiggins (December 4, 1903 – November 19, 2000) was an American managing editor of ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

'' and United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

In Minnesota

Wiggins' first job in journalism was as reporter for the '' Rock County Star'' in Luverne, Minnesota immediately out of high school. In 1925, at the age of 22, he borrowed $10,000 and bought the newspaper. In 1930, he moved to

St. Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...

to become an editorial writer for the '' St. Paul Pioneer Press'' and later served as Washington correspondent before becoming managing editor in 1938.

''Washington Post'' years

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, Wiggins served in Army Air Corps intelligence. While serving in the army, he met

Philip Graham Philip Leslie Graham (July 18, 1915 – August 3, 1963) was an American newspaperman. He served as publisher and later co-owner of ''The Washington Post'' and its parent company, The Washington Post Company. During his years with the Post Comp ...

who would later become publisher of ''The Washington Post''. Graham made Wiggins managing editor of ''The Post'' in 1947 and promoted him to executive editor in 1955. During 1960 to 1968, he worked as editor and executive vice president. One of his first acts as editor was to end racial identification in news articles. In 1954 Wiggins Received the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award as well as an honorary

Doctor of Laws A Doctor of Law is a degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country and includes degrees such as the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D. or S.J.D), Juris Doctor (J.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Legum Doctor ...

degree from

Colby College Colby College is a private liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine. It was founded in 1813 as the Maine Literary and Theological Institution, then renamed Waterville College after the city where it resides. The donations of Christian philant ...

. He was president of the

American Society of Newspaper Editors The American Society of News Editors (ASNE) was a membership organization for editors, producers or directors in charge of journalistic organizations or departments, deans or faculty at university journalism schools, and leaders and faculty of ...

in 1959-60. Wiggins took over the ''Posts editorial page in 1961.

U.N. ambassador

President Lyndon Johnson appointed Wiggins U.S. ambassador to the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...

in 1968 to 1969 during the Lyndon Johnson presidency. In 1969 Wiggins received an LL.D. from

Bates College Bates College () is a private liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine. Anchored by the Historic Quad, the campus of Bates totals with a small urban campus which includes 33 Victorian Houses as some of the dormitories. It maintains of nature p ...

Later years

After his tenure as ambassador, Wiggins moved to Brooklin, Maine where he became editor and publisher of ''

The Ellsworth American ''The Ellsworth American'' is a local weekly newspaper covering Hancock County, Maine. Overview ''The Ellsworth American'' is a locally owned and managed weekly newspaper serving Hancock County, Maine. Publication began Oct. 17, 1851,"In the Begi ...

'' of

Ellsworth, Maine Ellsworth is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Maine, United States. The 2020 Census determined it had a population of 8,399. Named after United States Founding Father Oliver Ellsworth, it contains historic buildings a ...

. He received the Eugene Cervi Award from the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors in 1987. Wiggins was married to his high school sweetheart, Mabel Preston, and their marriage lasted 67 years until her death in 1990.

References

* Estabrook, Robert H
"James Wiggins, journalistic legend"
''The Masthead''. Spring 2001

External links

James Russell Wiggins Papers
at the Raymond H. Fogler Library, University of Maine * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wiggins, James Russell 1903 births 2000 deaths American newspaper editors American newspaper reporters and correspondents Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award recipients Lyndon B. Johnson administration cabinet members People from Brooklin, Maine People from Luverne, Minnesota Permanent Representatives of the United States to the United Nations The Washington Post people