Seymour Hersh

Seymour Hersh
Born	8 April 1930
Birthplace	New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Investigative journalist
Known for	Exposing the My Lai Massacre (1969), Pentagon Papers (1971), and Iran-Contra affair (1980s)

Seymour Hersh is an investigative journalist whose work has reshaped public understanding of U.S. military actions and government secrecy. His 1969 article on the My Lai Massacre, in which U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, brought global attention to the horrors of the Vietnam War and led to the prosecution of Lieutenant William Calley. Hersh’s 1971 Pentagon Papers exposé, which revealed the U.S. government’s systemic deception about the Vietnam War, was a cornerstone of the anti-war movement and a landmark in First Amendment jurisprudence. His career, spanning over five decades, has earned him a reputation as among the most fearless and influential journalists of the 20th and 21st centuries. While his work has often placed him at odds with powerful institutions, Hersh has remained committed to uncovering truths that others have sought to obscure. His legacy is not only in the stories he has told but in the enduring impact of his journalism on democratic accountability and transparency.

Early Life

Seymour Hersh was born on 8 April 1930 in New York City, the son of Harry and Rose Hersh, both immigrants from Poland. His early life was marked by the economic hardships of the Great Depression, which shaped his perspective on social justice and institutional power. Hersh attended the University of Michigan, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1952. During his college years, he worked as a reporter for the *University of Michigan Daily*, an experience that honed his skills in investigative reporting and critical analysis. After graduation, Hersh joined the U.S. Army, serving as a journalist for *The Army Times* from 1953 to 1956. His time in the military exposed him to the complexities of war reporting, a theme that would later define his career. Hersh left the Army in 1956 and began working as a reporter for *The New York Times*, a position that would launch his reputation as a relentless and uncompromising journalist. His early assignments covered a range of topics, but it was his work on military affairs that would eventually lead to his most significant contributions to journalism.

Career

Early Journalism and the Vietnam War

Hersh’s career at *The New York Times* began in 1960, and by the early 1960s, he had become one of the paper’s most prominent reporters covering the Vietnam War. His reporting during this period was characterized by a deep skepticism of official narratives and a commitment to uncovering the human cost of the conflict. In 1967, Hersh published an article detailing the U.S. military’s use of Agent Orange, a herbicide that devastated the environment and caused long-term health problems for Vietnamese civilians and American soldiers. The piece, which was based on interviews with soldiers and Vietnamese villagers, drew widespread attention and contributed to growing public opposition to the war. However, it was his 1969 investigation into the My Lai Massacre that would cement his status as a leading investigative journalist.

The My Lai Massacre and the Pentagon Papers

In 1969, Hersh broke the story of the My Lai Massacre, in which U.S. soldiers from the 20th Infantry Regiment killed between 300 and 500 unarmed Vietnamese civilians, including women, children, and elderly men. The massacre, which occurred on 16 March 1968, was initially covered up by military officials, but Hersh’s article, published in *The New York Times* on 16 November 1969, brought the atrocity to light. The piece was based on interviews with soldiers who had witnessed the killings and with a U.S. Army officer who had investigated the incident. The article led to the prosecution of Lieutenant William Calley, who was later convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, though his sentence was later reduced. The My Lai Massacre became a defining moment in the Vietnam War, and Hersh’s reporting was instrumental in shifting public opinion against the war.

Hersh’s work on the Pentagon Papers followed in 1971. The Pentagon Papers were a classified study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Defense that detailed the history of U.S. decision-making in Vietnam from 1945 to 1968. When the study was leaked to the press, Hersh played a key role in its publication. His article, which appeared in *The New York Times* and *The Washington Post* on 1 May 1971, revealed that the U.S. government had systematically lied to the public about the war, including its escalation and the likelihood of success. The publication of the Pentagon Papers led to a landmark Supreme Court case, *New York Times Co. v. United States* (1971), which ruled in favor of the press and affirmed the importance of a free press in a democratic society. Hersh’s reporting on the Pentagon Papers was a defining moment in American journalism and a testament to the power of investigative reporting.

Later Investigations and the Iran-Contra Affair

In the 1980s, Hersh turned his attention to the Iran-Contra affair, a political scandal involving the U.S. government’s secret sale of weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages and the diversion of proceeds to fund the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. Hersh’s 1986 article, published in *The New York Times*, revealed that the Reagan administration had authorized the sale of arms to Iran despite a congressional ban on such transactions. The article also detailed the involvement of National Security Council aide Oliver North in the affair. Hersh’s reporting on the Iran-Contra affair was widely praised for its depth and accuracy, and it contributed to the resignation of several high-ranking officials, including Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger.

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident and the 9/11 Commission

In the 1990s, Hersh investigated the Gulf of Tonkin incident, a 1964 event in which U.S. naval vessels claimed to have been attacked by North Vietnamese forces, leading to the escalation of the Vietnam War. Hersh’s 1991 article, published in *The New York Times*, challenged the official narrative of the incident, suggesting that the U.S. government had exaggerated the attack to justify military action. The article sparked renewed debate about the role of the media in shaping public perception of war.

In the 2000s, Hersh turned his attention to the 9/11 Commission, which was established to investigate the causes of the September 11 attacks. Hersh’s 2004 article, published in *The New York Times*, questioned the commission’s findings, suggesting that the U.S. government had failed to adequately address the threat posed by Al-Qaeda. The article was controversial, as it challenged the official narrative of the attacks and raised questions about the intelligence community’s preparedness. Hersh’s reporting on the 9/11 Commission was widely discussed in the media and contributed to ongoing debates about national security and government transparency.

Later Career and Legacy

In the 2010s, Hersh continued to investigate issues of government secrecy and military accountability. His 2014 article, published in *The London Review of Books*, detailed the U.S. government’s use of drone strikes in Pakistan and the resulting civilian casualties. The article was widely praised for its depth and for shedding light on the human cost of U.S. military actions. Hersh’s work on drone strikes was part of a broader effort to hold the U.S. government accountable for its actions in the Middle East.

Hersh’s career has been marked by a commitment to uncovering the truth, even when it has placed him at odds with powerful institutions. His work has often been controversial, but it has also been widely respected for its integrity and impact. Hersh has remained a vocal critic of the media’s role in shaping public perception of war and government actions, and he has continued to advocate for investigative journalism as a tool for democratic accountability.

Personal Life

Seymour Hersh was married to Carol Hersh, a former teacher and writer, from 1958 until her death in 2018. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter. Hersh has described his wife as a source of strength and support over his career, and he has often credited her with helping him navigate the challenges of investigative journalism. Hersh has lived in various locations throughout his life, including New York City, where he began his career, and Vermont, where he has spent much of his later years. He has been known to be a private individual, rarely granting interviews or speaking publicly about his personal life. Hersh has remained committed to his work as a journalist, even as he has aged, and he has continued to write and publish articles on issues of government secrecy and military accountability.

Recognition

Seymour Hersh has received numerous awards and honors for his work as an investigative journalist. In 1970, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for his coverage of the Vietnam War, including his article on the My Lai Massacre. The Pulitzer Prize recognized his work as a landmark in investigative journalism and a testament to the power of the press to hold governments accountable. In 1971, Hersh was awarded the George Polk Award for his reporting on the Pentagon Papers, which was considered among the most significant journalistic achievements of the 20th century. The George Polk Award honored Hersh’s role in exposing government deception and affirming the importance of a free press in a democratic society.

In 1972, Hersh was awarded the National Book Award for his book *The Price of Peace*, which detailed the U.S. government’s role in the Vietnam War. The National Book Award recognized Hersh’s work as a powerful contribution to the literature of war and peace. In 1997, Hersh was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an honor that acknowledged his contributions to journalism and his role in shaping public understanding of U.S. military actions. In 2004, Hersh was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by *Time* magazine, a recognition that highlighted his impact on global affairs and his role as a leading voice in investigative journalism.

Hersh has also been recognized for his work on the Iran-Contra affair, which was considered among the most significant investigative reports of the 1980s. His reporting on the affair was praised for its depth and accuracy, and it contributed to the resignation of several high-ranking officials. Hersh’s work on the Iran-Contra affair was also recognized by the Overseas Press Club, which awarded him the 1987 Overseas Press Club Award for his reporting on the affair. The Overseas Press Club Award honored Hersh’s role in exposing government corruption and affirming the importance of investigative journalism in a democratic society.

In addition to these awards, Hersh has been recognized for his work on the Gulf of Tonkin incident and the 9/11 Commission. His reporting on the Gulf of Tonkin incident was widely praised for its depth and for challenging the official narrative of the incident. His work on the 9/11 Commission was also recognized for its impact on public understanding of the September 11 attacks and the role of the intelligence community in the events that led to the attacks. Hersh’s work on these issues has been considered a testament to the power of investigative journalism and the importance of holding governments accountable.

References

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