The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1936-08-10
BRILLIANT NEWS
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Knox college IN 0aiesburg where he
was graduated In 1911. Although he
held important executive positions
"A the United Press, resigning al
vice. pEegident only last January J.
because OF illness, Bender was best
known 90 q reporter.
Few Equals In Journalism
IN that role, he had few equals In
modern Journalism. HIS biggest as
VlRnment was covering" Woodrow
Wilson, flrst during the eager
promising period Of the Presidents
Yifat administration whom Bender
was White House correspondent OF
the United Press; then aS manager
Of the United Press Washington
bureau during the tuTnultuous war
days; and later as United Press stan
correspondent with President Will
son on oil OF his important travels,
Including his journey TO the Paris
neace conference and trips into
England and Italy.
Bender rose TO international
prominence during the Wilson era
b his scoops" on the presidents
activities. The biggest OF these was
his exclusive story that Wilson
would attend the peace conference
Mt the end Of the war. Later, after
Wilson had taken that unheard-of
akep, Bender radioed from the 8. g.
George Washington an accurate
forecast OF the Presidents entire
peace plan.
Given wilson MementO
During that trip 10 Europe, Ben.
der received from President Wilson
a memento which he could not toll
about until after the chief execu'
tive's death. The day before reach
Ing HaVre, Wilson sent 10 Bendert
cabin O story about his attitude ir
the approaching peace conference
president Wilson had written the
story himself, as he would write II
were he o newspaperman. u wal
the only time IN history that Q
president Of the United States had
Assumed the role OF newspaper re-
porter on the biggest story in the
Worid. =,
Other stories for which Bender II
remembered include his beat on the
appointment OF Newton d. Baker Oh
secretary OF war, forecast OF the
exact ballot on which Gen. Leonard
wood would DO eliminated and
Harding nominated In the republi-
Fan national convention In 1920, O
SCOOP" on the news that Herbert
Hoover would be O member OF the
Harding cabinet.
He Won Condolences
Renders reportorial method wal
winning condolences, respecting
them and going after news In q d.
rect manner. go 10 the source OF
the news and ask questions" That
was his advice 10 beginners. He wal
joviaI, unassuming and frank In his
contacts with the big names whose
activities he reported during hit
many years In the national capital
Many OF the friends he made aS q
washington reporter aided him N
later years when he was directing
the news report OF the United Press
from New York Bender's FIRST news
paper Job was on the Evening News
Ia Springfield, III. The paper had
been bought by his father and
Bender went 10 work there upor
graduation from Knox college. lr
1919 he took q position with the In
l0Fnational News Service. A few
months later-in l0l3-he joined
The United Press.
Career ct Capital
Before the end OF that year III
had begun his career In Washing
ton, He covered" the White HOUSE
from 1915 TO 1917 and was manager
and chief political writer OF thu
United Press bureau In Washington
from 1917 to 1920. In 1921 he wa
transferred TO New York as man
ager OF the night service OF thu
United Press and held that post un'
III 1924 when he became news man
ager. In 1927 he was appointed vice.
president and general news manager
and remained In that position unit
he retired last January.
TumuIty Praises Bender
epringlake, N. j., Aug. 10-(UP
Joseph p. Tumulty, secretary Il
the late President Woodrow Wilson
and close friend Of Robert j. Ben
der, issued this statement today:
During the Wilson days at thu
White House, he and were init
mate friends and associates. HI
easily won the admiration and low
Of many public men OF that dal
because he had that kind Of higf
integrity and sense Of newspaper
ethics which made 1t impossible
for him to resort to q petty thint
to obtain an end.
/. eft was not difficult therefore fol
Bob Bender to gain the confidence
and the warm affection Of Woodrow
wilson. Plain. simple, Frank. gen
erous In all things. his rise TO emin'
once In his profession was along TIN
high road or merit and honorable
achievement. His easy ways, hi
naturainess and his sense of humol
made the world In which he liveS
& brighter and better place.
when Bob Bender passed from
the great state Of life something
nne, clean and wholesome left Us.