NEWSPAPERS: Journalism is The First Draft of History

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 NEWSPAPERS: Journalism is The First Draft of History


Craig Whitlock, writing for the Washington Post published The Afghanistan Papers in 2021. He ends his book, on the colossal failure that was the American involvement in Afghanistan with a quote. “Emblazoned on the wall in The Washington Post’s newsroom is a quotation—“journalism is the first rough draft of history.”[1] The quote is from Philip Graham (via writer Alan Barth) who served as the newspapers publisher from 1946 to 1961.

The newspaper articles retrieved here indeed serve as rough drafts to the history of the Vietnam War. Three newspaper articles are presented dated between 2 February 1968 to 19 February 1968 during the Communist “Tet Offensive” being executed by North Vietnamese backed ‘Viet Cong’ insurgents across the Republic of Vietnam in the South.

The selected newspaper articles highlight the difficult and protracted fighting in the ancient city of Hue in Central Vietnam (what was then the North of South Vietnam).


BALTIMORE SUN

In “U.S. Pressing Hue Battle” from 19 February 1968 in the Baltimore Sun, reporting indicated that destruction of the city may be necessary in order to defeat the Communist insurgents. After a month of ‘restrictive’ combat, the President of the Republic of Vietnam (South) authorized the U.S. commanders to fully employ all firepower available to root out the Communist forces. Hue was a historic and architecturally beautiful city along the Perfume River and was noted for its academic and historical facilities.




NEW YORK TIMES

Reporter Charles Mohr, in the New York Times, reports “Enemy Toll Soars.” His report, published on 2 February 1968, contained the iconic photograph of the South Vietnamese National Police Chief, Brigadier General Nguyen Ngoc Loan, executing a captured Viet Cong member in the street.



WAHSINGTON POST

Lastly, Peter Braestrup, reporting for the Washington Post, wrote that “Weather and Thin Ranks Slow Marines’ Tough Fight in Hue.” This report, published on 2 February 1968, provided eyewitness and firsthand account of the fight in Hue as Braestrup accompanied the 5th Marines in their fight along the streets of Hue city.


RESOURCES

"U.S. Pressing Hue Battle: Risks City's Destruction To Root Out Reds." The Sun (1837-), February 19, 1968. 2, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.proquest.com%2fhistorical-newspapers%2fu-s-pressing-hue-battle%2fdocview%2f541414234%2fse-2%3faccountid%3d12085.

 

Charles Mohr, Special to The New York Times. "Street Clashes Go on In Vietnam, Foe Still Holds Parts of Cities: Enemy Toll Soars Offensive Is Running 'Out of Steam,' Says Westmoreland Street Clashes Continue In South Vietnam; Enemy Still Controls Parts Of Cities Letup Is Foreseen By Westmoreland But He Expects An Assault On Marines At Khe Sanh -Vietcong Toll Soars." New York Times (1923-), 2 February, 1968. 1, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.proquest.com%2fhistorical-newspapers%2fstreet-clashes-go-on-vietnam-foe-still-holds%2fdocview%2f118315920%2fse-2%3faccountid%3d12085.

 

Peter Braestrup Washington Post, Foreign Service. "Weather And Thin Ranks Slow Marines' Tough Fight In Hue: Weather And Thin Ranks Slow Marines In Hue Pattern Of Fighting A Vc Suspect." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), 12 February, 1968. 2, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.proquest.com%2fhistorical-newspapers%2fweather-thin-ranks-slow-marines-tough-fight-hue%2fd

[1] Craig Whitlock, The Afghanistan Papers, (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2021) 277.


MORE AT: Vietnam War: Hue City - Battle Studies, Country Studies, & Staff Rides - Research Guides at Library of the Marine Corps (libguides.com)

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