| Notes |
- Harry Benjamin Bassett died 14 Oct 1987 of heart failure at age 77.
The family Bible lists him as Benjamin Harry Bassett. He was a newsman in Topeka, Kansas; New Bedford, Kansas City, Washington DC, and New York City. He was an Associated Press Foreign News Editor for 25 years. He lived in Larchmont, New York, from Sept. 1943 on.
1910 Federal Census of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas (13 Apr 1910)
William Bassett - 43 - M - IL-KY-KY - Head - Farmer
Sophie - 34 - F - IL-IL-IL - Wife
Ralph - 13 - M - KS-IL-IL - Son
George - 10 - M - KS-IL-IL - Son
Benjamin - 5 - M - KS-IL-IL - Son
(Living at 325 Brunner Street) (Married 15 years, 3 children, 3 living)
Marquis Whos' Who on the Web, 3 Aug 2006
Ben Bassett (Deceased)
Occupation: Journalist
Born: Topeka, October 30, 1909
Career: Reporter Topeka State Journal, 1925-27; copy editor New Bedford (Massachusetts) Standard-Times, 1928-30; wire editor Associated Press, Kansas City, Missouri, 1930-35; news editor New Bedford Standard-Times, 1935-36; successively assigned Associated Press,, Cleveland, Washington and New York City, 1936-48, foreign news editor New York City, 1947-73; consultant, 1973-74.
Memberships: Mem. National Press (Washington)
Family: son of William T. and Sophia (Hoffman) B.; married Eileen Ewing; children: Elizabeth E., Jonathan, W. Brian.
Address: Home: Larchmont, New York
Death: Died October 14, 1987.
The New York Times, New York, 17 Oct 1987
Ben Bassett, Ex-Editor of A.P. Foreign News
Ben Bassett, foreign news editor of The Associated Press for a quarter century, died of heart failure complicated by pneumonia Wednesday at New Rochelle (N.Y.) Hospital. He was 77 years old and lived in Larchmont, N.Y.
"He was an inspiration to a whole generation of correspondents who looked to him for guidance, support and, when the occasion called for it, solace and comfort," said Nate Polowetzky, who succeeded Mr. Bassett as foreign editor in 1973.
Known by staff members of the A.P. as a gruff and demanding chief, Mr. Bassett would drop the hard exterior as soon as he stepped out to lunch.
Mr. Bassett started with the wire service in its Kansas City, Mo., bureau in 1930. He became foreign news editor in 1948, supervising coverage of such events as the decolonization of Africa and the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
After retiring, Mr. Bassett contributed to Cleartime, a newsletter for former employees of The A.P. and was editor from 1980 to 1984. He was a member of Sigma Delta Chi, the National Society of Professional Journalists.
Born in a farming family in Topeka, Kan., Mr. Bassett began his career as a reporter at The Topeka State Journal while in high school. He then became a reporter at The New Bedford (Mass.) Standard, where he stayed three years before joining The A.P.
Surviving are his wife, Eileen Grace Ewing; a daughter, Elizabeth, and two sons, Jonathan, of Denver, and W. Brian, of Easton, Conn.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1909 - 1987 (77 years)