HistoricSiteMarkers
Progressive & Modern Era

Dorothy Thompson

New York, New York, New York

Marker Inscription

Dorothy Thompson 1893-1961 The journalist, known as "the intrepid girl reporter" lived here from 1941 to 1957. Her book I Saw Hitler and column, "On the Record," were influential in calling for American intervention in World War II.

Erected by Historic Landmarks Preservation Center

The Story

From an apartment on this block, one of America's most fearless journalists warned the world about the rise of fascism. Dorothy Thompson, the "intrepid girl reporter," had interviewed Adolf Hitler and been expelled from Nazi Germany; her widely syndicated column "On the Record" pressed Americans to abandon isolation and confront the Axis threat. She lived here from 1941 to 1957, at the height of her influence.

Why it matters

Thompson showed the power of a free press to shape public opinion as a democracy faced world war, and helped open serious political journalism to women.

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