RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Ben Bradlee has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 93; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Ben Bradlee was the legendary Editor of the Washington Post who oversaw the investigation by reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of the Watergate break-in 1972 that ultimately forced President Richard M. Nixon to resign; and
WHEREAS, Ben Bradlee served as the Executive Editor of the Washington Post from 1968 to 1991 and under his leadership the newspaper won 18 Pulitzer prizes, including the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for the Watergate reportage; and
WHEREAS, During his long and highly successful career, Ben Bradlee transformed the Washington Post from a newspaper focused on local news into a much broader, livelier publication that directly competed with the New York Times; and
WHEREAS, Born into a prominent Boston family, Ben Bradlee contracted polio when he was fourteen years old and was left too weak to participate in sports at school after recovering; and
WHEREAS, Ben Bradlee pursued other interests, such as debating and editing, and worked as a copy boy at a local newspaper; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Harvard College, Ben Bradlee served his country as a communications officer in the United States Navy in the Pacific arena during World War II; and
WHEREAS, In 1948 Ben Bradlee joined the Washington Post as a reporter and worked his way up through the ranks to become Executive Editor; and
WHEREAS, President Barack Obama awarded Ben Bradlee the Medal of Freedom in 2013 and praised him as "one of the most respected newsmen of his generation"; and
WHEREAS, The sacrifice and dedication of Ben Bradlee serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared Ben Bradlee to his family members, friends and all who knew him, and enabled him to enrich their lives in ways they will never forget; and
WHEREAS, Ben Bradlee will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To his loving wife, Sally Quinn, his three sons, Ben, Jr., Dominic and Quinn, his daughter, Marina, his ten grandchildren and his great-grandchild, Ben Bradlee imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this fifth day of November, 2014, do hereby commemorate Ben Bradlee for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ben Bradlee.