Martin, John Bartlow, 1915-1987

Martin, a diplomat, educator, speechwriter, journalist and author, was U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Active in the presidential campaigns of Humbert Humphrey and Robert Kennedy, he wrote speeches for presidents and other public figures.

From the description of John Bartlow Martin papers on Adlai E. Stevenson, 1966-1974. (Princeton University Library). WorldCat record id: 81215722

Author, journalist, political adviser, and U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

From the description of John Bartlow Martin papers, 1900-1986 (bulk 1939-1983). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70982027

From the description of Papers, 1900-1986 (bulk 1939-1983). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 28495271

Biographical Note

• 1915, Aug. 4: Born Hamilton, Ohio
• 1937: B.A., DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind. Married Barbara Bruce (divorced 1939)
• 1937 - 1938 : Reporter, Indianapolis Times
• 1938: Moved to Chicago, Ill.
• 1938 - 1987 : Free-lance writer of factual magazine articles
• 1940: Married Frances Rose Smethurst
• 1948: Published "The Blast in Centralia No. 5," Harper's magazine
• 1950: Sigma Delta Chi magazine award
• 1952: Staff member, Adlai E. Stevenson's presidential campaign
• 1953: Benjamin Franklin magazine award
• 1956: Staff member, Adlai E. Stevenson's presidential campaign Benjamin Franklin magazine award
• 1960: Staff member, John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign
• 1961: Head, fact-finding mission to the Dominican Republic
• 1962 - 1964 : Ambassador to the Dominican Republic
• 1964: Staff member, Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential campaign
• 1964 - 1965 : Senior fellow, Center for Advanced Studies, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.
• 1965: Special envoy to the Dominican Republic
• 1966 - 1967 : Visiting fellow in public affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.
• 1968: Staff member, Robert F. Kennedy's presidential primary campaign Staff member, Hubert H. Humphrey's presidential campaign Visiting professor, Graduate Center, City University of New York, N.Y.
• 1970 - 1980 : Professor of journalism, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.
• 1987, Jan. 3: Died, Highland Park, Ill.

From the guide to the John Bartlow Martin Papers, 1900-1986, (bulk 1939-1983), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

John Bartlow Martin was born in Hamilton, Ohio, on August 4, 1915. He took his B.A. in journalism (1937) from De Pauw University.

A free-lance writer Martin also served as a special envoy to the Dominican Republic in 1961 and 1965 and as a U.S. Ambassador to that country in 1962. He was a staff member for Adlai Stevenson (1952-1956), John F. Kennedy (1960), Lyndon B. Johnson (1964), and Hubert H. Humphrey (1968).

After teaching at Wesleyan, Princeton, and the City University of New York, Martin joined the faculty of Northwestern University in 1970 as a professor of editorial. He became emeritus professor of journalism in 1980.

A prolific writer Martin is best known for his two-volume biography of Adlai Stevenson, The Life of Adlai Stevenson, published in 1976-1977. Three of his books, It Seems Like Only Yesterday (1986), My Life in Crime (1952), and Overtaken by Events (1966) are autobiographical.

On August 17, 1940, Martin married Frances Rose Smethurst. The couple had three children. Martin died in Highland Park, Illinois, on January 4, 1987.

From the guide to the John Bartlow Martin (1915-1987) Papers, 1960-1987, 1971-1978, (Northwestern University Archives)