Conway, Robert, 1899-1972.

Robert Conway was a New York based journalist and war correspondent. He took his first newspaper job with the "New York American" in 1924. Conway became a staff writer for the "New York Daily News" in 1927. Between 1932-1936, he covered the Charles Lindbergh Jr. murder case against Bruno Hauptmann. Between 1945-1950, Conway served as a foreign correspondent, reporting from 26 different countries in North America, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. He covered Poland's 1946 elections, Ingrid Bergman's retreat in Stromboli, Italian industrialist Gaetano Marzotto, the Greek Civil War (1946-1947), and the war in Palestine (1946-1948). He retired in 1964. Conway was married to Grace Robinson, a fellow reporter at the "New York Daily News".

From the description of Robert Conway papers, 1872-1980 (bulk 1919-1972) (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 65184250

Robert John Conway, nationally known journalist, was born in Rome, Italy on 12 July 1899. He was the youngest son of John S. Conway, a well-known American artist and sculptor, and Agatha Milone Conway, a native of Italy. Conway moved to the United States with his family in 1902 and grew up in Cresskill, New Jersey. He was privately educated and tutored by his father.

To help support his family during his father’s illness, Conway took a job as an editorial staff writer with William Randolph Hearst’s New York American in 1924. He was soon transferred to Hearst’s New York Evening Journal, but returned to the American in 1925. Conway gained his formative journalistic training with these two newspapers and was soon covering major news stories. He covered the infamous Hall-Mills Murder Trial in 1926 and the Snyder-Gray Murder Trial a year later.

Conway became a staff writer for the New York Daily News in 1927 and enjoyed an illustrious career with this newspaper. He once again covered the Snyder-Gray Murder Trial, aiding in preparations to photograph the 1928 execution of convicted murderess Ruth Snyder. In 1931, he reported on the activities of New York beer racketeer Jack “Legs” Diamond.

Between 1932-1936, Conway covered the Charles Lindbergh Jr. Murder Case, including the child murder-kidnapping and the trial and subsequent execution of convicted murderer Bruno Hauptmann. In 1935, he scored a sensational scoop by becoming the first newspaperman to accurately report the jury’s guilty verdict against Hauptmann. For this media coup, Conway was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Conway covered other notable stories during the 1930s as well. Between 1936-1939, he served intermittently as acting head of the New York Daily News ’s Washington Bureau and covered the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt. In 1939, Conway investigated the preparedness of U.S. military arsenals on the eve of World War II.

Conway received his first foreign correspondent assignment when he was sent to Mexico in 1940. On this assignment, he traveled with Vice-President Henry Wallace during his state visit to that country. He also reported on the activities of Axis agents in Mexico. Between 1941-1945, he worked the Daily News ’s War Desk, reporting on the political and economic developments of World War II.

Between 1945-1950, Conway served several stints as a foreign correspondent, reporting from 26 different countries in North America, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The beginning of the Cold War was a subject of interest to him. While covering Poland’s 1946 elections, he was arrested and briefly detained as a “capitalist spy” by Communist authorities. Particularly noteworthy is his work as a war correspondent. In 1946-1947, Conway covered the Greek Civil War. Between 1946-1948, he covered the civil war in Palestine between the Arabs and Jews. Conway received more peaceful assignments as well. On the Italian island of Stromboli, he interviewed Ingrid Bergman during her controversial romance with movie director Roberto Rossellini in 1949. In Great Britain, he reported on the 1950 Parliamentary Elections between Winston Churchill and Clement Atlee and covered the Klaus Fuchs Espionage Trial that same year.

Upon his return to the United States, Conway continued to be an active journalist. In 1951, he and his wife Grace Robinson investigated consumer goods shortages in the New York City area. In 1954, he covered the proxy fight for the New York Central Railroad, separately interviewing principals William White and Robert R. Young on television. Conway retired from the New York Daily News in 1964, but continued to write on a freelance basis.

Robert Conway married Grace Robinson, a fellow reporter at the New York Daily News, in 1937. In addition to his journalistic duties, Conway was an active member of the Newspaper Guild of New York, serving a term as president (1941-1943). He was also a member of the Overseas Press Club of America, serving two terms on the Board of Governors (1957-1959, 1961-1963). He was also involved in the civic and environmental affairs of Weston, Connecticut, his adopted hometown.

Robert Conway passed away on May 17, 1972.

From the guide to the Robert Conway papers, circa 1872-1980, 1919-1972, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)