Charles Griffith Ross

Charles Griffith Ross (November 9, 1885, Independence, Missouri – December 5, 1950, Washington, D.C.) was a White House Press Secretary between 1945 and 1950 for Harry S. Truman.

Ross graduated with Truman and Truman's eventual wife Bess Truman in Independence, Missouri from Independence High School (now known as William Chrisman High School) Class of 1901. In 1905 he graduated from the University of Missouri. In 1908 he became the first professor of the newly formed Missouri School of Journalism.

In 1918 he became the Chief Washington correspondent for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He won the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for his article entitled, "The Country's Plight, What Can Be Done About It?", a discussion of the economic situation of the United States.

In 1934 he became the editorial page editor for the Post-Dispatch and then in 1939 became a contributing editor for the paper until Truman asked him to become his Press Secretary in 1945.

Despite Ross' personal relationship with Truman, he was to be accused by reporters of not running a tight ship in coordinating press releases, not being aware of everything going on in the Presidency, not burnishing the President's image, not being aware of the needs for spot news, and being a poor public speaker. However, Ross' personal relationship with Truman had its advantages, as reporters knew Ross spoke for the president both on and off the record. Very few reporters felt Ross led them astray, either. [* [http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1999/summer/presidential-press-secretary-2.html National Archives biography] ]

Ross died at his desk in the White House in December 1950 after giving a press conference as he was preparing to make some comments to the television news.

Family

His widow Florence Griffin (who he married in 1918) married "The Kansas City Star" editor Roy A. Roberts in 1953.

His grandson, John Ross is the author of the novel "Unintended Consequences".

References

External links

* [http://www.trumanlibrary.org/hstpaper/ross.htm Truman Library biography]