Larry LeSueur

Born Laurence Edward LeSueur, Larry LeSueur (June 10, 1909-February 5, 2003), was an American journalist, who, as one of the original Murrow's Boys, helped create the field of broadcast journalism and was well known for his war journalism.

College years

LeSueur studied at New York University (NYU) beginning in 1927. During his time there he became a welterweight boxer but hung up the gloves before he left college. In 1932 he received his BA in English.

Early career

Out of college LeSueur was hired by "Women's Wear Daily". About a year later, in 1933 he began working as a reporter for United Press, a wire syndicate. By 1939 he found himself in England, where he approached Edward R. Murrow about a job, which at first was unavailable. However, a position opened a few weeks later and he was hired by CBS.

LeSueur at CBS

LeSueur was hired by Edward R. Murrow, in London, as a freelancer in 1939, this began his career at Columbia Broadcasting Systems. LeSueur covered the war across the continent of Europe bringing reports over the radio from Russia and London.

Covering the war in Europe he teamed with Murrow to broadcast "London After Dark" with Murrow and Eric Sevareid to bring the world the night sounds of the London Blitz. Away from London, LeSueur covered D-Day, the liberation of Paris, and the Dachau and Mauthausen concentration camp liberations. He delivered the first broadcast from a liberated Paris. For this he was cited by the War Department for "outstanding and conspicuous service" and awarded the French Legion of Honor.

On June 6, 1944 LeSueur landed with American troops at Normandy on Utah Beach and became the first reporter to broadcast from the American beachhead. He was made an honorary member of the 4th Division of the 8th Infantry and awarded the Medal of Freedom.

During this time LeSueur also penned a book in 1943, "12 Months that Changed the World", about the critical Eastern Front battles he covered in 1941 and 1942 for CBS.

After the war ended LeSueur became CBS' White House correspondent and covered the Paris Peace Conference. Soon after he began covering the United Nations, coverage for which he was awarded a Peabody Award for in 1949. The Peabody was bestowed for his radio coverage of a UN session in Paris.

LeSueur left CBS in 1963 and spent the next 20 years at Voice of America.

LeSueur's last appearance on CBS Radio came in 1999 when he appeared with former Murrow's Boys colleagues Richard C. Hottelet, Howard K. Smith, Marvin Breckinridge Patterson and other former radio colleagues Robert Trout and Ed Bliss for a 20th century round up show.

LeSueur at Voice of America

LeSueur left CBS and joined Voice of America (VOA) in 1963. After leaving CBS and his legacy as the "forgotten" Murrow Boy behind, LeSueur fell out of the public eye. At the time LeSueur joined VOA, which was operated by the now defunct United States Information Agency, the USIA was headed by none other than friend and wartime colleague Edward R. Murrow. Murrow left the agency in 1964 citing illness, his old friend, however, stayed on for the long haul.

As a reporter at VOA he was the White House correspondent.

Death

Larry LeSueur died at age 93 on Feb. 5, 2003 at his home in Washington D.C. after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. His wife, Dorothy, told CBS News on his passing that he was listening to former Secretary of State Colin Powell address the UN on the evidence surrounding Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction stockpiles in the run up to the Iraq War. [ [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/06/national/main539638.shtml CBS obit] ]

External links

* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=981856 NPR obit article]

* [http://history.acusd.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/radio/5.html Aug. 1940 "London After Dark" radio broadcast featuring LeSueur, Murrow et. al.] .

* [http://history.acusd.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/radio/7.html Sep. 1940 "World Today" radio broadcast featuring LeSueur]

* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1004269,00.html Time.com obit]

References

* [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/06/national/main539638.shtml CBS obit ]

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1319350/ IMBD entry]
* [http://ehub.journalism.ku.edu/history/1940/1940.html Presentations on the Murrow's Boys] : Kentucky University

* [http://www.voanews.com/english/portal.cfm Voice of America]

* [http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/usia/ United States Information Agency] : 1999 Web archive

* [http://www.ibb.gov/ International Broadcasting Bureau]
*Bernstein, Mark, "World War II on the air: Edward R Murrow and the broadcasts that riveted a nation" (Illinois: Sourcebooks, Inc, 2003)

Notes