anchor
James E. Bassett, Lt.
USS Salt Lake City CA25
1941-
Bassett

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USS SLC...Enlisted Navy...Officer...James E. Bassett, Lt.

US FLAG James E. Bassett passed away on Sept. 24th, 1978 in Malibu, California

11/12/07
[Source:]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bassett

James E. Bassett Jr., American newspaper editor and author, son of James E. and Lucille R. Bassett, was born in 1912 in Glendale, California. He died in September 24, 1978 in Malibu, California.

Bassett retired October 1977 after serving 43 years on the staffs of The Los Angeles Times and its old sister publication, The Mirror. Raised in Mamaroneck, N.Y. from 1914. In 1934 he graduated cum laude from Bowdoin College in Maine, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. After college, he returned to Los Angeles, California and joined the Times as a reporter. He later served the paper as aviation writer, political analyst and director of the editorial pages until he was named associate editor in 1971. At The Mirror, he held the posts of political editor, feature editor and city editor.

He entered the United States Navy as lieutenant junior grade in February, 1941, and went on to become public relations officer for Fleet Admiral William F. (Bull) Halsey. He later retired from the service as a captain, and returned to work at The Times. He held the Bronze Star Medal with combat V.

Bassett took leaves from The Times to serve in Richard Nixon's vice presidential and presidential campaigns of 1952, 1956 and 1960. He was public relations director for the Republican National Committee in 1954.

Bassett drew on his World War II experiences for his novel Harm's Way, which became a bestseller after its publication in 1962 and was made into a motion picture starring John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Henry Fonda.

Other works include, "Commander Prince, USN" published in 1971, and "The Sky Suspended," published in 1968.

He was working on two books at the time of his death - one an autobiography and the other a volume on great sea admirals he had observed in the Pacific in World War II.


11-12-07
[Source:]http://library.bowdoin.edu/arch/mss/jebg.shtml

Agency History / Biographical Note:

James E. Bassett Jr. (1912-78) graduated from Bowdoin Phi Beta Kappa in 1934. After graduation, Bassett worked on the Los Angeles Times, serving as a reporter from 1934-37; aviation editor from 1937-41; science editor from 1947-48; political editor in 1961; director of the editorial pages from 1963-71; and associate editor from 1971-77. He retired in 1977. Bassett also worked for the Los Angeles Mirror serving as political editor in 1948; city editor in 1954; and assistant managing editor in 1957.

In 1941, Bassett entered the Navy as a lieutenant junior grade and became public relations officer for Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey and the Third Fleet. He served in that capacity until 1945. Bassett received the Bronze Star and retired from the Naval Reserve as a Captain.

Bassett served as press secretary for vice president Richard Nixon's campaign in 1952, as public relations director of the Republican National Committee in 1954, as campaign director for the Nixon vice presidential campaign in 1956, and as planning director of the Nixon presidential campaign in 1960. In 1962, Bassett published Harm's Way based on his wartime experience; the novel was made into a movie. Bassett also published The Sky Suspended in 1961 and Commander Prince, USN in 1971.

Bassett married Wilma Moreland in 1936 and the couple had one daughter.
Oct. 1941 Newspaper Clipping.... Uncle Sam's Bluejackets are Ready
I have not been in contact with any family members. All information listed was found on the Internet. If you have additional information on this veteran, please contact Sandy Eskew, SLC Historian. The picture was submitted by Richard Noar, son of SLC Veteran ball-red-02 Deceased Abraham Noar

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