John F. Osborne was an American magazine editor and journalist.
Background
He was born in Corinth, Mississippi, and wrote for the Memphis Commercial Appeal and the Associated Press before joining the National Recovery Administration, and then the Tennessee Valley Authority, as a United States. government public relations officer during the Great Depression.
Education
Student Southwestern University, Memphis, 1925-1926, U. Colorado, 1926-1927.
Career
He became an editor at Time–Life, eventually becoming the London-based editor, and then the Far East editor, based in Hong Kong in the 1950s. After returning to the United States, he lived in Georgetown and in Sag Harbor, Long Island, New New York He later became senior editor at New Republic.
He wrote "The Nixon Watch" column, which was noted for its preoccupation with the relationship between Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, followed by "The White House Watch" column.
His work landed him on the first Nixon"s Enemies List, a limited master list of famous people that President Nixon considered his direct political opponents. In addition to his political books, he co-authored two Time-Life series books, one about Britain, the other about the Old South.
Known for his courtly manners, he had a slow drawl and a quiet demeanor, which belied his sharp political sense. While in Washington, District of Columbia, he was a very respected member-some said the most respected by the other members—of The White House Press Corps.
His widow, Gertrude (Trudi) McCullough Osborne, the daughter of an Indiana senator, was also a writer
She died in Washington, District of Columbia in 1994.