Margaret Carson

July 11, 1911 (age 96)

She was a publicist for many important artists during her lengthy career, most notably working closely for several decades with Leonard Bernstein. She also notably served as the Metropolitan Opera"s press director during the tenure of Edward Johnson and into the early portion of Rudolf Bing"s career at the Metropolitan The New York Times stated that, Carson was "widely regarded as the leading lady of classical music publicists in New York, who guided a generation of singers through the Metropolitan Opera and shepherded the career of Leonard Bernstein." She earned a bachelor"s degree from the University of Toledo and a master"s degree from Ohio State University. (She used her first husband"s name to the end of her life, suppressing evidence of her maiden name) In 1944 she became the press director of the Metropolitan Opera, serving in that capacity over the next decade. She also handled press relations for novelist Theodore Dreiser, poet Ezra Pound, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters during the 1940s. While working in New York during World World War II, Carson married press agent Carl North. Ruff, with whom she briefly shared a public relations office. Carson and Ruff were divorced in the 1950s and Carson"s third marriage, to journalist Robert Sherrod (1961–1972), also ended in divorce. Her son was a prominent American lawyer who became chief White House counsel for President Bill Clinton, representing the President during his Senate impeachment trial in 1999. After his death in 1990, she remained a consultant to his production company. She also enjoyed long professional associations with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and jazz musician Benny Goodman. Carson died in New York City in 2007.

Margaret Carson

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publicist

Background

Carson was born Margaret Klein in Salt Lake City, Utah, where her father, Morris Klein, was the owner of a local department store.

Education

Ohio State University. University of Toledo.

Career

She was a publicist for many important artists during her lengthy career, most notably working closely for several decades with Leonard Bernstein. She also notably served as the Metropolitan Opera"s press director during the tenure of Edward Johnson and into the early portion of Rudolf Bing"s career at the Metropolitan The New York Times stated that, Carson was "widely regarded as the leading lady of classical music publicists in New York, who guided a generation of singers through the Metropolitan Opera and shepherded the career of Leonard Bernstein."

She earned a bachelor"s degree from the University of Toledo and a master"s degree from Ohio State University.

(She used her first husband"s name to the end of her life, suppressing evidence of her maiden name) In 1944 she became the press director of the Metropolitan Opera, serving in that capacity over the next decade.

She also handled press relations for novelist Theodore Dreiser, poet Ezra Pound, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters during the 1940s. While working in New York during World World War II, Carson married press agent Carl North. Ruff, with whom she briefly shared a public relations office.

Carson and Ruff were divorced in the 1950s and Carson"s third marriage, to journalist Robert Sherrod (1961–1972), also ended in divorce. Her son was a prominent American lawyer who became chief White House counsel for President Bill Clinton, representing the President during his Senate impeachment trial in 1999.

After his death in 1990, she remained a consultant to his production company.

She also enjoyed long professional associations with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and jazz musician Benny Goodman. Carson died in New York City in 2007.

Connections

friendship:: Edgar Vincent
colleague:: Leonard Bernstein

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Margaret Carson

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