Background
Peck, Seymour was born on August 23, 1917 in New York City. Son of Louis and Henrietta (Kazurer) Peck.
Peck, Seymour was born on August 23, 1917 in New York City. Son of Louis and Henrietta (Kazurer) Peck.
Bachelor of Arts, City College of New York, 1948. Reporter, critic The Newspaper Prime Minister, New York City, 1942-1948. Film critic, arts editor The Daily Compass, New York City, 1949-1952.
Associate editor New York Times Book Review, New York City, 1952-1985.
He is well known for his testimony before the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee. Seymour Peck was hired by the New York Times in 1952. He held several positions including deskman for the New York Times Sunday Magazine.
Seymour Peck was forced to testify before the Senate when the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee subpoenaed him in November
1955. The subpoena followed up testimony from journalist Winston Burdett in July of that year. Once on the stand Peck admitted his own involvement with the Communist Party from 1935-1949.
When pressed by Senators Peck refused to answer questions about the affiliations of other people. He wouldn"t name names.
Peck a one-time staffer at the defunct Communist leaning New York Compass did not claim the protection of the 5th Amendment to the United States. Constitution when he refused to answer the questions, he simply refused to answer.
This, despite repeated warnings that he risked a contempt citation. In December 1956 Peck was indicted, along with Robert Shelton, William A. Price, and Alden Whitman, for contempt of Congress by a Washington grand jury. Though he was convicted, the conviction was eventually overturned.
Peck was killed in a car crash on January 1, 1985.
Walter Kerr said of Peck, "Seymour Peck’s editorial hand ranged far, wide and deep, touching lightly but expertly … He seemed less an editor of any sort than the very best sort of guardian angel," in a January 5, 1985 New York Times article.
Member nominating committee Antoinette Perry Awards.
Married Susan Lustig, June 6, 1958. Children: Patricia, Louis, Nora, Amelia.
