Edwin O. Guthman is a former editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer and former national editor of the Los Angeles Times. As a Seattle Times reporter, he won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting for his exposé on the Washington State Un-American Activities Committee that cleared a University of Washington professor of false charges.

Guthman served as press secretary to Attorney General and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, drawing on his experience to write or co-edit four books about Kennedy. His work for R.F.K. earned him the dubious distinction of being listed third on Richard Nixon’s “enemies list.” He was president of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission as well as a member of the independent panel that reviewed the U.S. Treasury Department’s investigation of the federal assault on the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, in 1993.

During World War II, Guthman served as an infantry regiment reconnaissance platoon leader in North Africa and Italy, and was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart during his service. A member of the USC Annenberg journalism school faculty since 1988, he teaches classes in newswriting and investigative reporting. He has four children—Les, Eddie, Gary and Diane—and five grandchildren.

On the occasion of Ed’s 82nd birthday in 2001, his family and friends established the Edwin O. and JoAnn Guthman Endowed Scholarship. To support this scholarship fund, please call the USC Annenberg Office of Development, (213) 821-1660.

Guthman Gallery

Messages from friends and colleagues for Ed Guthman