Ron Nessen

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Ronald Harold Nessen (May 25, 1934 – March 12, 2025) was an American government official and journalist who served as the 15th White House Press Secretary for President Gerald Ford from 1974 to 1977. He replaced Jerald terHorst, who resigned in the wake of President Ford's pardon of former president Richard Nixon.

Early lifeEdit

Nessen was born in Rockville, Maryland, on May 25, 1934, the son of Ida Edith (Kaufman) and Frederick Edward Nessen, who owned a variety store.<ref name = McFadden>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/sites/default/files/pdf_documents/library/document/0204/1512034.pdf</ref> He grew up in the Shepherd Park area of Washington, D.C., and was educated at Calvin Coolidge High School before going on to graduate from American University.<ref name = McFadden/>

CareerEdit

File:Ron Nessen 1975 (cropped).jpg

Nessen in 1975

Nessen began his career as a journalist, starting at Maryland's Montgomery County Sentinel before moving onto United Press and NBC News.<ref name = McFadden/> Serving as a war correspondent for NBC News during the Vietnam War, he was seriously wounded by grenade fragments while on patrol outside Pleiku in the Central Highlands in July 1966. He was with cameraman Peter Boultwood when he was wounded.<ref>Steinman, Ron, Inside Television's First War: A Saigon Journal (University of Missouri Press, 2002), via books.google.com. Retrieved 2016-01-14.</ref><ref name=NBCUniv>"NBC's Ron Nessen wounded while on patrol with Charlie Company of 101st Airborne" Template:Webarchive, nbcuniversalarchives.com. Retrieved 2015-08-06.</ref> On the day of Ford's succession to the presidency, August 9, 1974, he provided commentary.Template:Cn That evening he was on the NBC Nightly News; in that piece, Nessen reported on the appointment of Jerald terHorst, the man whom he would succeed one month later, serving until the end of the Ford administration in January 1977.Template:Cn

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On April 17, 1976, Nessen was the first political figure to host Saturday Night Live. His episode is also known for having Gerald Ford open the show with the "Live from New York, it's Saturday night!" tagline.<ref>"Saturday Night Live Season 1 Episode 17: Ron Nessen ...", tv.com. Retrieved 2016-01-14.</ref><ref name=NBCUniv/> On a previous episode, Nessen was portrayed by Buck Henry.Template:Cn

Nessen also served as host of WTTG's long-running news program "Panorama" and later headed the news department at the Mutual Broadcasting System, adding oversight of NBC Radio News under its corporate successor Westwood One.Template:Cn

Nessen was a member of the Peabody Awards Board of Jurors from 1996 to 2003, and served as Chair in 2003.<ref>"July 1, 1996 – June 30, 1997 ... July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2004 Peabody Board Members" Template:Webarchive, peabodyawards.com. Retrieved 2016-01-14.</ref>

Personal life and deathEdit

Nessen married Sandra Frey in 1954; they had two children, one of whom died at age five, and later divorced.<ref name = McFadden/> In 1967, he married Young Hi Song, with whom he had a son before divorcing in 1981.<ref name = McFadden/> A 1988 marriage to fellow journalist Johanna Neuman also ended in divorce.<ref name = McFadden/>

Nessen died in Bethesda, Maryland, on March 12, 2025, at the age of 90.<ref name = McFadden/>

WorksEdit

Template:Lacking ISBN

Nessen, Ron. It Sure Looks Different on the Inside. Playboy Press, 1979. (Template:ISBN)
Nessen, Ron. The First Lady
Nessen, Ron. The Hour
Nessen, Ron and Neuman, Johanna. Death with Honors
Nessen, Ron and Neuman, Johanna. Press Corpse
Nessen, Ron and Neuman, Johanna. Knight and Day

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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