American journalist and biographer (born 1969)
Jon Ellis Meacham (; born May 20, 1969) is an American
writer ,
reviewer ,
historian and presidential
biographer who is serving as the Canon
Historian of the
Washington National Cathedral since November 7, 2021. A former executive editor and executive vice president at
Random House , he is a contributing writer to
The New York Times Book Review, a contributing editor to
Time magazine, and a former editor-in-chief of
Newsweek . He is the author of several books. He won the 2009
Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography for
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House . He holds the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Endowed Chair in American Presidency at
Vanderbilt University .
Early life and education
Meacham was born in
Chattanooga, Tennessee .
[1] His parents are Jere Ellis Meacham (1946–2008), a construction and labor-relations executive who was decorated for valor during the
Vietnam War ,
[2] and Linda (McBrayer) Brodie. His paternal grandparents,
Ellis K. Meacham and Jean Austin Meacham,
[3] raised him after his parents' divorce.
[4] When he was a child, his grandfather had discussions each morning with a group of men about local and national politics. As a result, Meacham developed an interest in politics. He received an invitation to
Ronald Reagan 's
1981 inauguration in Washington, D.C., in response to a letter that he sent to the
president-elect .
[4]
Meacham attended
The McCallie School ,
[1]
[a] where he developed an interest in the
civil rights movement .
[6] He then went on to attend
Sewanee: The University of the South where he graduated salutatorian and
summa cum laude in 1991 with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in
English literature and was elected to
Phi Beta Kappa .
[1]
[7]
Career
Journalist and editor
After college, he worked at
The Chattanooga Times ,
[7] until he moved to Washington, D.C., in 1993 and became co-editor of
Washington Monthly .
[4] In 1995, he worked for
Newsweek as the national affairs editor, and became managing editor in late-1998.
[8]
[6]
[b] In 2006, he became editor-in-chief of Newsweek ' s print and online formats.
[9]
A former executive editor and executive vice president at
Random House ,
[10] he is a contributing writer to
The New York Times Book Review and
The Washington Post ,
[10] and a contributing editor to
Time magazine.
[11]
[c]
Biographer and book author
He was the editor for Voices in Our Blood: America's Best on the Civil Rights Movement which was released in 2001. Spanning the period from 1941 to 1998, the book includes writings of noted civil-rights leaders, novelists, and journalists, like
John Lewis ,
James Baldwin ,
William Faulkner , and
David Halberstam .
[6] His book, Franklin and Winston, Partners of an Intimate Relationship about
Franklin D. Roosevelt and
Winston Churchill , was released in 2003.
[4]
Meacham has explored America's leaders in such works as Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power as well as his biography of
Andrew Jackson , American Lion , which won the 2009
Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography .
[9]
[13]
[a]
Jill Abramson writing in a book review in
The New York Times states that Meacham's books are "well researched, drawing on new anecdotal material and up-to-date historiographical interpretations" and presents his "subjects as figures of heroic grandeur despite all-too-human shortcomings". In his biography of Jefferson, Meacham identifies qualities that would be helpful in the current political arena, "Jefferson repeatedly reached out to his enemies and showed ideological flexibility." Regarding the former president's stance on slavery, Meacham states, "Slavery was the rare subject where Jefferson's sense of realism kept him from marshaling his sense of hope in the service of the cause of reform."
[9]
Selected by the Bush family to be the official biographer for
George H. W. Bush , Meacham's book,
Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush , was published in 2015. He gave eulogies for both President Bush and
Barbara Bush when they died in 2018.
[14]
Other appearances
Meacham speaking at the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute in 2016
Over the years Meacham has been a frequent guest on various talk shows such as
Charlie Rose ,
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart ,
The Colbert Report , and
Real Time with Bill Maher .
[15]
[16] From May 2010 to April 2011, Meacham was co-host with
Alison Stewart of
Need to Know on
PBS . He is also a frequent guest on
CBS This Morning ,
Face the Nation ,
MSNBC 's
Morning Joe , and
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert .
[17]
[18]
In 2014 Meacham appeared in
Ken Burns ' documentary series
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History on
PBS . He also appeared in a cameo in the 2018 film
The Front Runner .
Meacham taught history at his alma mater, the University of the South, in 2014.
[1] He was a visiting professor of political science at
Vanderbilt University
[19] before being appointed to the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Chair in American Presidency.
[20] Meacham is also the co-chair of the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy at Vanderbilt University.
Meacham was asked to speak at the
2020 Democratic National Convention on the Soul of America. He endorsed
Joe Biden , saying, "history, which will surely be our judge, can also be our guide. From
Seneca Falls to
Selma to
Stonewall , we're at our best when we build bridges, not walls".
[21] According to
The New York Times , Meacham was part of the team writing some of Joe Biden's speeches for the
2020 United States presidential election , including Biden's acceptance speech,
[22] and his 2024
State of the Union address.
[23]
In November 2022, Meacham helped
Nancy Pelosi , the
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives , write a speech announcing that she would not seek reelection to House Democratic leadership in the
118th United States Congress .
[24]
Awards and honors
Meacham has also been awarded honorary doctorates from several universities:
Personal life
As of 2014
[update] , Meacham resides in
Belle Meade, Tennessee .
[36] He married Margaret Keith Smythe, called Keith, in 1996.
[3]
[6] At the time of their marriage, she was a teacher, having studied at
University of Virginia and the
University of Provence . She taught in
Metz , France under a
Fulbright Scholarship .
[3] They have three children.
[36]
Meacham is an
Episcopalian , and was chosen as Canon Historian of
Washington National Cathedral in 2021.
[37]
[38]
Bibliography
Title
Year
ISBN
Publisher
Subject matter
Interviews, presentations, and reviews
Comments
Voices in Our Blood: America's Best on the Civil Rights Movement
2001
ISBN
978-0-375-75881-2
Random House
Civil rights movement
Washington Journal interview with Meacham on Voices In Our Blood , February 21, 2001 ,
C-SPAN
Meacham was editor of this book
Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship
2003
ISBN
978-0-8129-7282-5
Random House
Franklin Roosevelt ,
Winston Churchill
Presentation by Meacham on Franklin and Winston , November 5, 2003 ,
C-SPAN
Booknotes interview with Meacham on Franklin and Winston , January 5, 2004 ,
C-SPAN
Presentation by Meacham on Franklin and Winston , January 30, 2019 ,
C-SPAN
Meacham discusses Franklin & Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship at the
Pritzker Military Museum & Library
American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation
2006
ISBN
978-0-8129-7666-3
Random House
History of religion in the United States ,
Founding Fathers of the United States
Interview with Meacham on American Gospel , June 14, 2006 ,
C-SPAN
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House
2008
ISBN
978-1-4000-6325-3
Random House
Andrew Jackson
Presentation by Meacham on American Lion , November 16, 2008 ,
C-SPAN
Washington Journal interview with Meacham on American Lion , December 18, 2008 ,
C-SPAN
Presentation by Meacham on American Lion , September 26, 2009 ,
C-SPAN
Interview with Meacham on American Lion , September 26, 2009 ,
C-SPAN
This book won the 2009
Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography
[13]
American Homer: Reflections on Shelby Foote and His Classic The Civil War: A Narrative
2001
ISBN
9780679643708
Random House
Shelby Foote ,
The Civil War: A Narrative
Meacham was editor of this work, which is available as part of
Random House 's 2011 edition of the boxed set of Foote's Civil War trilogy
[39]
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
2012
ISBN
978-1-4000-6766-4
Random House
Thomas Jefferson
Presentation by Meacham on Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power , November 14, 2012 ,
C-SPAN
Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush
2015
ISBN
978-1-4000-6765-7
Random House
George H.W. Bush
Presentation by Meacham on Destiny and Power , November 8, 2015 ,
C-SPAN
Discussion with Meacham and George W. Bush about the life and career of George H.W. Bush, November 8, 2015 ,
C-SPAN
Presentation by Meacham on Destiny and Power , November 21, 2015 ,
C-SPAN
Presentation by Meacham on Destiny and Power , September 24, 2016 ,
C-SPAN
The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels
2018
ISBN
978-0-3995-8981-2
Random House
History of the United States
Presentation by Meacham on The Soul of America , May 9, 2018 ,
C-SPAN
Washington Journal interview with Meacham on The Soul of America , May 23, 2018 ,
C-SPAN
Presentation by Meacham on The Soul of America , September 1, 2018 ,
C-SPAN
Presentation by Meacham on The Soul of America , January 31, 2019 ,
C-SPAN
Impeachment: An American History
2018
ISBN
978-1984853783
Modern Library
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Panel discussion with Meacham, Naftali, Baker, and Engel on Impeachment: An American History , February 20, 2019 ,
C-SPAN
Meacham wrote the portion of this book about the
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson . Three other writers wrote on impeachment efforts related to other presidents:
Timothy Naftali (
Nixon ),
Peter Baker (
Clinton ), and
Jeffrey A. Engel (
Trump ).
Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music That Made a Nation
2019
ISBN
978-0-5931-3295-1
Random House
Music of the United States
Presentation by Meacham and Tim McGraw on Songs of America , January 29, 2020 ,
C-SPAN
Written with
Tim McGraw .
The Hope of Glory: Reflections on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross
2020
ISBN
978-0-5932-3666-6
Convergent Books
Sayings of Jesus on the cross
His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope
2020
ISBN
978-1-9848-5502-2
Random House
John Lewis
Presentation by Meacham on His Truth Is Marching On , September 26, 2020 ,
C-SPAN
Interview with Meacham on His Truth Is Marching On , September 26, 2020 ,
C-SPAN
Panel discussion featuring Meacham on John Lewis, March 23, 2021 ,
C-SPAN
And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle
2022
ISBN
978-0-553-39396-5
Random House
Abraham Lincoln
Interview with Meacham on And There Was Light , October 24, 2022 ,
C-SPAN
Notes
^
a
b He read
Robert V. Remini 's three-volume biography of Jackson while in high school. Remini read Meacham's biography of Jackson in manuscript.
[5]
^ The Star-Herald reported that Meacham became Managing Editor after three months on the job.
[4]
^ Meacham has been strongly critical of President
Donald Trump ; in a 2018
New York Times article, he compared Trump to the Rev.
Charles Coughlin , a Catholic priest known for his passionate radio sermons sprinkled with
antisemitism . Meacham also drew an unfavorable comparison of Trump's manner of speaking with the more eloquent styles of
Franklin D. Roosevelt and
Ronald Reagan .
[12]
References
^
a
b
c
d
"Jon Meacham (C'91) returns to Sewanee as a history professor" . The Sewanee Purple . February 15, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2018 .
^
"Meacham, Jere Ellis" . October 1, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2020 .
^
a
b
c
"Smithe-Meacham engagement told" . The Star-Herald . November 14, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved March 18, 2020 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
"Journalist is topic for 21st Century Club" . The Star-Herald . January 23, 2003. p. 18. Retrieved March 19, 2020 .
^ Yardley, William (April 5, 2013).
"Robert Remini, Exhaustive Andrew Jackson Biographer, Dies at 91" .
The New York Times . Retrieved May 12, 2019 .
^
a
b
c
d Cass, Michael (February 5, 2001).
"Meacham: Success no surprise to peers" . The Tennessean . p. 15. Retrieved March 19, 2020 .
^
a
b
"University of the South marks 150 years" . The Tennessean . October 11, 2007. pp. B2. Retrieved March 18, 2020 .
^ Cass, Michael (February 5, 2001).
"Sewanee grad scales magazine heights" . The Tennessean . p. 14. Retrieved March 19, 2020 .
^
a
b
c Abramson, Jill (November 2, 2012).
"Grand Bargainer" . The New York Times .
ISSN
0362-4331 . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^
a
b Kelly, Matt (September 23, 2014).
" 'Art of Power' Author Jon Meacham to Speak on Jefferson" . Retrieved March 19, 2020 .
^ Adweek, November 11, 2010 (September 9, 2011).
"Jon Meacham Becomes Time Contributing Editor" . Retrieved March 19, 2020 . {{
cite news }}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link ) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link )
^ Meacham, Jon (May 3, 2018).
"Why Trump Is More Father Coughlin Than Franklin Roosevelt" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 28, 2018 .
^
a
b
c
"The 2009 Pulitzer Prize Winner in Biography" . The Pulitzer Prizes . Retrieved March 18, 2020 .
^ Tackett, Michael (December 4, 2018).
"Jon Meacham, Bush's Biographer, Will Also Deliver a Eulogy" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
^ Real Time with Bill Maher (January 22, 2016), Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime – January 22, 2016 (HBO)
^ Real Time with Bill Maher (April 17, 2015), Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime – April 17, 2015 (HBO)
^
"Joe: Donald Trump's hostile takeover of the Republican Party" .
MSNBC . March 2, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016 .
^
"Meacham: Bush knew exactly what he was saying" . MSNBC . November 6, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2016 .
^ Elliott, Stephen (September 4, 2019).
"Haslam joining Vanderbilt faculty for leadership course" . Retrieved March 19, 2020 .
^
"Historian Goodwin Says Look to Past Presidents for Easing Current Political Divide" . Tennessee Tribune . November 7, 2019. Archived from
the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2020 .
^ Hains, Tim (August 20, 2020).
"Historian Jon Meacham Speaks On Final Night Of Democratic Convention" . www.realclearpolitics.com . Retrieved 2020-08-21 .
^ Karni, Annie (November 9, 2020).
"The historian Jon Meacham, who wrote of 'the soul of America,' has been working on Biden's speeches" . The New York Times .
ISSN
0362-4331 . Retrieved November 9, 2020 .
^ Rogers, Katie (2024-03-06).
"Biden Preps for the State of the Union Speech and Rowdy Republicans" . The New York Times .
ISSN
0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-03-06 .
^
"Nancy Pelosi says she will not seek re-election as Democratic leader in House – as it happened" . The Guardian . 2022-11-17. Retrieved 2022-11-18 .
^
The Lincoln Forum
^ Gregg, Becca (May 23, 2010).
"Dickinson College sends graduates into the world" .
The Sentinel .
Carlisle, Pennsylvania . Retrieved May 17, 2017 .
^ Mercer, Monica (May 16, 2010).
"Sewanee honors Bush, Meacham" .
Chattanooga Times Free Press . Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
^
"Sewanee announces honorary degree recipients" .
Episcopal Church . May 13, 2010. Archived from
the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
^
"Honorary Degrees" . Loyola University New Orleans . Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
^
"Pulitzer Prize winner Jon Meacham to address Loyola's centennial class" . Loyola University New Orleans . March 20, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
^
"2017: Honorary degrees" .
Wake Forest University . Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
^
"Jon Meacham to Give Middlebury College Commencement Address" .
Middlebury College . April 6, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
^
"Board of Trustees Approves Honorary Degree for Pulitzer Prize Writer Meacham" .
University of Tennessee . March 30, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
^
"Pulitzer Winner, Congresswoman to Address Class of 2018" .
University of Massachusetts Lowell . May 18, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
^
"Millsaps announces honorary degree recipients: Jon Meacham, Jesmyn Ward, Dr. Lamar Weems" . Mississippi Today . May 2, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020 .
^
a
b Reed, Julia (July 15, 2014).
"House Tour: Is This The Chicest Home In Nashville?" . Retrieved March 19, 2020 .
^ Paulsen, David (2021-03-10).
"Washington National Cathedral names Jon Meacham canon historian" . Episcopal News Service . Retrieved 2021-11-06 .
^ Jenkins, Jack (12 March 2021).
"Washington National Cathedral names Jon Meacham canon historian" . The Washington Post . Retrieved 6 November 2021 .
^
"The Civil War Trilogy Box Set" . Random House Group . Retrieved September 23, 2023 .
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