Erwin Knoll

Erwin Knoll (1931 – November 2, 1994) was an American journalist who was editor of The Progressive from 1973 to 1994.

Early life

Knoll was born in Austria and as a child fled from the Nazis. He later came to New York City as a refugee. As a student journalist, Knoll would get into highly controversial debates with conservatives.

Career

Knoll began his journalistic career working with the Washington Post, and from 1963-1968 as the White House Correspondent for the Newhouse National News Service.

His work landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents.

Knoll was promoted to editor for The Progressive in 1978 and worked with them for 21 years.

In 1979, Knoll took part in the first publication to be ordered by a Federal court not to print an article due to national security. The article was titled "The H-Bomb Secret, How We Got It -- Why We're Telling It."

Speaking to the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association, in Chicago Jan. 25, 1982, Attorney General William French Smith referred to the epigram "Everything you read in the newspapers is absolutely true except for the rare story of which you happen to have firsthand knowledge" as Knoll's Law of Media Accuracy.

Knoll was against the Strategic Defense Initiative, arguing in 1983 that the Reagan Administration's assertion that SDI could be the "key to a decent, humane and peaceful future" was "to tell the biggest lie."

In the 1980s, Knoll also regularly appeared on the TV program The MacNeil Lehrer Newshour.

Knoll caused some controversy by opposing the First Gulf War.

Death

Knoll died at the age of 63 on November 2, 1994 in his sleep. It was reported that his death was caused by a heart attack. He died in his home in Madison, Wisconsin.

External links

• The Progressive