Dorothy Thompson

Early Life of Dorothy Thompson

Dorothy Thompson was born in Lancaster, New York in 1894. She attended Lewis Institute for two years and transferred to Syracuse University her junior year where she earned a degree in politics and economics in 1914. Thompson worked for the women’s suffrage campaign until 1920; from there she went abroad to Europe in hopes of pursuing a career in journalism.

The First Lady of American Journalism

While in Ireland, Dorothy was the last person to interview Terence MacSwiney who at the time was one of the major leaders of the Sinn Fein movement.  She conducted the last interview of MacSwiney before he was arrested and died. Dorothy was then appointed Vienna correspondent for the Philadelphia Public Ledger. In 1925, she was promoted to Chief of the Central European Service for the Public Ledger. She resigned in 1927 and the New York Post appointed her head of its Berlin bureau in Germany.

I Saw Hitler
While reporting in Germany, Thompson interviewed Adolf Hitler. She described him as "He is formless, almost faceless, a man whose countenance is a caricature, a man whose framework seems cartilaginous, without bones. He is inconsequent and voluble, ill poised and insecure. He is the very prototype of the little man.” Due to her offensive comment, Dorothy was the first journalist ever banned from Germany.

Second Most Influential Woman in the World

Thompson began writing “On the Record,” a successful column read by millions. At this time she was also hired by NBC as a news commentator. She became the most sought after female public speaker with her commendations.  Time magazine named Dorothy the second most influential woman in the world behind Eleanor Roosevelt.    

Paves the Way for Women

Due to suffrage and a lack of opportunities, most women were not able to be as successful as Dorothy Thompson. She had to overcome the struggles of being a woman to pursue the goals she wanted to achieve. Dorothy was fortunate to obtain an education and she used it to the fullest potential.