Gilbert A. Harrison

Who was Gilbert A. Harrison?

Gilbert Avery Harrison was the owner and editor of the influential American magazine The New Republic between 1953 and 1974.

He was born in Detroit on May 18, 1915, one of three children of Samuel and Mabel Wolfe Harrison. In 1937 he earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he had also been an editor of the Daily Bruin. He then worked at the University Religious Conference, which promoted inter-religious cooperation. In that position he met Eleanor Roosevelt, who recruited him as chairman of the youth division of the Office of Civilian Defense in Washington, D.C.

During World War II, he was in the Army Air Forces and served in the Philippines. In 1948, Harrison became national chairman of the American Veterans Committee.

Harrison married Anne Blaine in 1951. They had three sons, James, David and Joel, and one daughter, Eleanor.

He wrote two books, “A Timeless Affair: The Life of Anita McCormick Blaine”, a biography of his grandmother-in-law; and “The Enthusiast: A Life of Thornton Wilder”.

Harrison received a George Polk Award in 1964 for his work in revitalizing The New Republic.