Manuscripts

Williams, Nick B

Description: 2 items: letter, 1/25/1973, from Nick Williams to Norman Chandler, expressing his admiration of him ; letter, 7/25/1973, Williams to Norman Chandler, on the subject of great American publishers of the mid 20th century. The second letter features Williams' thoughts on Col. McCormick (Chicago Tribune), Henry Luce (Time), the Scripps - Howard Newspapers and The Christian Science Monitor.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Date: 1973
Call number: mssLAT
Creator: Los Angeles Times (Firm)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: The Los Angeles Times,
Restrictions: Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Williams, Nick B. - Tapes #1 & #2

Manuscripts

Approx. 20 items: 22-pp. transcript of "...initial taping with Nick B. Williams, former Editor of The Times," by James Bassett, 6/5/1973 - subjects include NBW's memories of his youth and early newspaper career in Tennessee and Texas and his coming to Los Angeles and getting into newspaper work in the 1930s ; 44-pp. transcript of "Tape 2...NBW & JB," an in-depth discussion of the Norman Chandler era moving into the Otis Chandler era at LAT, the changes in editorial policy, the move from the political right to the center (or at least representing various views along the political spectrum) in Editorial content and striving for unbiased news stories, union efforts to get a toehold at LAT - would it be good if LAT were the only paper in L.A.? Williams answers "no" (pp. 33) - gossip columnists, investigative reporting - Vietnam, the Red Chinese, the Soviets ; 57-pp. transcript of "Taping with Nick Williams (6/7/1973) 3rd Taping" - the Birch Society series, examples given of instances in which NC did not support Republican candidates that were right wing "kooks" (4 - 7) - Barry Goldwater, correspondence with Norman Chandler, Dorothy Chandler and Williams - Watts Riots (pp. 19- 22) - pornographic movies (pp. 29 - 31) - more related bio notes and materials on Williams.

mssLAT

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Williams, Nick B. - Tapes #3 & #4

Manuscripts

4 items: 4-pp. memo, 6/23/1966, Otis Chandler to Williams on "major (issues) we must consider as we look ahead" ; LAT column, 8/11/1972, by retired Editor Williams, "Getting the news is better than merely following it" ; 30-pp. transcript of "...Fourth taping with Nick Williams," 6/8/1973 - subjects include ending policy of allowing staffers to accept "junkets" paid for by outside entities (an airline, Israel, anyone who wanted a puff piece done), fact-finding trips to foreign regions by Bassett, Otis Chandler, and Williams that began in 1963 (pp. 2), furor following LAT's dropping of several comic strips (including "Dick Tracy") that had become popular with Conservatives, comics page in general, (pp. 4 - 5+), behind the scenes operation of editorial board, responsibility of the Press (pp. 18 - 19), Watergate (pp. 20 - 21+), "the role of the press" (pp. 20), "the most significant changes in the paper" (pp. 24 - 25), selecting Williams' replacement as Editor (pp. 28 - 30) ; 18-pp. transcript of "Third taping with Bill Thomas," 7/7/1975 - Watergate coverage (pp. 1 - 5), smaller community newspapers (pp. 7), defining "good taste" (pp. 11), editorial policy (pp. 15).

mssLAT

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Williams, Nick

Manuscripts

Twenty-one memos of correspondence between Otis Chandler to Nick Williams regarding topics such as the five year outlooks, objectives, sports section, a major goof by Maggie and Jim Bellows, and his disappointment in West Magazine. Also in this folder is a memo from Freddie Miller and a memo to Mrs. Norman Chandler

mssLAT

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Employees - Williams, Nick B

Manuscripts

Approx. 35 items: in "Tribute to a renown...Editor, Nick B. Williams," at the time of his death, LAT columnist Jack Smith wrote that, "turned the Los Angeles Times from a biased, provincial, Republican newspaper, into one of the country's two or three best"; program booklet for "The Nick B. Williams Luncheon Party," Levy's Grill, 2/20/1959; 3-pp. transcript of speech at Women's Lawyers Club (1959), titled "Court News Policy," on the topic of a free press; selection of Williams' writings for a variety of publications--California Publisher, The Quill, California Parent -Teacher, etc. ;brief copy, Among Ourselves, 7/1948, on W's career, mentioning his fiction writing; single-page bio ; W's tear sheets, 1959 - 1971, from LAT; LAT clip, 10/28/1981, "Ex-Editor of Times receives press award": LAT Editorial, 7/2/1992, "In Memory of Nick B. Williams," which closes, "Nick Williams mark on The Times is indelible." Williams was with LAT for forty years, retiring in 1971, and after that working as a consultant for Otis Chandler.

mssLAT

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Williams, Nick B. (2 of 2)

Manuscripts

Correspondence between Nick B. Williams and James Bassett, including Williams' original handwritten letters and photocopies. NBW provides advice on what to expand, what to trim, how to rearrange. He also warns B. against simply "collating" previous writings on history of the Times and Los Angeles and urges him to be creative and to treat the story almost as a novel. Also, a letter from Williams to a reader regarding the Japanese evacuation from the West Coast in 1942 and the Times' coverage of the event. Split into two folders.

mssLAT

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Williams, Nick B. (1 of 2)

Manuscripts

mssLAT

Williams, Nick B

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