Born in the same year as his Groton School classmate Robert F. Kennedy, Edward Jackson Bennett “batted” his whole life for the other team - the Republicans - as an elected official; but just as often he was the fellow calling balls and strikes as a member of the media as well - both journalist and editor/publisher - where he was called upon to provide unbiased journalism and fairness to both sides. It was a balancing act no doubt, but one he performed with grace and wisdom and - most of all - a sense of humor.
Bennett’s father - a graduate of Harvard who hoped his son would follow in the family tradition gave up that ghost after Ed was expelled from his second expensive private high school. Upon questioning, Ed told him that his first ambition in life was never to return to school again. His second was to become either a fireman or a tugboat captain. As an after-thought he suggested that he might be interested in being a newspaperman.
