Gerald White Johnson (1890 – March 22, 1980) was a journalist, editor, essayist, historian, biographer, and novelist. Over his career spanning more than seven decades, he was known for being "one of the most eloquent spokespersons for America's adversary culture." Johnson was an editorial writer for the Baltimore "Sunpapers" for nearly 20 years, a weekly columnist for The New Republic for 26 years, and the author of more than 30 books on American culture and politics. He wrote mystery novels under the pen name of Charles North.

Life and career

Johnson was born in Riverton, North Carolina, the son of an editor of a Baptist magazine. He graduated from Wake Forest College in 1910. During World War I he was a member of the American Expeditionary Force. He was the first professor of journalism at the University of North Carolina. While there he published the first of many books, The Story of Man's Work, a defense of liberal capitalism. He opposed the anti-evolution movement during the "Monkey Trial" era. Johnson worked for The Evening Sun of Baltimore from 1926 to 1943, when he retired to write for magazines and to concentrate on writing books. In 1949 he served as the honorary chairman of a committee that advocated against loyalty oaths and in 1950 published an article in Harper's called "Why Communists are Valuable." Johnson provided broadcast commentary in Baltimore for a few years in the 1950s. He wrote many works on topics in American history, beginning with Andrew Jackson: An Epic in Homespun (1927). He was a friend, colleague and protege of H. L. Mencken, although their philosophies differed. He married Kathryn Hayward and they had two daughters. He died in Baltimore on March 22, 1980.

Works

Accolades

In 1952 Johnson received the Alfred I. duPont Award. In 1953, Johnson received the Peabody Award and The Hillman Prize.