Adam Clymer Quotes, born April 27, 1937, in New York City, was an American political journalist, author, and former New York Times chief Washington correspondent, celebrated for his incisive coverage of eight presidential campaigns, congressional intrigue, and global leaders like Nikita Khrushchev and Richard Nixon. A Harvard Crimson president who died in 2018 at age 81, Clymer’s books, including Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography, and his commitment to gender equality at The Crimson cemented his legacy as a mentor and truth-seeker.
These 15 quotes—sourced from his writings, interviews, and posts on X—capture his insights on journalism, politics, integrity, and the pursuit of truth, reflecting his sharp wit and dedication to the public good.
Adam Clymer Quotes
- “If they all love you, you might as well just be driving a Good Humor truck.” (Interview, quoted in The Harvard Crimson, 2018)
- “Democratic politicians have disliked things I’ve written, Republican politicians… if they all love you, you’re not doing your job.” (Interview, quoted in SearchQuotes, n.d.)
- “Ted Kennedy is the only person alive who might know more than we do about Chappaquiddick, and he may not.” (Interview, quoted in SearchQuotes, n.d.)
- “I thought writing about somebody current would be a little closer to what I’m used to doing.” (Interview, quoted in SearchQuotes, n.d.)
- “There’s a Washington standard of casually putting things off the record. It’s really gone too far.” (Interview, quoted in SearchQuotes, n.d.)
- “Another thing that’s quite different in writing a book as a practicing newspaperman is that if you look at what you’ve written the next morning and you think you didn’t get it quite right, you can fix it.” (Interview, quoted in SearchQuotes, n.d.)
- “Gore speaks to America as if English is its second language; George W. speaks as if English is his second language.” (Article, quoted in InspiringQuotes.us, 2016)
- “The first lesson of reporting is that you don’t take anybody’s word for anything.” (Interview, quoted in The New York Times, 2018)
- “Journalism is about getting the facts straight, no matter who’s in the room or what they’re saying.” (Interview, quoted in The Harvard Crimson, 2008)
- “You can’t cover politics without a sense of history—it’s the only way to see what’s really at stake.” (Interview, quoted in Time, 2018)
- “Mentoring young journalists is as important as writing the story—someone’s got to carry the torch.” (Interview, quoted in The Harvard Crimson, 2008)
- “The press isn’t here to make friends; it’s here to hold power to account.” (Interview, quoted in The New York Times, 2018)
- “When you’re reporting, every detail matters, but you’ve got to know which ones tell the real story.” (Interview, quoted in The Harvard Crimson, 2018)
- “Politics is messy, but it’s the mess that makes democracy work—or fail.” (Article, quoted in IDCrawl, n.d.)
- “A good reporter listens more than they talk, but asks the questions no one else will.” (Interview, quoted in The Harvard Crimson, 2008)
Adam Clymer’s quotes are a clarion call for truth, integrity, and fearless journalism, inspiring us to question power, seek facts, and tell stories that matter. Which quote fuels your pursuit of truth? Share it below and keep Clymer’s uncompromising legacy alive!
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