Richard J. Whalen Dead at 87

Richard J. Whalen, known for his diverse career and accomplishments, passed away on July 18 in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. at the age of 87. Whalen gained recognition as the author of a best-selling biography on Joseph P. Kennedy, a key figure in the Democratic political dynasty. He also worked as a speechwriter for Richard M. Nixon’s 1968 presidential campaign, although he left before the election and later wrote a critical book about Nixon.

Early Career and Success with Joseph P. Kennedy Biography

At the age of 27, Whalen published a 13,000-word profile on Joseph Kennedy in Fortune magazine. The article highlighted Kennedy’s rise to power and his desire for political success for his sons. Following the article’s success, Whalen received numerous offers from publishers to turn it into a book. He ultimately accepted a $100,000 advance (equivalent to $1 million today) from New American Library to write “The Founding Father: The Story of Joseph P. Kennedy” (1964). The book spent 28 weeks on The New York Times’s best-seller list.

Political Work and Time with Nixon

In 1965, Whalen left Fortune to work as a writer in residence at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. His article on nuclear defense caught the attention of Richard Nixon, who asked him to be an adviser and speechwriter during his presidential campaign. However, Whalen, a conservative, left the campaign shortly after Nixon’s nomination, citing clashes with campaign manager John Mitchell and other aides. In his later book, “Catch the Falling Flag: A Republican’s Challenge to His Party,” Whalen detailed his disappointments with Nixon.

Legacy and Later Career

Richard J. Whalen was born on September 23, 1935, in Brooklyn. Throughout his career, he worked as a reporter and writer for various publications, including The Richmond News Leader, Time magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune. Whalen also founded World Wide Information Resources, providing political and economic analyses to subscribers. He worked as a consultant, writer, and lobbyist, representing clients such as Toyota Motor Sales USA and Toshiba America. Whalen’s book on Nixon was published in May 1972, just before the Watergate scandal broke out. He criticized Nixon for failing to live up to his promises as a conservative Republican.

Whalen is survived by his wife, Joan, his daughter, Laura Whalen Aram, his sons, R. Christopher and Michael, four grandchildren, and his brother, George.