Ambassador Book Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 4 (1989) Winner
Neil Sheehan
ニール・シーハン
Neil Sheehan
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1936-10-27 （Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.）
- Died
- 2021-01-07 （Washington, D.C., U.S.） age 84
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
Career
- Occupations
- Journalist, Author
- Active Years
- 1958-2021
- Influenced By
- David Halberstam, Pham Xuan An
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northfield Mount Hermon (Mount Hermon School) | — | — | — | — | United States |
| Harvard University | Faculty of Arts and Sciences | Department of History | B.A. (cum laude) | 1954-1958 | United States |
Northfield Mount Hermon (Mount Hermon School)
Country:
United States
Preparatory school (graduation year unknown)
Harvard University
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
/ Department of History
Degree:
B.A. (cum laude)
Period:
1954-1958
Year of Graduation:
1958
Country:
United States
Majored in history, graduated 1958
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction | A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam | 一般ノンフィクション | The Pulitzer Prizes | 受賞 |
| 1989 | National Book Award for Nonfiction | A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam | ノンフィクション | National Book Foundation | 受賞 |
| 1972 | Pulitzer Prize for Public Service (The New York Times) | Pentagon Papers coverage | 公共サービス | The New York Times | 受賞（新聞社として） |
| 1990 | Golden Plate Award | — | — | American Academy of Achievement | 受賞 |
Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction
1989
Work:
A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
Category:
一般ノンフィクション
Organization:
The Pulitzer Prizes
Result:
受賞
National Book Award for Nonfiction
1989
Work:
A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
Category:
ノンフィクション
Organization:
National Book Foundation
Result:
受賞
Pulitzer Prize for Public Service (The New York Times)
1972
Work:
Pentagon Papers coverage
Category:
公共サービス
Organization:
The New York Times
Result:
受賞（新聞社として）
Golden Plate Award
1990
Organization:
American Academy of Achievement
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction
1 appearances
-
Edition 31 (1989) Winner
Works
Major Works
The Pentagon Papers as published by The New York Times
1971 Investigative journalism / NonfictionAccounts and publication of the Pentagon Papers that revealed hidden histories and decision-making around U.S. policy in the Vietnam War.
Government transparencyWar and policy
The Arnheiter Affair
1972 Nonfiction / InvestigativeA detailed nonfiction account of U.S. Navy officer Marcus Aurelius Arnheiter and the controversies surrounding him.
Issues within the militaryLeadership and accountability
A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
1988 Historical nonfiction / BiographyA biography of John Paul Vann and a broader narrative of America's involvement in the Vietnam War, based on exhaustive reporting and documentation.
Vietnam WarCritique of military policyIndividual ethics and responsibility
After the War Was Over: Hanoi and Saigon
1992 Nonfiction / HistoryReporting based on Sheehan's visits to Vietnam, describing postwar Hanoi and Saigon.
Postwar societyReconstruction in Vietnam
A Fiery Peace in a Cold War: Bernard Schriever and the Ultimate Weapon
2009 Biographical nonfiction / History of technologyA biography of Bernard Schriever and an account of Cold War-era development of U.S. strategic missile systems.
Cold WarMilitary technologyState and science
Bibliography
- The Pentagon Papers as published by The New York Times (1971)
- The Arnheiter Affair (1972)
- A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam (1988)
- After the War Was Over: Hanoi and Saigon (1992)
- A Fiery Peace in a Cold War: Bernard Schriever and the Ultimate Weapon (2009)
Adaptations
- The Pentagon Papers (film, 2003)
- The Post (film, 2017) — portrayal of Neil Sheehan
- Ken Burns' documentary The Vietnam War (2017) — appears as himself
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Detailed, research-driven nonfictionInvestigative journalism style
- Recurring Motifs
- Scrutiny of war policy and responsibilityConflict between individuals and institutions
Health
-
Parkinson's disease晩年（死去前の数年間）Symptoms progressed in later years and he suffered complications in the period leading up to his death.
-
Pinched nerve / Osteoarthritis主に1970年代以降Affected his recovery and delayed long-term writing projects.
Legacy
Neil Sheehan was a leading investigative journalist whose role in obtaining and publishing the Pentagon Papers exposed U.S. war policy. His book A Bright Shining Lie is regarded as a major work on the Vietnam War and earned major literary awards.
Archives
- The New York Times archives (related manuscripts and materials)
In Popular Culture
- Portrayed in The Pentagon Papers (2003) and The Post (2017), and appears in Ken Burns' documentary The Vietnam War (2017).
Quotes
-
We're going to publish
Source: Reported accounts of New York Times editorial discussions around the Pentagon Papers (1971)
Trivia
- His wife Susan Sheehan is also an acclaimed journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner.
- He copied the Pentagon Papers in copy shops in Boston before arranging their publication.
- He spent many years researching and writing A Bright Shining Lie about John Paul Vann.