Mara Liasson (SHS 1973)
Journalist
“You tell me whar a man gits his corn pone, en I’ll tell you what his ‘pinions is.” Mara Liasson’s quote in the 1973 Bandersnatch was prophetic. Her career in journalism suggests she has been tracking down that “corn pone” ever since.
Read moreLinda Carpenter-Leavitt (SHS 1964)
Journalist
Linda Carpenter-Leavitt’s writing skills and her creativity were evident early. In 1954, when Carpenter-Leavitt was in third grade, the Greenacres Star, a small, local newspaper, ran a writing contest. She won first prize for her story about “Isabell the Alley Cat.” Four years later she captured the grand prize in Scarsdale’s window painting contest.
Read moreKaren Sloan (SHS 1973)
Journalist, War Correspondent
Karen Sloan began her journalism carrier earning a AB at Middlebury College and a masters degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her first job with Associated Press (AP) was in Washington, D.C. where she served as a news editor and later as a newscaster.
Read moreRobert Kuttner (SHS 1961)
Journalist, Editor, Commentator
Robert Kuttner is an example of what can happen if a person of principles holds tight to his beliefs. He is one of those few people who functions well when the wind is in his face. At both Scarsdale High School and Oberlin College there were those who found Kuttner over the top, caring too visibly and much, much too far to the left.
Read moreTom Ricks (SHS 1973)
JOURNALIST
Tom Ricks couldn’t be with us this morning. He’s just back from Iraq. He promised me that he would visit Scarsdale in the spring. I can’t wait to meet him. He has a delicious sense of humor. Our first exchange is a case in point. My e-mail first. “Tom, you have been nominated and then elected as one of this year’s Distinguished Alumni of Scarsdale High School. As a former teacher and student at SHS I couldn’t be more delighted.” This is what came back ten seconds later, “This is great. Maybe I can petition to get my GPA retroactively raised!”
Read moreElisabeth Rosenthal (SHS 1974)
JOURNALIST, PHYSICIAN
“I only took the regular course” said the Mock Turtle, “Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with. Then see the different branches of Arithmetic—Ambition, Distraction, Uglification and Derision.” Elisabeth, “Libby” Rosenthal found writing at Scarsdale High School a delight (see above or at least see one of her most challenging At Harvard College she did exceptionally well in a variety of subjects including the humanities and the sciences, going to Harvard Medical School
and then working in the emergency room In the end, she questioned the logic of having two fulltime jobs and a family and resigned from the hospital in 1994.
Andrew Ross Sorkin (SHS 1995)
JOURNALIST, FINANCIAL ANALYST, TV STAR
If only Andrew Ross Sorkin had written Too Big to Fail before the financial crash.
Of course that is asking a little much of a New York Times financial journalist. Instead, his readers can judge for themselves, listening to him on the Charlie Rose Show or on his appearances on CNBC.
James Traub (SHS 1972)
Journalist—writer Sunday New York Times Magazine
Author of ten books including City on a Hill on CCNY and Best Intentions on Kofi Annen. For years Jim has participated in Writing Day at the Middle School. His Bandy quote did not help him get a job at the Times.
“Love is the botulism in the cold Vichyssoise of life.”
Glenn Kramon (SHS 1971)
Journalist, Assistant Managing Editor of the New York Times. Glenn has been overseeing major reporting projects for more than a decade. Reporters working under his editing supervision have won eight Pulitzer Prizes, and have been finalists for the Pulitzer 22 times.