Lawrence Spivak
Co-founder and host of the longest-running network TV series.
Lawrence Edmund Spivak (June 11, 1900 – March 9, 1994) built a career in publishing and journalism, but his lasting fame came from creating and hosting the long-running public affairs show *Meet the Press*. Born in Brooklyn, he graduated cum laude from Harvard in 1921 and started in publishing as business manager for *Antiques* magazine. He married psychologist Charlotte Beir Ring in 1924, and they had two children. From 1930 to 1933, he worked as circulation director and assistant to the publisher for *Hunting and Fishing* and *National Sportsman*.
In 1934, Spivak became business manager for *The American Mercury*, a literary magazine edited by H. L. Mencken that critiqued American life. He bought the magazine in 1939, served as its editor from 1944 to 1950, and then sold it. In 1937, he founded Mercury Publications, Inc., which put out inexpensive digest-sized paperbacks—often abridged—of mystery and crime writers like Agatha Christie, Dashiell Hammett, and Rex Stout. The company also published periodicals such as *Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine* and *The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction*. Spivak sold his stake in Mercury Publications in 1954.
*Meet the Press* began in 1945 as a radio show Spivak co-created with journalist Martha Rountree to promote *The American Mercury*. A television version launched on NBC in November 1947, and both ran until the radio edition ended in 1950. Spivak bought out Rountree’s share in 1953. He sold the program to NBC in 1955 but stayed on as moderator, producer, and panelist. He retired on November 9, 1975, after a special one-hour broadcast with President Gerald Ford marking the show’s 28th TV anniversary. Spivak remained an NBC consultant until 1989 and made his final *Meet the Press* appearance in 1983.
Known for his dapper look—often a bowtie and heavy-rimmed glasses—Spivak was the permanent panelist who asked the first round of questions. As moderator, he led off each interview before passing to the other three or four journalists. One critic described his style as a “fierce visage” with challenging questions, fearless independence, and utter fairness, all aimed at getting accurate information from newsmakers.
In his later years, from 1985 to 1994, Spivak co-produced PBS programs for the Southern Center for International Studies. He lived and worked out of Washington’s Sheraton-Park Hotel. Widowed in 1983, he died of congestive heart failure at Sibley Memorial Hospital on March 9, 1994, at age 93.
Spivak earned two Peabody Awards, two Emmys, the Associated Press Broadcasters’ Robert Eunson Award, the Mass Media Award of the American Jewish Committee, the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Award, and the Christopher Award. He was inducted into the Washington chapter of Sigma Delta Chi’s Hall of Fame and received the American Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award in 1968. In popular culture, actor Colin Stinton portrayed him in the Netflix series *The Crown* episode “Bubbikins,” which re-created a 1969 *Meet the Press* interview with Prince Philip.
- born
- June 11, 1900, in Brooklyn, New York City
- died
- March 9, 1994, at Sibley Memorial Hospital, Washington, D.C.
- field
- Publishing, journalism, television production
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Co-founder, producer, and host of Meet the Press
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Lawrence Edmund Spivak
- Birth Date
- 1900-06-11
- Birth Place
- New York City, U.S.
- Death Date
- 1994-03-09
- Death Place
- Washington, D.C., U.S.
- Spouse
- Charlotte Beir Ring · 1924 · 1983 · end=died
- Children
- 2
- Occupation
- Broadcast journalist / Publisher
- Education
- Harvard University
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Lawrence E. Spivak was born June 11, 1900, in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. In 1921 he graduated cum laude from Harvard University and began his career in publishing as business manager for Antiques magazine. He married psychologist Charlotte Beir Ring in 1924, and together they had two children. From 1930 to 1933 Spivak worked for Hunting and Fishing and National Sportsman magazines, as circulation director and assistant to the publisher. In 1934 Spivak became business manager for The American Mercury, a literary magazine that critiqued the American scene, while it was edited by journalist H. L. Mencken. Spivak purchased the magazine in 1939. He served as its editor from 1944 to 1950 when he sold it. In 1937 Spivak founded Mercury Publications, Inc., a publishing company with imprints including American Mercury Books, Mercury Mysteries, Bestseller Mysteries and Jonathan Press Mysteries. Spivak published inexpensive digest-sized paperback editions, often abridged, of works by authors including Margery Allingham, Agatha Christie, Erle Stanley Gardner, Dashiell Hammett, Ellery Queen, Georges Simenon, Rex Stout and Cornell Woolrich. Mercury Publications also included such periodicals as Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, The Book of Wit and Humor and Detective: The Magazine of True Crime Cases. Spivak sold his interest in Mercury Publications in 1954. In 1945, Spivak and journalist Martha Rountree created and co-produced the weekly public affairs program Meet the Press as radio promotion for The American Mercury. A television edition began on NBC in November 1947, and separate shows continued until the radio version ceased in 1950. Spivak purchased Rountree's interest in the program in 1953. Spivak sold Meet the Press to NBC in 1955 but remained as moderator, producer and panelist. He retired November 9, 1975, after a special one-hour broadcast that featured President Gerald R. Ford and marked the 28th anniversary of Meet the Press on television. Spivak continued to be a consultant to NBC until 1989, and made his last Meet the Press appearance in 1983.
Reader's Guide
Lawrence Spivak's significance lies in his creation and stewardship of Meet the Press, which became the longest-running continuous network series in television history. Over 28 years as panelist and moderator, he was known for pointed questioning of policy makers. Arthur Unger of The Christian Science Monitor wrote of the presidents and world leaders who were questioned by the Meet the Press panelist: 'All received equal treatment... They had to face up to Lawrence Spivak of the fierce visage, the challenging questions, the fearless independence, the utter fairness. And beneath it all, the scowling good nature of a man with an unrelenting mission: to evince accurate information from the very mouths of the individuals who make the news.' Spivak was distinguished by his rather dapper appearance, his wardrobe usually including a bowtie and heavy-rimmed glasses. He first appeared as the one permanent member of the program's panel of reporters, asking the first round of questions. As moderator, he asked the first question of the Meet the Press guest and then handed off to the other journalists on the panel, which usually totaled four during his 28 years as the host and moderator of the TV program. From 1985 to 1994, Spivak co-produced PBS television programs for the Southern Center for International Studies. Spivak's office was at the Sheraton-Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., which was also his home. He was widowed in 1983. Spivak died of congestive heart failure at Washington's Sibley Memorial Hospital on March 9, 1994, at the age of 93. He was the recipient of two Peabody Awards, two Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Associated Press Broadcasters' Robert Eunson Award, the Mass Media Award of the Institute of Human Relations of the American Jewish Committee, the United States Conference of Mayors' Award, and the Christopher Award. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Washington chapter of Sigma Delta Chi, and was the recipient of the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 1968.
Did You Know?
- Spivak graduated cum laude from Harvard University in 1921.
- He founded Mercury Publications, Inc. in 1937, which published inexpensive digest-sized paperback editions of works by authors including Agatha Christie, Dashiell Hammett, and Rex Stout.
- Meet the Press began as a radio promotion for Spivak's magazine, The American Mercury, in 1945.
- Spivak retired on November 9, 1975, after a special one-hour broadcast featuring President Gerald R. Ford.
- He was portrayed by Colin Stinton in the Netflix series The Crown, in the episode 'Bubbikins'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lawrence Spivak?
Lawrence Edmund Spivak (1900–1994) was an American publisher, journalist, and television producer who helped create one of the most iconic public-affairs shows in broadcasting history.
What is Lawrence Spivak best known for?
He is widely recognized as the co-founder, producer, and original host of Meet the Press, the program that went on to become television's longest-running continuous network series.
How did Meet the Press come about?
Spivak and journalist Martha Rountree launched the show in 1947 as a promotional vehicle for his magazine, The American Mercury, but it quickly outgrew that role and became a standalone institution on NBC.
Why is Lawrence Spivak important to television history?
By turning a magazine tie-in into a weekly news interview format, he established a model for political journalism on broadcast TV that has continued uninterrupted for nearly eight decades.
When and where did Lawrence Spivak die?
He passed away on March 9, 1994, at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., at the age of 93.
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