David Wise papers, 1950s-2000s

Summary Information

At a Glance

Description

Scope and Contents

The David Wise papers consists of 137.5 linear feet of archival papers with the main component specifically compiling the research, correspondence, interviews and structure of each individual book and article including the manuscript drafts, miscellaneous post publication information and related general intelligence files. As David Wise's reputation grew as an internationally respected author with impeccable integrity in the world of espionage and intelligence, his access to high level source material evolved to unduplicatable levels. The archive contains a substantive degree of primary source interviews and correspondence, with a considerable amount never before published.

Included in these interviews (some exclusive) are multiple meetings either directly, with family members, attorney's or doctors pertaining to three of the most notorious members of the American intelligence community who betrayed their country and spied for the Soviet Union.

The papers contains material from his career at the Herald-Tribune, including significant access to both the Johnson and Kennedy White House, a series of correspondence from Jacqueline Kennedy ranging in date 1960-1987, White House related lists and ephemera, miscellaneous articles and publication, electronic files and audio/visual tapes relating to his lectures, presentations and appearances for six years as a commentator on intelligence issues for CNN.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Conditions Governing Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

Material is unprocessed. Please contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Single reproductions may be made for research purposes. It is the responsibility of the user to secure permission for publication or use from the appropriate copyright holder.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); David Wise Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

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Subject

History / Biographical Note

Content Description

David Wise (May l0, 1930-October 8, 2018) was an American journalist and author who worked for the York Herald-Tribune in the 1950s-1960s. He was the White House correspondent 1960-1963 and chief of the paper's Washington D.C. bureau from 1963-1966. Beginning in 1962, Wise and Thomas Ross co-wrote three non-fiction books relating to the intelligence community "The U-2 Affair" (1962), "The Invisible Government" (1964) and "The Espionage Establishment" (1967). These three books, relying on public domain research and unclassified source interviews (including former CIA Director Allen W. Dulles), was the beginning of his career as "the best sourced, most knowledgeable author of books on espionage" as journalist Evan Thomas wrote in the New York Times. Throughout his 50 year plus career writing about the security state, Wise wrote over 10 non-fiction books, three novels and multiple magazine articles relating to the world of espionage.