Smith, Merriam (1913–1970)

US journalist. As White House correspondent for United Press International from 1941 until his death, he covered six presidents and wrote several books about the presidency, beginning with Thank You, Mr President (1946). He was riding in the motorcade when President John F Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and won a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the event.

He was born in Savannah, Georgia. In later life he suffered a drinking problem and poor health; he committed suicide.