Clifton Daniel

Elbert Clifton Daniel Jr. was born on September 19, 1912, in Zebulon, North Carolina, to Elbert Clifton Daniel, who served as the mayor and was a druggist in Zebulon, and Elvah T. Jones Daniel. He pursued his higher education at an unspecified institution.

Throughout his career in journalism, Clifton Daniel held prominent positions, including serving as the London and Moscow bureau chief for The New York Times. He later became the managing editor of the newspaper, a role he held from 1964 to 1969.

On April 21, 1956, Daniel married Margaret Truman, the daughter of U.S. President Harry S. Truman. The marriage took place at Trinity Episcopal Church in Independence, Missouri. The couple resided in Washington, D.C., and New York City during their marriage.

Clifton Daniel and Margaret Truman had four sons together. One of their sons, William Wallace Daniel, died on September 4, 2000, at the age of 41, after being struck by a taxicab in Manhattan. Margaret Truman Daniel died in January 2008.

Elbert Clifton Daniel Jr. suffered from heart disease and experienced a stroke prior to his death. He passed away at the age of 87 on February 21, 2000, at his residence on Park Avenue in Manhattan.

In addition to his professional achievements, Clifton Daniel appeared on the television program "What's My Line?" as a contestant on July 15, 1956, and participated as a guest panelist on June 16, 1957.

His papers and interviews are archived at the Manuscripts and Archives Division of The New York Public Library, including an oral history interview with the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. An obituary published by The New York Times, as well as a film clip related to "The Open Mind" discussion on the presidency from 1984, are publicly accessible online.