A former professor who worked in the Commerce Department hired him, but his appointment to a high position at such a young age earned him criticism in the press and he resigned.
For the next year he traveled the country in the middle of the Depression, eventually returning to become a reporter at The Washington Daily News, writing a column for government employees.
Less than two years later he was hired to write the same kind of column for the Post, where he was soon assigned to cover war mobilization efforts and anti-war strikes.
While in the military he was involved in cryptography and intelligence operations, finally becoming the second in command at Bletchley Park, and the highest ranking American officer there.
It administers the Alfred Friendly Press Partners to bring foreign journalists to the United States for internships at prominent news organizations.