[2] In the early 1960s, Iselin went to work for Newsweek, covering the U.S. Department of Justice under Robert F. Kennedy before becoming national affairs editor.
He then succeeded Cass Canfield Jr. as publisher of the trade division of Harper & Row,[10] before becoming general manager of WNET in 1971.
He later became president of WNET in 1973 and served in that role until his resignation in October 1986, remaining at the helm until the board named his successor, William F.
[11] He was married to Josephine Lea Iselin, a partner in the New York law firm of Lankenau, Kovner & Kurtz.
[2] Each year, Cooper Union presents the John Jay Iselin Memorial Lecture, which is focused on current events of moment and interest.