J. Edward Murray

While associate editor of the Detroit Free Press and American Society of Newspaper Editors president (1972-73), J. Edward Murray headed the campaign to strengthen the original 1966 FOIA with the 1974 amendments.

Along with William Hornby of The Denver Post, Murray pushed for ASNE members to assert pressure on Congress, and to run editorials in support. When President Gerald Ford vetoed the legislation as “unconstitutional and unworkable,” Murray stepped up his campaign for editorials and pressure; in November 1974, the veto was soundly defeated by 371-31 in the House, 65 to 27 in the Senate.

J. Edward Murray died in 2005.