Morton Mintz

Morton Abner Mintz (January 26, 1922 – July 28, 2025) was an American investigative journalist who in his early years (1946–1958) reported for two St. Louis, Missouri, newspapers, the Star-Times and the Globe-Democrat; and then, most notably The Washington Post (1958–1988). He exposed such scandals as thalidomide and the Dalkon Shield. From 2004 onwards, he was a Senior Adviser to Nieman Watchdog.

Early life and education Mintz was born January 26, 1922, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His parents were William and Sarah (Solomon) Mintz, Jewish immigrants from Lithuania who owned a dry goods store.

Mintz attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1943. He then enlisted in the Navy, and in June 1944, commanded a transport ship during the Normandy landings.

Mintz turned 100 years old in January 2022, and died on July 28, 2025, at the age of 103. Columbia Journalism Award, Columbia University (1983) Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild Award for Public Service (twice) Playboy Foundation's Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award for Lifetime Achievement Worth Bingham Memorial Award Heywood Broun Memorial Award Raymond Clapper Memorial Award (1962) George Polk Memorial Award

Books

Authored At Any Cost: Corporate Greed, Women, and the Dalkon Shield (1985) The Pill: An Alarming Report (1970) By Prescription Only: A report on the roles of the United States Food and Drug Administration, the American Medical Association, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and others in connection with the irrational and massive use of prescription drugs that may be worthless, injurious, or even lethal (1967). It updated: The Therapeutic Nightmare: A report on prescription drugs, the men who make them, and the agency that controls them (1965)

Co-authored America, Inc.: Who Owns and Operates the United States (1971), with Jerry S. Cohen Power, Inc. (1976), with Jerry S. Cohen Quotations from President Ron (1987), with Margaret Mintz President Ron's Appointment Book (1988), with Anita Mintz