Mike Marlow, broadcast journalist, producer inspired "White House Chronicle," 89

Michael J. "Mike" Marlow, a radio and television announcer and producer and 62-year member of the National Press Club, died May 28 at his home in Ashburn, Va. He was 89.

Mike was only 14 when he started his on-air career as a sportscaster at his hometown radio station, WHK-WCLE in Cleveland, and WMRA, Canton, Ohio.

A long career at CBS included being executive producer of Face the Nation and producer of the network's Television Morning Show, Washington Conversation, Capitol Cloakroom, At the Source, Congressional Close-Up, Capitol Hill to California and Will Rogers Morning Program. Other programs he produced and directed included Overseas Mission, The United Nations’ World Chronicle, Europe Today, News Wheel, Letter from London, America’s World Forum, and Radio Australia.

He also worked with the Voice of America, Norwood Television, Martin Marietta as its media manager on the NASA Gemini-Titan manned space program, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and was a spokesman for the secretary general and deputy director at the United Nations.

Mike served as a corporal in the U.S. Army and a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, where he wrote, produced and directed various media programs, including Time for Defense, The Armed Forces Review and Pentagon-Washington.

He graduated from University of Pittsburgh in 1950 and attended Georgetown Law School. He is survived by his wife, Jean (nee Clark) Marlow; daughter Jamie Semler and her husband Doug Semler, and two grandchildren.

In addition to the Club, Mike's memberships included Sigma Delta Chi Professional Journalism Society, the Washington Press Club, Overseas Press Club, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Phi Delta Phi and Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Mike loved reading, photography, music, drama and his golden retriever, Lolly.

Marlow helped create "White House Chronicle"

Some 20 years ago Mike began working with Llewellyn King, executive producer and host of the syndicated television program “White House Chronicle,” who wrote the following remembrance of Mike:

He was one of the greats of broadcasting and one of the greatest men I have collaborated with.

I met Mike Marlow by the elevators in the National Press Club. He introduced himself and, as I was the proprietor of what was small but vibrant newsletter company, he asked me if I needed help.

I needed a conference coordinator and Mike came aboard. But the first thing I realized was that through and through he was a broadcaster. He had that voice that belongs to the airways: big, full and resonant.

I have always wondered whether broadcasters have the voice and go into broadcasting, or whether the voice comes with years of being in front of a microphone. Mike had the voice and it showed when he spoke on the telephone, or did a voice-over. It could soothe or inflame, excite or depress without changing volume: the voice of a consummate professional.

Mike pulled together one conference for me, and then he said one day, “Would you like a radio network?” My wife, Linda Gasparello, and I had just ended a six-year stint on cable television as co-hosts of a program on the stock market, and we rather missed it. I said yes, Mike went to work and “White House Chronicle” was born.

The program aired on radio for a while. But soon, Mike helped to bring it to television. Today, “White House Chronicle” airs nationwide on more than 200 stations, and worldwide on Voice of America. And, as Mike knew and appreciated, the audio from the program airs weekends on SiriusXM Radio's POTUS, Channel 124.

Mike was not only an essential force in creating the program, but he was also a delight to work with. We laughed, shared frustrations and strove to bring humor to current events.

He was not a young man when we came together 20 years ago, but he always seemed boyish to me in the way he pushed his still thick hair out of his eyes, and the way he shared in our excitements.

He had worked at CBS Radio for long time and knew all the greats, including Lowell Thomas, who made Lawrence of Arabia famous. He had worked on the staff of the U.N. secretary general and told engaging tales about the higher reaches of international bureaucracy.

But his heart belonged to broadcast journalism and the majesty of words, well-written and well-spoken. His harshest criticism of me, usually in those moments of reflection, when the lights go down on the set, came whenever he thought my hosting was “a bit episodic.” He was damn right.

Mike was a great husband to his lovely wife Jean, and a proud father to his daughter Jamie. He was also midwife to a television program, for which I am profoundly grateful as I was for his encouragement and friendship.