John Fischer, writer and editor of Harper's Magazine, was born in Texhoma, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Oklahoma from 1928 to 1932, and Oxford University from 1933 to 1935. Honorary degrees have been granted to Mr. Fischer by Kenyon College, 1954, and by Bucknell University, 1956.
Mr. Fischer's professional writing career began when he was a reporter for the Daily Oklahoman in Oklahoma City and for the Globe-News in Amarillo, Texas; from 1933 to 1935, he was a reporter for the United Press in England and Germany and from 1935 to 1937 he worked for the Associated Press in Washington, D.C.
In 1937, Mr. Fischer went to work for the United States Department of Agriculture and remained there until January, 1942, when he was employed by the Board of Economic Warfare in Washington. He held various positions with this Board and in July, 1943, he became the chief representative for the Board of Economic Warfare and Foreign Economic Administration in India, in charge of foreign intelligence and lend-lease. From June to October of 1944 Mr. Fischer was with the Foreign Economic Administration in Washington.
In 1944 Mr. Fischer assumed the position of associate editor of Harper's Magazine and in 1953 he became the editor-in-chief.
Mr. Fischer has published many articles and three books: Why They Behave Like Russians (published in Europe as The Scared Men in the Kremlin), 1947; Master Plan: U.S.A., 1951; and The Stupidity Problem and Other Harassments, 1964.
