Warren Moscow is a noted political writer and reporter. While best known for his coverage of New York City and State, he reported extensively on national affairs as well. From 1930 to 1952 he was on the staff of the New York Times. Moscow was also actively involved in municipal government, primarily as assistant to New York City mayor Robert F. Wagner.
Moscow, son of Jacob H. and Stella M. (Klaas) Moscow, was born March 15, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Columbia University (1925-1926) and Brooklyn Law School (1926-1927). In order to work his way through school, he took a job as a reporter with the Brooklyn Daily Citizen in 1926. He soon decided journalism was more attractive than a legal career. At the age of twenty Moscow joined the staff of Hearst's New York American as city hall and political reporter. In 1930 he moved to the New York Times. He headed the newspaper's Albany Bureau from 1938 to 1944, when he went to the Pacific as a war correspondent.
During his years as a reporter, Moscow became acquainted with many leading political figures. He was an early and critical observer of Thomas E. Dewey's career. His study of New York government, Politics in the Empire State, was published in 1948.
In 1952 Moscow resigned from the New York Times to become first deputy to Manhattan borough president Robert Wagner. When Wagner became mayor two years later, Moscow accompanied him to city hall. During this period he wrote speeches for Wagner and other officials, prepared political scripts for radio and television, and became involved in such areas as housing and transportation. He left the mayor's staff in 1957 but returned to serve as executive assistant from 1958 to 1961.
After leaving government service, Moscow worked as a public relations and political consultant. From 1963 to 1966 he was editor-in-chief of the New York Law Journal. His later books include What Have You Done for Me Lately? (1967), Roosevelt and Willkie (1968), and The Last of the Big Time Bosses (1971).
Moscow's first marriage to Esther Loeb in 1934 ended in divorce. They had one daughter, Judith. In 1946 he married Jean Shalen. Twins John W. and Katherine A. were born in 1948. He lives in New York City.
