Frederick Cable Oechsner

Frederick Cable Oechsner
Born	(1902-11-26)November 26, 1902 New Orleans, Louisiana, US
Died	April 21, 1992(1992-04-21) (aged 89) New York City, N.Y., US
Citizenship	US
Education	Williston Academy Tulane University
Occupation(s)	Journalist, intelligence officer
Employers	New Orleans Item-Tribune The Evening Star The Sun (New York City) United Press C.I.A.
Known for	Reporting from Nazi Germany (1929-1942)
Notable work	This Is The Enemy (1942)
Spouse	Marion Oechsner
Parents	John Frederick Oechsner (farther) Caroline Kinne Oechsner, née Cable (mother)

Frederick Cable Oechsner (November 26, 1902 – April 21, 1992) was an American journalist known for his work as the Central European Manager of the United Press in Berlin before and during the World War II. He later served as an intelligence official under the Eisenhower administration. Oechsner was interned by the Germans along with the rest of the US Berlin press corps in 1941, until their release six months later in 1942.

Early life and education

Oechsner was born to John Frederick and Caroline Kinne (Cable) Oechsner in New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended Williston Academy in Easthampton, Massachusetts, graduating in 1920. Following his return to New Orleans, Oechsner enrolled in Tulane University. He was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1925 but chose not to practice law. Instead, he joined the staff of The New Orleans Item as a reporter.

Career in journalism

Oechsner began his journalism career as a reporter in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. During this time at The New Orleans Item, he worked as rewrite man, assistant city editor, drama editor, and music editor. In 1927, as The New Orleans Item reporter, Oechsner travelled to Guatemala to cover economic and political matters. As a foreign correspondent, he travelled from Guatemala to Italy and then to Paris.

Oechsner returned to the US in 1929 and joined the Washington D.C. Evening Star. In 1930 he returned to Europe and joined The Sun-Consolidated Press Foreign Service, with headquarters in Berlin. He reported from Germany until 1942. He served as the head of the Berlin bureau of the United Press. His Berlin team included Richard Helms, who later became the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1965–1973).

Oechsner co-authored the bestseller This Is The Enemy (1942), published by Little, Brown, which provided a critical examination of the Nazi regime.

Intelligence work

After his journalism career, Oechsner was appointed as the director of psychological warfare under President Eisenhower. He continued to serve in intelligence services before retiring to Florida.

Personal life

Oechsner was married to Marion and had two stepdaughters, Ann Bauer and Mary Bray Sharp, both residents of Orlando, Florida. He retired to Florida after a distinguished career in journalism and intelligence.