Charles Peters (1926–2023,) fully Charles Given Peters Jr., was an American journalist, editor, and author, best known as the founder and longtime editor-in-chief of The Washington Monthly. He combined political experience with sharp editorial vision, creating a magazine that challenged conventional wisdom and promoted reformist ideas within American politics.
Born in Charleston, West Virginia, Peters served briefly in the U.S. Army during World War II. After his discharge in 1946, he studied at Columbia, earning a B.A. in 1949 and an M.A. in 1951. He worked briefly in advertising with J. Walter Thompson before pursuing law at the University of Virginia, where he earned his J.D. in 1957. Peters practiced law in Charleston and entered politics, serving as chief staff officer of the Judiciary Committee of the West Virginia House of Delegates and later as a member of the House (1960–62.) He also managed John F. Kennedy’s campaign in Kanawha County during the 1960 election.
In 1961, Peters joined the newly formed Peace Corps, serving as director of evaluation. His experience there inspired him to launch The Washington Monthly in 1969, a magazine dedicated to reformist journalism and political accountability. He edited the publication for over three decades, shaping debates on government, media, and public service. His books include We Do Our Part: Toward a Fairer and More Equal America (2017,) a plea for civic responsibility, and earlier works such as How Washington Really Works (1980.)
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Bureaucrats write memoranda both because they appear to be busy when they are writing and because the memos, once written, immediately become proof that they were busy.
—Charles Peters
Topics: Bureaucracy
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