After thousands of stories, scores of awards and 23 years as executive editor of The Washington Post, Ben Bradlee retired. He was 70 years old and had made the decision, with publisher Don Graham, a few years earlier.

The transition allowed incoming Executive Editor Len Downie time to prepare and by July 31, 1991, the staff and Bradlee were ready for his departure. Accolades and jibes from his co-workers flooded in, but one in particular touched the hardened newsman.

Post correspondent Nora Boustrany sent a telegram from Beirut where she was reporting on sectarian violence: "Whenever I found myself alone on the streets of Beirut, I would just shrug off the shelling, the gunmen, and the dark corners, telling myself there is this distinguished eminence up there who really appreciates and understands the true meaning of courage in journalism."

When the party was over, Bradlee slipped into his new role of vice president at large of the Washington Post.

But even in semi-retirement, Bradlee remained engaged. After finishing his memoir in 1995, he was known to visit the Post's newsroom on occasion and work for the preservation of historic St. Mary's City in Maryland.