Joseph Wright Alsop V was an American journalist and syndicated newspaper columnist from the 1930s through the 1970s. He was an influential journalist and top insider in Washington, D.C., from 1945 to the late 1960s, often in conjunction with his brother Stewart Alsop. He also worked as a covert operative of the Central Intelligence Agency. No. 1 on The New York Times Nonfiction best seller list for 4 weeks, from the issue of May 13, 1940. Wiki link