John Scanlon; Public Relations Expert Helped Clients Manage Crises
John Scanlon, 66, a public relations expert who promoted the interests of high-profile clients in crisis situations, including former Sen. Bob Kerrey’s current controversy over his actions in Vietnam, died Friday, apparently of a heart attack.
Born in New York City, Scanlon grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Catholic University in Washington.
He began working in public relations in the early 1970s and from the start took on difficult cases.
His battles included defending “60 Minutes,” the popular CBS newsmagazine, against libel charges by Gen. William Westmoreland.
When news broke in February that Jesse Jackson had fathered a child by an unmarried associate, Scanlon was there to help spin the story. Last week, he was at Kerrey’s side while the Vietnam War veteran was discussing a mission he led in the Mekong Delta in which civilians were killed.
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