Joseph C. Goulden
Joseph Chesley Goulden was an American writer and political reporter.
Background
Goulden was born in Marshall, Texas, on May 23, 1934. His father owned the Texian Book Store located on the southeast corner of the Harrison County Courthouse square in Marshall. Joseph learned to read at age four. He is a graduate of the University of Texas. His sons are Troy and Jimmy Goulden.In 1979, he married Leslie C. Smith, an attorney. He died from heart failure on October 17, 2025, at the age of 91.
Career
Goulden was a member of the U.S. Army, where he was trained in counter-intelligence. Later he entered journalism, working for The Dallas Morning News. At The Philadelphia Inquirer, he worked first as an investigative reporter and later as head of the Washington bureau. He became a freelance writer in 1968 and wrote for a number of publications, including Harper's, The Nation, The Washingtonian, and The Washington Times.He was a member of the Virginia Military Institute's International Studies Advisory Board.