Sherwood, Robert E.

Sherwood, Robert E. (Emmet)

(1896–1955) playwright; born in New Rochelle, N.Y. Beginning as a reviewer of books and movies, he began writing screenplays, including the original script that became the play, Idiot's Delight (1936). He won a Pulitzer Prize for this, as well as for two more plays, Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1938) and There Shall Be No Night (1940). He became a speech writer for President Franklin Roosevelt and served as director of the overseas branch of the Office of War and Information (1942–44); drawing on his inside knowledge, he wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning study, Roosevelt and Hopkins (1948).