Obituary: Robert L. Breeden

Robert L. Breeden, who helped launch a series of popular books about the White House for National Geographic, died March 15 at his home in McLean. He was 87.

His daughter, Cindy Scudder, told The Washington Post the cause of death was a brain tumor.

Mr. Breeden was a top officer with the National Geographic Society, and in addition to helping launch the books on the White House, he was largely responsible for such magazines as National Geographic Traveler, according to an obituary in The Post.

He worked closely with first lady Jacqueline Kennedy to publish "The White House: An Historic Guide" in 1962. Published in conjunction with the White House Historical Association, the non-profit used book sale proceeds to help support White House refurbishment and acquisitions, the Post reported.

Mr. Breeden eventaully persuaded his superiors to begin an independent book publishing enterprise, National Geographic's special-publications division. The Post reports Mr. Breeden oversaw sales that would rise to more than 100 million books.

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