Reed, John: - JOHN REED (1887-1920), U.S. journalist and activist, became best known for his writing about the Russian Revolution in Ten Days That Shook the World. Other books by Reed are: The War in Eastern Europe and Insurgent Mexico. He was a graduate of Harvard, wrote for a socialist newspaper "The Masses," and helped found the US Communist Party. Reed died in Moscow, where he received a hero's funeral.