Katharine the Great: Katharine Graham and Her Washington Post Empire

Rating:
Summary: [Garbage]
Review: A pretty good title, when you think of it. The Two Kates. Both German (or in Katharine's case, half- German), both with husbands who couldn't cut it and who died leaving power in their hands. Both loving secrecy and both believing that the full story wasn't necessary for the masses to hear. Is it outrageous that the first edition of this book was killed? Yes. After all, Ms. Davis wasn't one of Graham's reporters, to be brought to heel by an editor like Bradlee. Independent thought - how threatening to major media? Of course it is embarrassing to have someone question your motives in Watergate, the Post's most astounding triumph. Of course it is embarrassing to have your husband's suicide and prior mental illness discussed openly, along with his grandiose gaffs during the course of it. All very painful. And then to have your crusading editor, Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee described as an Old Boy with CIA/USAID ties, who helped ease the Rosenberg's into their electric chairs by conducting counter-intelligence in France in the 50's. The French were suspicious of our motives in executing these spies. The campaign of rhetoric which our secret government agencies conducted was to show that these were not political murders, but the normal workings of a democracy, not a totalitarian state. This is an appendix to the main work, but its purpose is to show Bradlee's access to something perhaps more powerful than the Nixon White House in its darkest, most paranoid hours. The thesis presented is that Nixon did not go because of the Watergate cover-up, but possibly because he (like the late Mr. Graham) was nuts and thus a security threat. Deep Throat is advanced as being known not just by Woodward (former Office of Naval Intelligence), but by Bradlee. In other words, the People still don't know the deeper story. Graham's family background is done deftly and intelligently. Her family had been able to connect with wealth and power from its first days in America, but also (through her mother, Agnes)with cutting-edge stylists and image-makers. Agnes seems to have fallen in love in late middle age with the emigre writer Thomas Mann, and to have exercised great psychological power over him. Agnes seems to have given the blessing to her daughter, and to have encouraged her to take over the Washington Post. The underlying mother-daughter story is of deep interest. In fact, Agnes almost seems to reach for power through her daughter, after resigning in alcoholic frustration from important affairs herself. This book is worth a few re-readings. It works on so many levels.It will have you questioning the Hollywood version of crusading reporters who work for well-entrenched media giants.

Rating:
Summary: Establishment Icon
Review: A pretty good title, when you think of it. The Two Kates. Both German (or in Katharine's case, half- German), both with husbands who couldn't cut it and who died leaving power in their hands. Both loving secrecy and both believing that the full story wasn't necessary for the masses to hear. Is it outrageous that the first edition of this book was killed? Yes. After all, Ms. Davis wasn't one of Graham's reporters, to be brought to heel by an editor like Bradlee. Independent thought - how threatening to major media? Of course it is embarrassing to have someone question your motives in Watergate, the Post's most astounding triumph. Of course it is embarrassing to have your husband's suicide and prior mental illness discussed openly, along with his grandiose gaffs during the course of it. All very painful. And then to have your crusading editor, Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee described as an Old Boy with CIA/USAID ties, who helped ease the Rosenberg's into their electric chairs by conducting counter-intelligence in France in the 50's. The French were suspicious of our motives in executing these spies. The campaign of rhetoric which our secret government agencies conducted was to show that these were not political murders, but the normal workings of a democracy, not a totalitarian state. This is an appendix to the main work, but its purpose is to show Bradlee's access to something perhaps more powerful than the Nixon White House in its darkest, most paranoid hours. The thesis presented is that Nixon did not go because of the Watergate cover-up, but possibly because he (like the late Mr. Graham) was nuts and thus a security threat. Deep Throat is advanced as being known not just by Woodward (former Office of Naval Intelligence), but by Bradlee. In other words, the People still don't know the deeper story. Graham's family background is done deftly and intelligently. Her family had been able to connect with wealth and power from its first days in America, but also (through her mother, Agnes)with cutting-edge stylists and image-makers. Agnes seems to have fallen in love in late middle age with the emigre writer Thomas Mann, and to have exercised great psychological power over him. Agnes seems to have given the blessing to her daughter, and to have encouraged her to take over the Washington Post. The underlying mother-daughter story is of deep interest. In fact, Agnes almost seems to reach for power through her daughter, after resigning in alcoholic frustration from important affairs herself. This book is worth a few re-readings. It works on so many levels.It will have you questioning the Hollywood version of crusading reporters who work for well-entrenched media giants.

Rating:
Summary: Liberalism and Media Control
Review: I have read this book and find it to be both entertaiining and informative.It works on the both the level of biography and media criitique. What Davis has done is to record the history of the Graham family fortune along with the liberal ideological adornments that almost makes the familiy and Katharine Graham somewhat sympathic personages. Almost is good choice with respect to this bunch. Because, as the author does so well in outlining the byzsantine grap for political influence of the Post and its owner, we become aware that the Graham liberalism follows the same path as described by J.S. Mill and smowhat more. Classic liberalism seeks power just as the conservative money class does but with a singular difference that ,it is the message not the methods that makes the difference between the two. The classic liberal, and Graham was cetainly cut from that cloth, wants to promote the cut of fairness, individual rights and the rule of law. In other words the liberal wants everyone to feel equal and that the game of capitalism is a fair game. Thus we have the Washington Post , guardian of fairness, publishing the Pentagon Papers, exposing America's shameful war. Or so goes the myth. But Davis puts the lie to this myth and exposes the CIA links and other covert operative connections in the Post. She exposes the CIA connection with Ben Bradlee, editor of the Post. As we now know, the media in America is far from free( and this applies so much so to the money class who own the media) but as Davis shows the media is infiltrated by government operatives ( especially at the national level) . So as anyone who reads this book will see the media and press must be taken with a grain of doubt.

Rating:
Summary: Liberalism and Media Control
Review: I have read this book and find it to be both entertaiining and informative.It works on the both the level of biography and media criitique. What Davis has done is to record the history of the Graham family fortune along with the liberal ideological adornments that almost makes the familiy and Katharine Graham somewhat sympathic personages. Almost is good choice with respect to this bunch. Because, as the author does so well in outlining the byzsantine grap for political influence of the Post and its owner, we become aware that the Graham liberalism follows the same path as described by J.S. Mill and smowhat more. Classic liberalism seeks power just as the conservative money class does but with a singular difference that ,it is the message not the methods that makes the difference between the two. The classic liberal, and Graham was cetainly cut from that cloth, wants to promote the cut of fairness, individual rights and the rule of law. In other words the liberal wants everyone to feel equal and that the game of capitalism is a fair game. Thus we have the Washington Post , guardian of fairness, publishing the Pentagon Papers, exposing America's shameful war. Or so goes the myth. But Davis puts the lie to this myth and exposes the CIA links and other covert operative connections in the Post. She exposes the CIA connection with Ben Bradlee, editor of the Post. As we now know, the media in America is far from free( and this applies so much so to the money class who own the media) but as Davis shows the media is infiltrated by government operatives ( especially at the national level) . So as anyone who reads this book will see the media and press must be taken with a grain of doubt.

Rating:
Summary: Liberal Biased Press My You-Know-What
Review: I was really quite surprised at this bio of Katharine Graham, owner of The Washington Post (and Madison Council member of the Library of Congress).

I did not realize just how filthy rich this woman was. I found the story of her family (as well as the Jewish heritage) quite fascinating. I did not know, for instance, that her father was responsible for the way stocks are now weighted. That he was able to come up with a scientific (or qualifiable) means to rate stocks was truly revolutionary.

It was due to this wealth that Katharine was introduced to the high and mighty at an early age. Being born self-confident and rich always gives people an edge. I was impressed with her education in that, unlike many rich people, she actually tried to make a difference while at school.

What is most disturbing is the background on how intelligence agencies completely took over the print media. That individuals like Phil Graham and Ben Bradlee were intelligence agents and believed the press should advance government positions shows just how depraved these individuals really were. Not one of them bothered to read or understand the Constitution and the need for a free press.

After Graham died (a tad convenient, don't you think?), Katharine became one of the worst suck-ups to the government. As on page 249, Ward Just was reporting on how badly the Vietnam War was going. Can't have that, you know. Bradlee and Katharine replaced his defeatist reporting with uber-hawk, hack scribbler, and future Library of Congress Director of Communications (brought in by CIA Billington) Peter Braestrup. His take on the Tet Offensive, The Big Story, is always good for a laugh.

There is, because of this, much speculation regarding who did Nixon in. Was it a CIA plot? Katharine's relations with the CIA went beyond Phil Graham and Bradlee. Even Bob Woodward was a former intelligence officer. After reading this book you do wonder why these CIA types can't be satisfied with writing their reports from Langley.

This book can be a bit weak on sources, but it certainly does give a good overview of just what this woman was really all about.

Rating:
Summary: [Garbage]
Review: This book relies on innuendo and loose causality to "prove" itself. Most of the sordid material relates to Ben Bradlee and Phil Graham, not to Katharine herself. One of the worst conspiracy theories ever constructed. Not edifying in any way. Read Katharine Graham's autobiography "Personal History," instead of this [garbage].