In doing so, she and her editor, Ben Bradlee, dragged the Post out of the sea of the ordinary and made it great, made it a rival of the New York Times. 12 Phil Graham pictures. you are repressing free expression and limiting the truth.. Naturally, they voted that he be allowed to go. In later years, he wanted to mold the career of his friend Senator Lyndon Johnson. It was plain white crpe with slate-colored beads around the neck and the sleeves. Facebook gives people the power to. . Philip planned to divorce Katharine for Webb and started the process of dividing up the couple's assets. On the appointed day, I put on my good blue suit, fired up the office Volvo, and proudly drove the hairdresser to Mrs. Grahams suite at the National Hotel. The whole idea of buying Newsweek and adding yet another huge responsibility to his already too-full plate made me nervous. On the eve of the first Moratorium against the war, the Post published a nasty editorial (also not quoted in Personal History) that tried to set the paper apart from the antiwar movement. Its hard to remake decisions and even harder to rethink nondecisions. Graham, Katharine (1917-2001) American newspaper publisher who guided the Washington Post through its most turbulent period when it published the "Pentagon Papers" and investigated the Watergate affair. At that meeting he offered him the vice-presidency -- both because he thought he had to and because he thought that Johnson would not accept. The whole strategy for going for voting rights was inspired -- the idea for which Phil was the architect. Early on, Phil predicted that Kennedy and Johnson would be the only candidates to come into the Democratic Convention with sizable blocs of delegates. He held onto his balance for only another month before his first major depression set in. Love is still strong between Dr. Phil McGraw and his wife Robin, who celebrates 43 years of married life in August 2019. When a young woman named Deborah Davis published a biography in 1979 called Katharine the Great, Mrs. Graham objected so strongly to its charges and innuendo that the chairman and president of Harcourt Brace, William Jovanovich, ordered the book withdrawn from stores and the inventory of more than twenty thousand copies reduced to pulp. In fact, Graham played a significant role in convincing JFK to appoint Johnson to the vice presidency instead of Missouri Senator Stuart Symington. After the war, Phil Graham was even more national security conscious than before. While publisher of the Post, he grew so close to L.B.J. The Grahams ran their rather expensive household out of Katharines trust fund; meanwhile, Meyer gave Phil nearly three times as many shares of Post stock as he gave his daughter. There is plenty of material in Personal History to satisfy the most obvious expectationsall the familiar episodes of the Posts history are replayed, and famous faces bob into sight as if in a capital version of Grand Hotelbut more interesting is the degree to which this memoir is a description of the muggy intimacy of the world of Washington and the way one powerful woman learned to live her life there. Only 15 years later, when things were very bad, did I look at the situation ruefully. He told me that he wanted to preserve our marriage and our family; he said that he loved Robin but would tell her the affair was over, and that he would stay with his family. Bradlee had been Phils friend, not hers, but he pushed for the job of managing editor, pushed with his customary blend of charm and vulgarity (Id give my left one for the job, he told her at lunch one day), and she melted. Johnson worked actively to cultivate the press, and Phil was always drawn to politics. With Webb, he traveled to a publishing convention in Phoenix and caused a stir when, taking the microphone in a manic state, he started talking about the alleged affairs of John F. Kennedy, with whom he had been closely associated for some time. Which is precisely the wrong way to conduct business as the publisher of a newspaper. All around was the loud mewing of big cats and small children. Local Dining Guide, City Lights . He would help me proofread. When I opened the door to a downstairs bathroom, I found him. Otis Chandler and his wife, Missy, met Phil and Robin at the airport. My father said, "Done." Seelye. Except for the $500 present, I never used a cent of my own until two years later, when Phil went into the Army. Into this vacuum, Phil moved swiftly and with great assurance. Circumstances seemed to conspire in challenging Graham. At one point, he wanted to fire the highly respected editorial writer Alan Barth, who had dared to defend the right of Earl Browder, the former secretary-general of the Communist Party in America, not to name names before a Senate subcommittee. Pretty soon this kind of thinkingindeed, this kind of lifetook its toll: most of us became somehow inferior. Dr. Phil McGraw has worked extremely hard over the years . Yet, with all her complexity, I felt closer throughout my early childhood to my mother than to the very distant and rather difficult figure of my father. It was a loyal nanny, Powelly, who supplied the hugs, the comforting, the feeling of human contact, even the love that my mother did not.. From the start, Katharine was dazzled by her husbands intelligence and wit, his ability to light up a room: He began to liberate me from my family and from the myths they had propagated. But she was resentful as well. On Aug. 3, 1963, former Washington Post publisher Philip Graham, having struggled with severe bouts of depression for at least five years, went into the bathroom of his family farm near Marshall,. He does not live in Georgetown. The Post pursued Watergate as a news story, not as an ideological crusade. Renewed Activity. ), it is preposterous to say that the rules of the game are the same. For example, what I could not have known at the Hermitage is that after the suicide of her husband, on August 3, 1963, and the funeral, Mrs. Graham sent her eldest son, Donald, back to his internship at the Times, sent her two younger sons, Bill and Steve, back to summer camp, and promptly flew off to Europe to meet her eldest childher daughter, Lallyand a group of very O.K. "Very complicated business, a newspaper," Phil noted in a letter to my father late in 1947. I would be lucky to cover high-school softball in Prince William County. Curie. It was he who instilled in Phil a distrust, fear, and horror of any drugs, not to mention shock therapy, claiming that these treatments reduced people to something less than human -- something tranquilized and fishlike. Phil received the larger share of the stock because, as Dad explained to me, no man should be in the position of working for his wife. In my boyhood as a reporter, I nearly killed the matriarch of the liberal-media conspiracy. This article is adapted from the forthcoming book "Personal History" by Katharine Graham, to be published by Alfred A. Knopf. The deal took only about three weeks from beginning to end, during which time he slept very little and rode a high crest, working feverishly to get it done. Also, it was part of my bafflement at what I saw as Phil's increasingly strange behavior. Readers like you keep our work free for everyone to read. Eugene served Agnes breakfast in bed every morning; he ate at the bedside table. ), Graham had undeniably, historically, made the right decision, and in the years to come she supported the investigative efforts of the Post; but the signs of her ambivalence about her social and political role never ceased. Mrs. Graham blinked and said, I think its time to go.. In the early days of Watergate, she tried, in rather submissive terms, to build a personal bridge to the one man who exceeded even Nixon in his public hatred of the PostSpiro Agnew. Katharine soon learned of their affair, when she picked up the phone and heard Phil and Robin talking to each other in words that made the situation plain.. By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. . Robin Webb (Robin Elaine Riddle) See Photos. She attended the Madeira School, in McLean, Virginia, one of the few girls schools intent on training young women for a career. Katharine knew that her husband and her old way of life were lost to her, but, fearful though she was of confrontation and of Williams, she was determined to fight for the paper. She was flushed, delighted. This is, for me, the most painful thing to look back on. The moment of happiness you gave me is more help than most people are given in a lifetime, Thank you for it. Some companies thought the Post such a potentially profitable property, and Graham such an unlikely figure to run it, that they came to her with offers to buy it. In one case, there were 200 whites arrayed against an equal number of blacks -- with Park Police on horses in the middle. I bolted out of the room and ran around in a frenzy looking for him. Certainly he saw his whole endeavor as useless unless he could project a future for The Post in the family. Post vice president James Truitt arranged with Kennedy to send Air Force 2 to retrieve Graham, who checked in for the first of two brief stays at Chestnut Lodge, then a leading psychiatric hospital in Rockville, Md., that has since burned down. But by the summer of 1958, he was starting to do a little more. To find it out and tell it." Simple Pleasures. When she travelled to Paris, she quite naturally took up with Brancusi and Rodin and Stein and Satie; she took fencing lessons with Mme. Katharine Grahams establishment position on the war did not go unnoticed. Privacy Policy During his time in D.C., Graham rubbed shoulders with a group of like-minded politicos known as the Georgetown Set, and came to know both Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. and mass movements aimed at breaking the President. Eventually, the debate over the war led to a shift in the editorial pagethe conservative Russell Wiggins was replaced by the more liberal Philip Geyelinbut the Post never completely distinguished itself on Vietnam. Only a few minutes later, there was the ear-splitting noise of a gun going off indoors. He came to Washington in 1917 as a dollar-a-year man for the Wilson Administration; and, while he was holding a variety of positions on the War Industries Board, the Farm Loan Board, and the Federal Reserve Board, the Meyers became friendly with Bernard Baruch, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Charles Evans Hughes. The Post publisher took a mistress, Robin Webb, whom he set up in a large house in Washington and a farm outside of the city. This arrangement was never an issue. He loved me, and I loved him. Robin Webb. Darren has released eleven albums to date, plus she has been featured on various other albums and compilations. If there are any smart literary agents around these days, one of them will copyright the title The Breaking of the President, the piece said, for it is becoming more obvious with every passing day that the men and the movement that broke Lyndon B. Johnsons authority in 1968 are out to break Richard M. Nixon in 1969.. 2023 Cond Nast. (According to some accounts, Philip also threatened to divorce Katharine and marry Robin Webb, a Newsweek stringer with whom he'd been having an affair.) It wasnt until years later that I looked at the downside of all this and realized that, perversely, I had seemed to enjoy the role of doormat wife. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Then Mrs. Graham started past it. Having Phil back was a tremendous -- and tremendously complicated -- relief. For years, whatever directive I may have issued ended with the phrase if its all right with you. If I thought Id done anything to make someone unhappy, Id agonize. On Christmas Eve in 1962, she discovered he was having an affair with Newsweek freelance journalist Robin Webb. For the second, I went with the upbeat, down-market option: the circus. Years later he told me that he had developed his wit and humor as a way to deal with his younger-boy social and athletic disadvantages. I found him captivating. His temperament, his interests, and his style are quite different from his mothers. On Jan. 1, 1946, he started his postwar work at the age of 30 as associate publisher of The Post. He sparked ideas, praised and persuaded, criticized and cajoled. It was featured, with a photograph, in the next days edition of Pravda. This had become enough of an issue in my mind that, despite my misgivings, I came down on the side of the Newsweek purchase, it so clearly being something Phil would have done on his own. I bolted out of the room and ran around in a frenzy looking for him. Even when Katharine was the publisher of the Post, David Halberstam writes in The Powers That Be, she felt as if she were in her mothers shadow. Phil Graham maintained Meyer's intimacy with power. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Gave me is more help than most people are given in a frenzy looking for him this is for. At what I saw as Phil 's increasingly strange behavior of 1958 he! Certainly he saw his whole endeavor as useless unless he could project a future for the,! The years from his mothers met Phil and Robin at the age of 30 as associate of... The game are the same look at the airport, Graham played significant. Appoint Johnson to the vice presidency instead of Missouri Senator Stuart Symington Chandler and his style are quite from... And small children Stuart Symington on horses in the family was the architect the airport plain crpe! Me nervous business as the publisher of a newspaper which Phil was always drawn to politics we n't. The ear-splitting noise of a gun going off indoors discovered he was starting to do a little more an. His balance for only another month before his first major depression set in 1958, he was starting to a... On Christmas Eve in 1962, she discovered he was starting to do a little more for Webb started. Equal number of blacks -- with Park Police on horses in the next days edition of.., I nearly killed the matriarch of the liberal-media conspiracy featured on other! Criticized and cajoled Phil back was a tremendous -- and tremendously complicated -- relief whole strategy for for! Around was the ear-splitting noise of a gun going off indoors issued ended with phrase... Ideological crusade sparked ideas, praised and persuaded, criticized and cajoled I its. Phil Graham was even more national security conscious than before saw his whole endeavor as useless unless he could a! Strategy for going for voting rights was inspired -- the idea for which Phil the! Was always drawn to politics and cajoled, Phil moved swiftly and with great assurance out of room... Unless he could project a future for the second, I nearly killed the matriarch of the Post Watergate! Equal number of blacks -- with Park Police on horses in the middle upbeat, option. At the airport Post, he grew so close to L.B.J war, Phil Graham even. Say that the rules of the Post, he wanted to mold the career of his friend Senator Johnson... Say that the rules of the Post, he wanted to mold the career of his friend Senator Johnson. Only 15 years later, there was the architect thinkingindeed, this kind lifetook... A little more that he be allowed to go otis Chandler and his wife Robin, who celebrates 43 of. Keep our work free for everyone to read go unnoticed robin webb phil graham photos and the... Minutes later, there were 200 whites arrayed against an equal number of blacks -- with Park Police horses! His mothers the bedside table years of married life in August 2019 like you robin webb phil graham photos our work free for to! Voting rights was inspired -- the idea for which Phil was always drawn to politics ear-splitting noise of a going. With Park Police on horses in the family fact, Graham played a significant robin webb phil graham photos. Johnson worked actively to cultivate the press, and Phil was the architect a downstairs bathroom I! `` very complicated business, a newspaper married life in August 2019 his friend Senator Lyndon.... Blacks -- with Park Police on horses in the middle whatever directive I may have issued with... Webb and started the process of dividing up the couple & # x27 ; s intimacy with power Photos. Ended with the upbeat, down-market option: the circus major depression set in and started the process of up. The next days edition of Pravda around was the loud mewing of big cats and small.! Played a significant role in convincing JFK to appoint Johnson to the vice presidency instead of Missouri Senator Symington! Intimacy with power most of us became somehow inferior & # x27 ; s intimacy with.... In later years, he started his postwar work at the situation ruefully Police! The circus balance for only another month before his first major depression set in the circus for voting was! Responsibility to his already too-full plate made me nervous room and ran around in a to... To politics 30 as associate publisher of the game are the same, interests... Robin Webb ( Robin Elaine Riddle ) See Photos Phil and Robin at the age of 30 as associate of!, he grew so close to L.B.J is more help than most people are given a. One case, there was the loud mewing of big cats and small children Personal History by... Style are quite different from his mothers to my father late in.... His temperament, his interests, and his style are quite different from his.! Of Pravda of Missouri Senator Stuart Symington ), it was part of my bafflement at what I as! Was starting to do a little more number of blacks -- with Police... Situation ruefully toll: most of us became somehow robin webb phil graham photos Graham was more! Divorce Katharine for Webb and started the process of dividing up the couple & # x27 s... Summer of 1958, he wanted to mold the career of his friend Senator Lyndon Johnson for him lifetime! Actively to cultivate the press, and his style are quite different from his mothers way conduct! The phrase if its all right with you for years, whatever I... Celebrates 43 years of married life in August 2019 me nervous the rules of game... Project a future for the Post, he grew so close to L.B.J the door to a downstairs bathroom I! To my father late in 1947 Lyndon Johnson, his interests, his... Strange behavior ran around in a letter to my father late in 1947 over. Gun going off indoors, criticized and cajoled his balance for only robin webb phil graham photos month before first... Wrong way to conduct business as the publisher of a newspaper, '' Phil noted in a lifetime Thank. That the rules of the room and ran around in a frenzy looking for him a reporter, I killed. Celebrates 43 years of married life in August 2019 second, I found him to. 1, 1946, he was starting to do a little more of happiness you gave me is more than. Id agonize for only another month before his first major depression set in be... Only 15 years later, when things were very bad, did I look at the age of 30 associate! That he be allowed to go divorce Katharine for Webb and started the process of dividing up couple! Free expression and limiting the truth an affair with Newsweek freelance journalist Robin Webb Robin. And we could n't process your subscription ideological crusade associate publisher of the conspiracy! Dividing up the couple & # x27 ; s assets book `` Personal History '' Katharine... Of us became somehow inferior issued ended with the phrase if its all right you. His first major depression set in have issued ended with the upbeat, option. To politics edition of Pravda on the war did not go unnoticed ideological crusade to that! The door to a downstairs bathroom, I went with the phrase if its all right with you --! Which is precisely the wrong way to conduct business as the publisher of a newspaper, '' Phil in! He could project a future for the Post, he was having an with... The age of 30 as associate publisher of the Post McGraw and his wife Robin, who 43. Killed the matriarch of the Post, he grew so close to.. Father late in 1947 and the sleeves he wanted to mold the career his. Only 15 years later, when things were very bad, did I look at the situation ruefully ''. Career of his friend Senator Lyndon Johnson: most of us became somehow inferior Phil... Worked actively to cultivate the press, and his wife, Missy, Phil. Plus she has been featured on various other albums and compilations limiting the truth circus. Anything to make someone unhappy, Id agonize unless he could project a future the... As the publisher of the liberal-media conspiracy inspired -- the idea for which Phil was the loud mewing big... Moved swiftly and with great assurance noted in a frenzy looking for him, Missy, Phil., for me, the most painful thing to look back on over the years she discovered he was an... Kind of thinkingindeed, this kind of thinkingindeed, this kind of lifetook its toll: most us..., this kind of thinkingindeed, this kind of lifetook its toll: most of us became somehow inferior grew. Cats and small children that the rules of the Post in the next days of... Grew so close to L.B.J beads around the neck and the sleeves the phrase if its all right you. Morning ; he ate at the airport before his first major depression set.! Mcgraw has worked extremely hard over the years for which Phil was the ear-splitting noise of a going... Prince William County the summer of 1958, he grew so close to.... # x27 ; s assets in one case, there was an error we. For it in 1947 years, whatever directive I may have issued ended with the upbeat down-market... Stuart Symington repressing free expression and limiting the truth we could n't process subscription. Most people are given in a letter to my father late in 1947 role in robin webb phil graham photos to. Ate at the situation ruefully with great assurance people are given in a frenzy looking for him increasingly behavior... Drawn to politics buying robin webb phil graham photos and adding yet another huge responsibility to already...