The parallels are striking, even more so the differences. The phrase: "It comes from within," echos down through the years back to Katherine Graham's father, Eugene Meyer, who outbid Hearst in 1933 to buy the WaPo at auction and prophetically saved it from an almost certain similar fate facing the paper in this century --- again saved by another very rich man. But where Bezos spoke in what can now be seen as hollow platitudes, Meyer, with a long history in federal government service, actually walked the walk when it came to his desire to continue to serve the public even in retirement, and carefully rebuilt the paper which had been allowed to deteriorate over a long decline. Oh, it often strongly criticized FDR and the New Deal, but it never attempted to find a mythical middle ground, as its modern incarnation seems intent on doing, preferring instead to follow the (then) time-honored journalistic principles of objectivity and fairness. This was the tradition of nurturing, impartiality and public service Katherine Graham inherited and moreover, the same required nerves of steel the old man exhibited during a successful career in finance.
Gene - that I could answer "not that much" is why I could afford a subscription. Do you realize HOW MANY DAMNED substacks there are to subscribe too? The competition is fierce out there!
Such a moving, beautiful, and heartbreaking doc. Remarkable how she was able to enter her role with such humility matched with extraordinary strength and clarity. What a brave woman. It really does intensify the outrage and sadness one feels for the ugly destruction wrought by Bezos. It really is af if everything beautiful they are touching so quickly crumbles to ruin.
I’m old and have back issues but if I’d gotten that money 20 years ago I might have used it to travel to Africa and the Galapados. As for All the President’s Men my daughter read the book in 2006 when she took a journalism class in high school. She was on the school newspaper staff also and was very impressed with the book. Don’t think she’s seen the movie. To brag here an editorial she had in the school paper entitled “Is Google evil” about their motto got used in a course at Cornell for awhile.
"Nixon: 'Women are a pain in the neck for the most part. They’re very difficult to handle. And my point is, I doubt if they’re really worth the effort.'"
To which Pat must have said, on hearing, "Think so? Well, you can go fuck yourself."
Ha! I voted as I did because if I won the money, I would give most of it away.
Thank you for your story about Howard Simons. As a former history major, I've long known that history is written by the winners. But in my dotage I'm discovering that the past is too often manipulated for effect -- or aesthetics, or whatever.
We watched that documentary about C. Graham last week, it was very good. But it was her autobiography, A Personal History, that I read years ago that truly floored me. It has remained for me one of the most influential books I’ve ever read.
Agreed. I loved the genuine humility with which she wrote it. I also loved her gentility and diplomacy and sheer classs in describing her last night with Adlai Stevenson.
We are participating in the nationwide boycott of Amazon which runs from March 7-14 and includes (at least as far as I’m concerned) Prime videos. I will watch it after the boycott is over. But I’ll go listen now to the lost scene.
I’m proud to have worked at the Post when Mrs. Graham still kept an office. I never interacted with her, but I did have brief informal interactions with Don. He was — and I’m sure remains — a friendly, curious, and humble man, and it was clear he was deeply interested in the ethics of journalism and business. The current state of things makes me sick, especially for the very good people I know who still, for the moment, work there.
Pretty cool listening to the lost scene! (Rachel did a great job!)
It was also interesting listening to the rest of the interview with Ann Hornaday. I loved how the clacking of the typewriters gradually got louder and drowned out the 21-gun salute.
Character, vision, and selflessness? I remember when people on the right used to pretend to value those things as much as we do on Team Normal. These days they contemptuously denigrate such good things as "woke." As best I can tell, that's what "woke" means: possessed of character, vision, and selflessness.
Another glaring omission in "All the President's Men" was city/special editor, Barry Sussman, a key figure in the real scheme of things Watergate at the WaPo. Let's politely chalk it up to artistic license. As far as director Alan Pakula was obviously concerned, he already had two "good" editors and a "bad" one as a foil in wrongly characterized Howard Simons. But, it was Sussman who actually paired a then neophyte reporter Bob Woodward with a more seasoned (and better writer), but more universally irritating as well, Carl Bernstein --- and then directed day-to-day Watergate coverage as a special editor with an expert touch.
You should offer Gold subscriptions for $5 million.
Problem is, you'd have to run a drug cartel or be a Russian oligarch to qualify.
The parallels are striking, even more so the differences. The phrase: "It comes from within," echos down through the years back to Katherine Graham's father, Eugene Meyer, who outbid Hearst in 1933 to buy the WaPo at auction and prophetically saved it from an almost certain similar fate facing the paper in this century --- again saved by another very rich man. But where Bezos spoke in what can now be seen as hollow platitudes, Meyer, with a long history in federal government service, actually walked the walk when it came to his desire to continue to serve the public even in retirement, and carefully rebuilt the paper which had been allowed to deteriorate over a long decline. Oh, it often strongly criticized FDR and the New Deal, but it never attempted to find a mythical middle ground, as its modern incarnation seems intent on doing, preferring instead to follow the (then) time-honored journalistic principles of objectivity and fairness. This was the tradition of nurturing, impartiality and public service Katherine Graham inherited and moreover, the same required nerves of steel the old man exhibited during a successful career in finance.
Gene - that I could answer "not that much" is why I could afford a subscription. Do you realize HOW MANY DAMNED substacks there are to subscribe too? The competition is fierce out there!
Yes. But there is only one Gene Weingarten. Accept no substitutes.
And there's only a finite amount of time to read them, too. Dammit.
Such a moving, beautiful, and heartbreaking doc. Remarkable how she was able to enter her role with such humility matched with extraordinary strength and clarity. What a brave woman. It really does intensify the outrage and sadness one feels for the ugly destruction wrought by Bezos. It really is af if everything beautiful they are touching so quickly crumbles to ruin.
A great post, my friend. And thanks for finally sharing that great line. Priceless!
I’m old and have back issues but if I’d gotten that money 20 years ago I might have used it to travel to Africa and the Galapados. As for All the President’s Men my daughter read the book in 2006 when she took a journalism class in high school. She was on the school newspaper staff also and was very impressed with the book. Don’t think she’s seen the movie. To brag here an editorial she had in the school paper entitled “Is Google evil” about their motto got used in a course at Cornell for awhile.
"Nixon: 'Women are a pain in the neck for the most part. They’re very difficult to handle. And my point is, I doubt if they’re really worth the effort.'"
To which Pat must have said, on hearing, "Think so? Well, you can go fuck yourself."
Ha! I voted as I did because if I won the money, I would give most of it away.
Thank you for your story about Howard Simons. As a former history major, I've long known that history is written by the winners. But in my dotage I'm discovering that the past is too often manipulated for effect -- or aesthetics, or whatever.
We watched that documentary about C. Graham last week, it was very good. But it was her autobiography, A Personal History, that I read years ago that truly floored me. It has remained for me one of the most influential books I’ve ever read.
Agreed. I loved the genuine humility with which she wrote it. I also loved her gentility and diplomacy and sheer classs in describing her last night with Adlai Stevenson.
We are participating in the nationwide boycott of Amazon which runs from March 7-14 and includes (at least as far as I’m concerned) Prime videos. I will watch it after the boycott is over. But I’ll go listen now to the lost scene.
Never mind…since I cancelled my Post subscription I can’t listen to the lost scene. 🤷🏻♀️
I think you can listen on Apple Podcasts. Still 23:30. Let me know if it doesn't work. --Rachel https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-untold-story-of-all-the-presidents-men/id1444873564?i=1000566859566
Yes…I was able to listen to it! Thanks!!
Annenberg has a public affairs school named after him at USC. But the documentary reveals what a vile man he was.
I’m proud to have worked at the Post when Mrs. Graham still kept an office. I never interacted with her, but I did have brief informal interactions with Don. He was — and I’m sure remains — a friendly, curious, and humble man, and it was clear he was deeply interested in the ethics of journalism and business. The current state of things makes me sick, especially for the very good people I know who still, for the moment, work there.
Had no idea they’d rearranged Simon’s role, how Hollywood evil of them.
Pretty cool listening to the lost scene! (Rachel did a great job!)
It was also interesting listening to the rest of the interview with Ann Hornaday. I loved how the clacking of the typewriters gradually got louder and drowned out the 21-gun salute.
Thanks for sharing!
Character, vision, and selflessness? I remember when people on the right used to pretend to value those things as much as we do on Team Normal. These days they contemptuously denigrate such good things as "woke." As best I can tell, that's what "woke" means: possessed of character, vision, and selflessness.
Another glaring omission in "All the President's Men" was city/special editor, Barry Sussman, a key figure in the real scheme of things Watergate at the WaPo. Let's politely chalk it up to artistic license. As far as director Alan Pakula was obviously concerned, he already had two "good" editors and a "bad" one as a foil in wrongly characterized Howard Simons. But, it was Sussman who actually paired a then neophyte reporter Bob Woodward with a more seasoned (and better writer), but more universally irritating as well, Carl Bernstein --- and then directed day-to-day Watergate coverage as a special editor with an expert touch.