Katharine the Great
Encyclopedia
Katharine the Great: Katharine Graham and The Washington Post is an unauthorized biography of Katharine Graham
, the newspaper owner, authored by Deborah Davis, and initially released in 1979.
The book was first published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (HBJ), but they withdrew the book from circulation after a few weeks and returned the rights to Davis after citing that "certain facts and circumstances have arisen since publication." Davis sued HBJ for $6 million in 1982 for breach of contract, alleging the recall came after a letter from the Washington Posts executive editor, Benjamin C. Bradlee
to the publisher; Bradlee called the publication of the book "completely irresponsible" and then listed 39 errors where his name appeared. The suit was settled out of court for $100,000.
, including details of the death of her husband Philip Graham in 1963, advances some theories that have been met with considerable controversy. For example, Davis claimed that the source behind the Watergate scandal
, popularly known as Deep Throat
, was a CIA officer named Richard Ober (in fact, it was later revealed that Deep Throat had been FBI Associate Director Mark Felt). She also claims that the Washington Post's executive editor, Benjamin C. Bradlee
, was part of a CIA propaganda plan to support the convictions of spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
.
, an illegal domestic CIA operation whose purpose was the manipulation of the mass media
in the United States
for the purpose of political propaganda
, was first exposed in Davis' book. The manipulation was accomplished by the recruitment of the top owners, publishers, and/or editors of key organizations; sometimes just a single key person. Some of the organizations targeted were the New York Times, the Washington Post, the CBS
television network and Time magazine. These were the most respected U.S. news organizations which other news media followed on important stories. These stories could either be killed or promoted for propaganda purposes. Philip Graham is alleged to have been a former CIA employee, and, as the owner of the Washington Post, one of the first to participate in the CIA operation.
, The Washington Post
, The New York Times
and others.
Davis' 1983 settlement with HBJ was heralded as a victory for writers though by Eve Pell of The Nation
, but Pell saw both at fault for failing to fact check.
Katharine Graham
Katharine Meyer Graham was an American publisher. She led her family's newspaper, The Washington Post, for more than two decades, overseeing its most famous period, the Watergate coverage that eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon...
, the newspaper owner, authored by Deborah Davis, and initially released in 1979.
The book was first published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (HBJ), but they withdrew the book from circulation after a few weeks and returned the rights to Davis after citing that "certain facts and circumstances have arisen since publication." Davis sued HBJ for $6 million in 1982 for breach of contract, alleging the recall came after a letter from the Washington Posts executive editor, Benjamin C. Bradlee
Benjamin C. Bradlee
Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee is a vice president at-large of The Washington Post. As executive editor of the Post from 1968 to 1991, he became a national figure during the presidency of Richard Nixon, when he challenged the federal government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers and...
to the publisher; Bradlee called the publication of the book "completely irresponsible" and then listed 39 errors where his name appeared. The suit was settled out of court for $100,000.
Synopsis
This biography of Katharine GrahamKatharine Graham
Katharine Meyer Graham was an American publisher. She led her family's newspaper, The Washington Post, for more than two decades, overseeing its most famous period, the Watergate coverage that eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon...
, including details of the death of her husband Philip Graham in 1963, advances some theories that have been met with considerable controversy. For example, Davis claimed that the source behind the Watergate scandal
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
, popularly known as Deep Throat
Deep Throat
Deep Throat is the pseudonym given to the secret informant who provided information to Bob Woodward of The Washington Post in 1972 about the involvement of United States President Richard Nixon's administration in what came to be known as the Watergate scandal...
, was a CIA officer named Richard Ober (in fact, it was later revealed that Deep Throat had been FBI Associate Director Mark Felt). She also claims that the Washington Post's executive editor, Benjamin C. Bradlee
Benjamin C. Bradlee
Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee is a vice president at-large of The Washington Post. As executive editor of the Post from 1968 to 1991, he became a national figure during the presidency of Richard Nixon, when he challenged the federal government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers and...
, was part of a CIA propaganda plan to support the convictions of spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
Ethel Greenglass Rosenberg and Julius Rosenberg were American communists who were convicted and executed in 1953 for conspiracy to commit espionage during a time of war. The charges related to their passing information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union...
.
Operation Mockingbird
Operation MockingbirdOperation Mockingbird
Operation Mockingbird was a secret Central Intelligence Agency campaign to influence foreign media beginning in the 1950s.The activities, extent and even the existence of the CIA project remain in dispute: the operation was first called Mockingbird in Deborah Davis' 1979 book, Katharine the Great:...
, an illegal domestic CIA operation whose purpose was the manipulation of the mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the purpose of political propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
, was first exposed in Davis' book. The manipulation was accomplished by the recruitment of the top owners, publishers, and/or editors of key organizations; sometimes just a single key person. Some of the organizations targeted were the New York Times, the Washington Post, the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television network and Time magazine. These were the most respected U.S. news organizations which other news media followed on important stories. These stories could either be killed or promoted for propaganda purposes. Philip Graham is alleged to have been a former CIA employee, and, as the owner of the Washington Post, one of the first to participate in the CIA operation.
Criticism
The book received unfavorable reviews from the Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and others.
Davis' 1983 settlement with HBJ was heralded as a victory for writers though by Eve Pell of The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
, but Pell saw both at fault for failing to fact check.