William Randolph Hearst

The film Citizen Kane was loosely based on him. It's not that bad a film so i would definitely suggest watching it. I thought I'd bullet point some things about Mr Hearst for future reference.

• He was born to a millionaire mining engineer on April 29th 1863.
• He went to Harvard College but later left after giving pots to his Lecturers with their names inscribed.
• He entered the publishing business in 1887 after taking control from his father of The San Francisco Examiner.
• After his move to New York he acquired The New York Journal and started direct competition with Joseph Pulitzer who ran The New York World.
• Hearst created a chain of nearly 30 newspapers in major American cities. At his peak he expanded to magazines - creating the largest magazine and newspaper business in the World.
• He created magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Harpers Bazaar and Town and Country. Many of which are still around today which proves his powers in the Journalism business.
• He was twice elected as democrat to the US house of Representatives but ran unsuccessfully of Mayor of New York City in 1905 and 1909, for Governor of New York in 1906 and for Lieutenant Governor in 1910.
• He was a prominent leader of the Liberal wing of the Democratic party from 1896 to 1935 although he became more Conservative later in life.
• His life became an inspiration for the lead character in Orson Welles's Citizen Kane.
• He was a self proclaimed Populist.
• Hearst made the Holocaust big news whilst others played it down and said - "making the flag of National Socialism a symbol of National Savagery"- Kristallnacht.
• He married Millicent Veronica Willson whose Mother ran a Brothel. She was a 21 year old chorus girl and bore him 5 sons.
• One son went on to win the Pulitzer prize for Journalism.
• He had an open affair with Marion Davies, he left his wife but they never divorced.
• Hearst - "routinely invented sensational stories, faked interviews, ran phony pictures and distorted real events" - this became known as 'Yellow Journalism'.

For another view of Mr Hearst, Citizen Kane is on You tube.