[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF KATHARINE GRAHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 24, 2001

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Washington paid its 
last respect to an outstanding noble woman whose insight, courage and 
fortitude advanced one of this country's leading newspapers. I am here 
tonight to pay tribute to a visionary, business executive, women's 
rights activist, and a person very dear to me--Katharine Meyer Graham. 
While her passing deeply saddens me, I remain encouraged and uplifted 
by her legacy of courage and empowerment.
  Before Katharine Graham, the Washington Post was a parochial local 
paper that lacked a national audience. Her profound vision and 
intellect transformed the landscape of American journalism and raised 
the standards for an impartial and free press. She took a small town 
paper and turned it into a national media giant known as the Washington 
Post Co., whose holdings include the Washington Post newspaper, 
Newsweek magazine, various television and cable broadcast systems, and 
interests in the International Herald Tribune and the Los Angeles 
Times-Washington Post News Service.
  During the Nixon Presidency, the full scope of what became the 
Watergate Scandal would have never been known, had not this courageous 
woman stood up and said, ``Print It!'' The Post became the nemesis of 
the Nixon Administration. In turn, the President nearly crippled the 
Post with his failure to renew crucial television licenses, causing the 
paper's stock to plummet. During that crucial time, Katharine Graham 
showed the power of exposing truth. She championed the printing of the 
groundbreaking story, and insisted that the story be accurate and 
unbiased.
  From the depths of the Watergate scandal to the top secret Defense 
Department reports on Vietnam known as the Pentagon papers, Katharine's 
stewardship of the Post and her indomitable spirit propelled her to 
become the most powerful woman in American newspaper history.
  Katharine Graham commanded the largest Fortune 500 company ever run 
by a woman. She was chairwoman of the Executive Committee of the 
Washington Post Co., a Board Member of the Associated Press and 
President of the American Newspaper Publishers Association. This great 
woman was also the director of the newspaper Advertising Bureau Inc., a 
Trustee of the University of Chicago, George Washington University, and 
the Urban Institute, all this in addition to being a Pulitzer Prize 
winning author.
  Katharine Graham's impact on women and young girls has been far 
reaching. This wonderful woman fought to overcame gender inequities 
prevalent in corporate America. She made it clear that women are a 
force to be reckoned with. Katharine Graham was a Board Member of the 
National Campaign to Reduce Teenage Pregnancy and a strong advocate for 
women's issues. She had the heart of a champion, which was evident in 
her life's commitments and accomplishments.
  I am honored to have known this pioneer in my lifetime. To have known 
Mrs. Graham is to have known a trailblazing journalistic genius. Her 
legacy will live on through the Media powerhouse she built and the 
millions of lives she affected. I send my deepest sympathies to her 
family, friends, and colleagues. I will miss my dear friend 
tremendously.

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