William Randolph Hearst
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No visit to the Central Coast is complete without a stop at Hearst Castle in San
Simeon. For nearly half a century, William Randolph Hearst was the publisher,
editor, and owner of the largest journalistic empire ever assembled by one man. His
personality and use of wealth permanently left a mark on American media.
Simeon. For nearly half a century, William Randolph Hearst was the publisher,
editor, and owner of the largest journalistic empire ever assembled by one man. His
personality and use of wealth permanently left a mark on American media.
| William Randolph Hearst |
On April 29, 1863, William Randolph Hearst was born in San Francisco, California
He received the best education that his multimillionaire father, George Hearst, and
his mother Phoebe could buy—private tutors, private schools, grand tours of Europe,
and Harvard College.
He received the best education that his multimillionaire father, George Hearst, and
his mother Phoebe could buy—private tutors, private schools, grand tours of Europe,
and Harvard College.
Hearst's father had been a geologist and found luck in the California mines during
the1849 Gold Rush. As partner in some of the largest mines in America, George Hearst
easily entered politics as a California Senator. To help him politically, he purchased the
then failing San Francisco Examiner.
Meanwhile, his son, William Randolph, was routinely being expelled from school due to
pranks. He was even expelled from Harvard after sending engraved silver chamber pots
to his professors. But Hearst inherited his father's ambition and energy. In 1887, two
years after his Harvard expulsion, he took over management of a newspaper which his
father, George Hearst, had accepted as payment of a gambling debt. "I want the San
Francisco Examiner, " he wrote to his father, who granted the request. Giving his paper
a grand motto, "Monarch of the Dailies", he acquired the best equipment and the most
talented writers of the time. A self-proclaimed populist, Hearst went on to publish stories
of municipal and financial corruption, often attacking companies in which his own family
held an interest. Within a few years, his paper dominated the San Francisco market.
the1849 Gold Rush. As partner in some of the largest mines in America, George Hearst
easily entered politics as a California Senator. To help him politically, he purchased the
then failing San Francisco Examiner.
Meanwhile, his son, William Randolph, was routinely being expelled from school due to
pranks. He was even expelled from Harvard after sending engraved silver chamber pots
to his professors. But Hearst inherited his father's ambition and energy. In 1887, two
years after his Harvard expulsion, he took over management of a newspaper which his
father, George Hearst, had accepted as payment of a gambling debt. "I want the San
Francisco Examiner, " he wrote to his father, who granted the request. Giving his paper
a grand motto, "Monarch of the Dailies", he acquired the best equipment and the most
talented writers of the time. A self-proclaimed populist, Hearst went on to publish stories
of municipal and financial corruption, often attacking companies in which his own family
held an interest. Within a few years, his paper dominated the San Francisco market.
At the Examiner, young Hearst gained a talent for making fake news and
faking real news in such a way as to create maximum public shock.
From the outset he obtained top talent by paying top prices.
When George Hearst died, he left his millions in mining properties, not
to his son, but to his wife—who compensated by giving her son ten
thousand dollars a month until her death. In turn, William Randolph
Hearst invested frantically and heavily.
In 1895, with the financial support of his mother, Hearst bought the
failing New York Morning Journal, hiring writers like Stephen Crane and
Julian Hawthorne . He entered into a fierce circulation war with his
former mentor, Joseph Pulitzer, owner of the New York World, from
whom he "stole" Richard F. Outcault, the inventor of color comics.
Within a year, Hearst increased the circulation from seventy-seven
thousand to over a million by spending enough money to beat the aging
Pulitzer's World at its own sensationalist game. Hearst attracted readers
by the reporting of sports, crime, sex, scandal, and human-interest
stories. "A Hearst newspaper is like a screaming woman running
down the street with her throat cut," said Hearst writer Arthur James
Pegler.
faking real news in such a way as to create maximum public shock.
From the outset he obtained top talent by paying top prices.
When George Hearst died, he left his millions in mining properties, not
to his son, but to his wife—who compensated by giving her son ten
thousand dollars a month until her death. In turn, William Randolph
Hearst invested frantically and heavily.
In 1895, with the financial support of his mother, Hearst bought the
failing New York Morning Journal, hiring writers like Stephen Crane and
Julian Hawthorne . He entered into a fierce circulation war with his
former mentor, Joseph Pulitzer, owner of the New York World, from
whom he "stole" Richard F. Outcault, the inventor of color comics.
Within a year, Hearst increased the circulation from seventy-seven
thousand to over a million by spending enough money to beat the aging
Pulitzer's World at its own sensationalist game. Hearst attracted readers
by the reporting of sports, crime, sex, scandal, and human-interest
stories. "A Hearst newspaper is like a screaming woman running
down the street with her throat cut," said Hearst writer Arthur James
Pegler.
The Journal supported the Democratic Party, yet Hearst opposed the campaign
of Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan in 1896. In 1898
Hearst backed the Spanish-American War, which Bryan and the Democrats
opposed.
The Journal fought tenaciously to liberate Cuba from what it considered a
horrible Spanish rule. Both Hearst and Pulitzer published images of Spanish
troops placing Cubans into concentration camps where they suffered and died
from disease and hunger. The term "yellow journalism", which was derived from
the name of The Yellow Kid comic strip in the Journal, was used to refer to the
sensational style of newspaper articles that resulted from this competition. He
also is said to have told his photographers, "You furnish the pictures and I'll
furnish the war."
of Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan in 1896. In 1898
Hearst backed the Spanish-American War, which Bryan and the Democrats
opposed.
The Journal fought tenaciously to liberate Cuba from what it considered a
horrible Spanish rule. Both Hearst and Pulitzer published images of Spanish
troops placing Cubans into concentration camps where they suffered and died
from disease and hunger. The term "yellow journalism", which was derived from
the name of The Yellow Kid comic strip in the Journal, was used to refer to the
sensational style of newspaper articles that resulted from this competition. He
also is said to have told his photographers, "You furnish the pictures and I'll
furnish the war."
| Hearst Castle while under construction in 1924. |
| Millicent Wilson Hearst |
Though he served two terms in the U.S. Congress, Hearst's political ambitions
were mostly frustrated, as he failed in two bids to become Mayor of New York City
(1905 and 1909) and one race for governor of New York (1906). He was a
prominent leader of the liberal wing of the Democratic party from 1896 to 1935,
when he suddenly turned conservative.
In 1903, the day before his fortieth birthday, Hearst married twenty-one-year-old
Millicent Wilson, a beautiful 21-year-old showgirl, thus giving up Tessie Powers,
a waitress he had supported since his Harvard days . Nearly 20 years her
senior, Hearst had been seeing her since she was 16. The couple had five
sons: George Randolph Hearst (1904–1972), William Randolph Hearst Jr.
(1908–1993), John Randolph Hearst (1910–1958), and twins Randolph
Apperson Hearst (1915–2000) and David Whitmire Hearst (1915–1986).
were mostly frustrated, as he failed in two bids to become Mayor of New York City
(1905 and 1909) and one race for governor of New York (1906). He was a
prominent leader of the liberal wing of the Democratic party from 1896 to 1935,
when he suddenly turned conservative.
In 1903, the day before his fortieth birthday, Hearst married twenty-one-year-old
Millicent Wilson, a beautiful 21-year-old showgirl, thus giving up Tessie Powers,
a waitress he had supported since his Harvard days . Nearly 20 years her
senior, Hearst had been seeing her since she was 16. The couple had five
sons: George Randolph Hearst (1904–1972), William Randolph Hearst Jr.
(1908–1993), John Randolph Hearst (1910–1958), and twins Randolph
Apperson Hearst (1915–2000) and David Whitmire Hearst (1915–1986).
In 1917, Hearst became involved in an affair with another showgirl, twenty-year-old Marion
Davies of the Ziegfeld Follies. From about 1919 he lived openly with her in California, a
relationship that ended only at his death.
Millicent separated from her husband in the mid-1920s after tiring of his longtime affair with
Davies, but the couple remained legally married until Hearst's death. Millicent built an
independent life for herself in New York City as a leading philanthropist, was active in
society, and created the Free Milk Fund for the poor in 1921.
Davies of the Ziegfeld Follies. From about 1919 he lived openly with her in California, a
relationship that ended only at his death.
Millicent separated from her husband in the mid-1920s after tiring of his longtime affair with
Davies, but the couple remained legally married until Hearst's death. Millicent built an
independent life for herself in New York City as a leading philanthropist, was active in
society, and created the Free Milk Fund for the poor in 1921.
| Marion Davies |
When Hearst's mother died, he came into his inheritance and took up permanent residence on his father's
240,000-acre ranch in San Simeon, California. Beginning in 1919, Hearst spent $37 million constructing
(and never completing) the spectacular Hearst Castle, which he furnished with antiques, art, and entire
rooms brought from the great houses of Europe. Hearst formally named the estate 'La Cuesta Encantada'
('The Enchanted Hill'), but he usually just called it 'the ranch'.
He also bought St Donat's Castle near Llantwit Manor in South Wales. As with San Simeon, he spent a
fortune renovating the castle, bringing electricity not only to his residence but to the surrounding area. The
locals enjoyed having Hearst in residence at the castle; he paid his employees very well, and his arrivals
always created a big stir in a community not used to American excesses. Hearst spent much of his time
entertaining influential people at his estates. George Bernard Shaw, upon visiting St. Donat's, was quoted as
saying: "This is what God would have built if he had had the money."
His expenditures were lavish.He put $50 million into New York City real estate, and put another $50 million
into his art collection—the largest ever assembled by a single individual. Hearst Castle was donated by the
Hearst Corporation to the state of California in 1957, and is now a State Historical Monument and a National
Historic Landmark, open for public tours.
240,000-acre ranch in San Simeon, California. Beginning in 1919, Hearst spent $37 million constructing
(and never completing) the spectacular Hearst Castle, which he furnished with antiques, art, and entire
rooms brought from the great houses of Europe. Hearst formally named the estate 'La Cuesta Encantada'
('The Enchanted Hill'), but he usually just called it 'the ranch'.
He also bought St Donat's Castle near Llantwit Manor in South Wales. As with San Simeon, he spent a
fortune renovating the castle, bringing electricity not only to his residence but to the surrounding area. The
locals enjoyed having Hearst in residence at the castle; he paid his employees very well, and his arrivals
always created a big stir in a community not used to American excesses. Hearst spent much of his time
entertaining influential people at his estates. George Bernard Shaw, upon visiting St. Donat's, was quoted as
saying: "This is what God would have built if he had had the money."
His expenditures were lavish.He put $50 million into New York City real estate, and put another $50 million
into his art collection—the largest ever assembled by a single individual. Hearst Castle was donated by the
Hearst Corporation to the state of California in 1957, and is now a State Historical Monument and a National
Historic Landmark, open for public tours.
Hearst's publishing empire grew as he opened newspapers in other cities, among them Chicago, Los
Angeles and Boston. By the mid-1920s, he had a nation-wide string of 28 newspapers, among them the Los
Angeles Examiner, the Boston American, the Atlanta Georgian, the Chicago Examiner, the Detroit Times, the
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the New York Daily Mirror, the Washington Times, the Washington Herald and his
flagship the San Francisco Examiner.
Hearst also diversified his publishing interests into book publishing and magazines; several of the latter are
still extant, including such well-known periodicals as Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Town and
Country and Harper's Bazaar.
Among his other holdings were two news services, Universal News and International News Service; King
Features Syndicate; a film company, Cosmopolitan Productions; extensive New York City real estate; and
thousands of acres of land in California and Mexico, along with timber and mining interests.
The Hearst news empire reached a circulation and revenue peak about 1928, but the economic collapse of
the Great Depression and the vast over-extension of his empire cost him control of his holdings. When the
collapse came, all Hearst properties were hit hard, but none more so than the papers. Unable to service its
existing debts, Hearst Corporation faced a court-mandated reorganization in 1936. From this point, Hearst
was just another employee, subject to the directives of an outside manager. Newspapers and other
properties were liquidated, the film company shut down; there was even a well-publicized sale of art and
antiquities. While World War II restored circulation and advertising revenues, his great days were over.
Hearst died in 1951, aged eighty-eight, at Beverly Hills, California, and is buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial
Park in Colma, California. The Hearst Corporation continues to this day as a large, privately held media
conglomerate based in New York City.
Angeles and Boston. By the mid-1920s, he had a nation-wide string of 28 newspapers, among them the Los
Angeles Examiner, the Boston American, the Atlanta Georgian, the Chicago Examiner, the Detroit Times, the
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the New York Daily Mirror, the Washington Times, the Washington Herald and his
flagship the San Francisco Examiner.
Hearst also diversified his publishing interests into book publishing and magazines; several of the latter are
still extant, including such well-known periodicals as Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Town and
Country and Harper's Bazaar.
Among his other holdings were two news services, Universal News and International News Service; King
Features Syndicate; a film company, Cosmopolitan Productions; extensive New York City real estate; and
thousands of acres of land in California and Mexico, along with timber and mining interests.
The Hearst news empire reached a circulation and revenue peak about 1928, but the economic collapse of
the Great Depression and the vast over-extension of his empire cost him control of his holdings. When the
collapse came, all Hearst properties were hit hard, but none more so than the papers. Unable to service its
existing debts, Hearst Corporation faced a court-mandated reorganization in 1936. From this point, Hearst
was just another employee, subject to the directives of an outside manager. Newspapers and other
properties were liquidated, the film company shut down; there was even a well-publicized sale of art and
antiquities. While World War II restored circulation and advertising revenues, his great days were over.
Hearst died in 1951, aged eighty-eight, at Beverly Hills, California, and is buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial
Park in Colma, California. The Hearst Corporation continues to this day as a large, privately held media
conglomerate based in New York City.
| Orson Welles in Citizen Kane |
The 1941 Orson Welles' film
Citizen Kane was based in part on
the life of Hearst, who offered RKO
Pictures $800,000 to destroy all
prints of the film and burn the
negative.
Citizen Kane was based in part on
the life of Hearst, who offered RKO
Pictures $800,000 to destroy all
prints of the film and burn the
negative.
| Patty Hearst aka "Tanya" |
In 1974, Hearst's granddaughter, Patty
Hearst, made front pages nationwide when
she was kidnapped by an extremist group,
the Symbionese Liberation Army, and was
soon after caught on film helping the group to
rob banks. She renounced the SLA soon
after her arrest, and was later pardoned by
President Jimmy Carter.
Hearst, made front pages nationwide when
she was kidnapped by an extremist group,
the Symbionese Liberation Army, and was
soon after caught on film helping the group to
rob banks. She renounced the SLA soon
after her arrest, and was later pardoned by
President Jimmy Carter.
| Millicent Wilson Hearst |
| William Randolph Hearst 1939 |
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