Hearst, William Randolph

William Randolph Hearst (1863–1951) is best known as a publishing magnate in the early 20th century, having owned magazines and newspapers throughout the United States. Hearst was a political force in New York City, running for office at various levels and assisting Democratic candidates in his role as editor of the New York Journal. Hearst's personal and financial interests included film, radio, mining, and architecture. Popular culture has been imprinted with Hearst's caricature in Orson Welles's film Citizen Kane, loosely based on Hearst's life.

Hearst was born on April 29, 1863, in San Francisco. His father was George Hearst, a miner turned millionaire and U.S. senator. Hearst's adult personality was forged by the cosmopolitan ways of his mother, Phoebe, and the hard work and persistence of his father. After graduation from Harvard University, Hearst went to work for his father's newspaper, the San Francisco Examiner, which he would take over at age 23. Using Joseph Pulitzer's New York World as inspiration, Hearst attempted to make the Examiner a similar paper by using flashier illustrations and more sensational stories than his competitors.

By age 32, Hearst had bought the New York Daily Journal and renamed it simply the New York Journal. Now in direct competition with Pulitzer, Hearst had to use techniques similar to those that had revived the San Francisco paper. the Journal started publication in 1895, and its circulation growth was aided by the foreign conflict in Cuba. Hearst used foreign correspondents, graphic images, and sensational accounts to create a more publication-friendly conflict. Hearst also employed prominent correspondents such as William Jennings Bryan, Benito Mussolini, and Winston Churchill to get attention for the Journal.

Hearst used his publishing prominence for the purpose of Democratic Party activism. Hearst was elected to Congress in 1902, fusing politics and journalism at a level never before seen in American history. Following his failed attempt to get the Democratic nomination for president in 1904, Hearst attempted to run for mayor of New York City in 1905 and for governor of New York in 1906. His disillusionment with Tammany Hall spurred his support of an Independence Party, of Herbert Hoover in 1928, and of John Nance Garner in 1932.

Hearst's downfall began largely with his criticism of Franklin Roosevelt's economic policies. Hearst newspapers started to lose popularity in an increasingly competitive media climate, and Hearst lost control of his newspapers briefly from the mid-1930s until the end of World War II. Hearst was concerned during this period with his film production interests, his art collection, and other financial interests. By the end of Hearst's life on August 16, 1951, the Hearst newspapers were worth $1.3 million. Forty years later, these newspapers were worth $450 million.