It has been said of Fremont Older that he influenced more journalists during his lifetime than any other man. His efforts in social, governmental, and penal reform are as legendary as his editorial exploits. For forty years, second only to William Randolph Hearst, he was one of the most powerful newspapermen on the West Coast. In the age of personal journalism, he was perhaps the perfect example. He was a muckraker, a crusader, a cigarchewing, bombastic, tenacious teacher who had a reverential respect for truth and decency. But above all, Fremont Older was an editor: a newspaperman's editor. "He was not only a brilliant editor," wrote his protégé, Bruce Bliven, "he was the kindliest of men." His patient nurturing of promising talent and his uncanny ability to "see a story" made him the father figure of West Coast newspapers, and he assembled a group of...