Chapter 3 Summary and Analysis

Father retires from federal service in 1933, and the solitude of Mt. Kisco grows unbearable within two weeks. He takes a hint from family friend and journalism insider, Eleanor Medill "Cissy" Patterson, to rescue the Washington Post from a $500,000 debt and receivership. He works through a lawyer to prevent the price from going to the $5 million he had earlier offered for the paper. Hamilton is authorized to go as high as $1.7 million but prevails at a mere $825,000. Kay is a junior at Madeira, preparing to take the college boards, and learns of the purchase second-hand. Father takes Kay and Bill on a nighttime tour of the building. The paper has shrunk to eighteen pages, and both circulation and advertising are terrible.

Father, lacking experience in journalism, seems rejuvenated as he sets about applying his business acumen to the expensive task of making...