Chapter 25 Summary and Analysis

Meanwhile, the Post has been facing problems that make Kay feel incompetent as a manager. Ignatius proves mismatched to the job of Post president and is replaced in 1971 by John Prescott. Kay is pilloried as a difficult, whimsical, tyrannical, tempestuous woman, and she resents such sexist stereotyping as much as she does being lionized for the Post's successes. Kay looks forward to Prescott getting rid of the crisis management approach prevalent at the paper, and Prescott makes many good decisions. Beebe's death puts new pressure on Kay as ultimate decision-maker and entails a new learning curve on being a responsible CEO. She works long and hard but does not know what expectations to have about profitability, and she sets the goals unrealistically high.

Fortunately, billionaire Warren Buffet steps in and buys 230,000 Class B shares in the company. He puts the Post...