Walter H. Annenberg

Walter H. Annenberg KBE (March 13, 1908 – October 1, 2002) was an American billionaire publisher, philanthropist, and diplomat. He was the son of Sarah and Moses "Moe" Annenberg, who published The Daily Racing Form and purchased The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1936. Download high resolution version (730x941, 87 KB)Walter H. Annenberg File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (730x941, 87 KB)Walter H. Annenberg File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... is the 72nd day of the year (73rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... “Publisher” redirects here. ... Philanthropy is the act of donating money, goods, time, or effort to support a charitable cause, usually over an extended period of time and in regard to a defined objective. ... This page is about negotiations; for the board game, see Diplomacy (game). ... Moses Annenberg (1877-1942) was a major U.S. newspaper publisher, who purchased The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1936. ... The Daily Racing Form is a publication about horse racing. ... The Philadelphia Inquirer is one of a two Knight Ridder newspaper duopoly daily for the Philadelphia area. ...

Early life

Walter Annenberg was born in to a Jewish family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Annenberg attended high school at the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, graduating in 1927. He attended college at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1931. While he was in college he was a member of Zeta Beta Tau, a Jewish fraternity. For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... Nickname: Location of Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Coordinates: , County Milwaukee Government  - Mayor Tom Barrett Area  - City  97 sq mi (251. ... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Area  Ranked 23rd  - Total 65,498 sq mi (169,790 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 310 miles (500 km)  - % water 17  - Latitude 42°30N to 47°3N  - Longitude 86°49W to 92°54W Population  Ranked... Peddie School is an American private coeducational high school located on a 280‑acre (1. ... Hightstown highlighted in Mercer County. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is a business school at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. The school was founded by Joseph Wharton, who also was one of the founders of Swarthmore College (founded in 1864), in 1881 as the first collegiate business school in the United States. ... This article is about the private Ivy League university in Philadelphia. ... Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT, brothers of which are nicknamed Zebes) is a historically Jewish, presently nonsectarian international fraternity. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination...

Business life

At age 32, after his father's death, he took over the family businesses and even made successes out of some that had been failing. He bought other print media as well as radio stations and television stations, successfully managing them as well. His biggest success was the creation of TV Guide in 1952, which he started against the advice of his financial advisers. He also created and made a fortune from Seventeen magazine. TV Guide is the name of two North American weekly magazines about television programming, one in the United States and one in Canada. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Supermodel Twiggy on the now-famous 1967 cover of Seventeen. ...

While he ran his publishing empire as a business, he was not afraid to use it for his own ends. One of his publications, The Philadelphia Inquirer, was influential in ridding Philadelphia of its corrupt city government in 1949. It also attacked Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s when most other publications feared McCarthy^{[citation needed]}. It also campaigned for the Marshall Plan after World War II. He also made many enemies: activist Ralph Nader, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, boxer Sonny Liston, and many politicians became "non-existent" in his newspapers. Their names were never mentioned, and they were even air-brushed out of group photos.^[1] The Philadelphia Inquirer is one of a two Knight Ridder newspaper duopoly daily for the Philadelphia area. ... Nickname: Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love continue Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States Commonwealth Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Government  - Mayor John F. Street (D) Area  - City 369. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ... Joseph Raymond McCarthy (November 14, 1908 – May 2, 1957) was a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin between 1947 and 1957. ... Map of Cold-War era Europe and the Near East showing countries that received Marshall Plan aid. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934), is an American attorney and political activist Issues he has promoted include consumer rights, feminism, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government. ... Zsa Zsa Gábor (born Sári Gábor on February 6, 1917)) is a Hungarian-American actress and socialite. ... Charles L. Sonny Liston (May 8?, 1932 – December 30?, 1970), was a formidable boxer who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round, the first time Patterson had been knocked out for a count of 10. ...

In 1966, Annenberg used the pages of The Inquirer to cast doubt on the candidacy of Democrat Milton Shapp, for governor of Pennsylvania. Shapp was highly critical of the proposed merger of the Pennsylvania Railroad with the New York Central and was pushing the U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission to stop it. Annenberg, a significant shareholder of the Pennsylvania Railroad, wanted to see the merger go through and was frustrated with Shapp's opposition. One example of Annenberg using The Inquirer to attack Shapp was during a press conference an Inquirer reporter asked Shapp if he had ever been a patient in a mental hospital, having never been one Shapp said no. The next day's headline in The Inquirer read "Shapp Denies Ever having been in a Mental Home." Shapp attributed his loss of the election to Raymond P. Shafer to Annenberg's attack campaign.^[1] Gov. ... 1893 map The Pennsylvania Railroad (AAR reporting mark PRR) was an American railroad that was founded in 1846 and merged in 1968 into Penn Central Transportation. ... The New York Central Railroad, known simply as the New York Central in its publicity and with the AAR reporting mark of NYC, was a railroad operating in the North-Eastern United States. ... The Interstate Commerce Commission (or ICC) was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, which was signed into law by President Grover Cleveland. ... Raymond Philip Shafer (b. ...

After Richard M. Nixon was elected President, Nixon appointed Annenberg as ambassador to the Court of St. James's in the United Kingdom. In 1969 Annenberg sold The Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News, which Annenberg bought in 1957, to Knight Newspapers for US$55 million. Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. ... The Court of St Jamess is the popular name of the royal court of the United Kingdom. ... The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that began publishing on March 31, 1925, under founding editor Lee Ellmaker. ... Partial list of newspapers The following is a partial list of newspapers owned by Knight Ridder: Contra Costa Times Detroit Free Press Kansas City Star The Miami Herald Philadelphia Inquirer Saint Paul Pioneer Press San Jose Mercury News The State External link Knight Ridder corporate website Categories: Companies traded on...

Personal life

Annenberg's first marriage, to Veronica Dunkelman, failed in 1949 after 11 years. His only son Roger committed suicide in 1962. (Harvard University, where Roger was a student at the time, now has a Roger Annenberg Hall in his honor.) Walter and Veronica also had a daughter, Wallis Annenberg. Walter's marriage to his second wife, Leonore "Lee" Rosentiel, was, by all accounts, a lasting and fulfilling relationship. Lee was a niece of Harry Cohn, founder and successful mogul of Columbia Pictures. Suicide (Latin sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the act of intentionally taking ones own life. ... Harvard University (incorporated as The President and Fellows of Harvard College) is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA and a member of the Ivy League. ... Harry Cohn (July 23, 1891–February 27, 1958), sometimes nicknamed King Cohn, was president and production director of Columbia Pictures. ... The Columbia Pictures logo from 1993 to the present Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. ...

Annenberg led a lavish lifestyle, enjoying his riches. His "Sunnylands" winter estate in Rancho Mirage, California near Palm Springs hosted gatherings with such people as Ronald Reagan, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Charles, Prince of Wales. It was Annenberg who introduced Reagan to Margaret Thatcher, and the Reagans often celebrated New Year's Eve with the Annenbergs. Sunnylands covers 400 guard-gated acres on a 650-acre parcel surrounded by a pink stucco wall at the northwest corner of Frank Sinatra Drive and Bob Hope Drive; the property includes a golf course. Rancho Mirage is a city located in Riverside County, California. ... Palm Springs is a famed Riverside County, California, desert resort city, approximately 110 miles east of Los Angeles. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981 – 1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967 – 1975). ... Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was a jazz oriented popular singer and Academy Award-winning actor. ... Bob Hope, KBE (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003), born Leslie Townes Hope, was an English-Born American entertainer who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, on radio and television, in movies, and in performing tours for U.S. Military personnel, well known for his good natured humor and career longevity. ... Harry Lillis Bing Crosby (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer and actor whose career lasted from 1926 until his death in 1977. ... The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George[2]; born 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC (born October 13, 1925), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in office from 1979 to 1990. ... The quality of this article or section may be compromised by peacock terms. You can help Wikipedia by removing peacock terms. ...

Philanthropy

Even while an active businessman, he had an interest in public service. After being appointed as the ambassador to the Court of St. James's in 1969 he became quite popular in Britain, eventually being knighted. His wife Lee was named by President Ronald Reagan as the State Department's chief of protocol. A statue of an armoured knight of the Middle Ages For the chess piece, see knight (chess). ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981 – 1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967 – 1975). ... The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ... The Chief of Protocol is an officer of the United States Department of State responsible for advising the President of the United States, the Vice President, and the Secretary of State on official matters of national and international diplomatic protocol. ...

After the sale of the Philadelphia papers, he established the Annenberg Schools for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Southern California. He became a champion of public television, gaining many awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Reagan and the Linus Pauling Medal for Humanitarianism. In 1989, he created the Annenberg Foundation, then, in 1993, he created the Annenberg Challenge, a US$500 million, five-year reform effort and the largest single gift ever made to American public education. There are two Schools named Annenberg School for Communication. ... Doheny Library. ... Public broadcasting (also known as public service broadcasting or PSB) is the dominant form of broadcasting around the world, where radio, television, and potentially other electronic media outlets receive funding from the public. ... The Presidential Medal of Freedom The Presidential Medal of Freedom is one of the two highest civilian awards in the United States and is bestowed by the President of the United States (the other award which is considered its equivalent is the Congressional Gold Medal, which is bestowed by an... The Annenberg Foundation, a charitable family trust, was created on July 1, 1989 by media magnate and former Ambassador to the Court of St. ...

In 1998 he sold TV Guide, Seventeen, and a few other publications to Australian publishing magnate Rupert Murdoch for US$3 billion, announcing that he would devote the rest of his life to philanthropy. Keith Rupert Murdoch AC, KCSG (born 11 March 1931) is an Australian born United States citizen who is a global media executive and is the controlling shareholder, chairman and managing director of News Corporation, based in New York. ...

"Education...", he once said, "holds civilization together"^[2]. Many school buildings, libraries, theaters, hospitals, and museums all over the United States now bear Annenberg's name. It is estimated that he gave over US$2 billion in his lifetime. His collection of French impressionist art is valued at approximately US$1 billion and has been donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Impressionism was a 19th century art movement that began as a loose association of Paris-based artists, who began exhibiting their art publicly in the 1860s. ... Metropolitan Museum of Art New York Elevation The Metropolitan Museum of Art, often referred to simply as The Met, is one of the worlds largest and most important art museums. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

Annenberg died at his home in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, on October 1, 2002, at the age of 94. He was survived by his wife Lenore, daughter Wallis, and two sisters, Enid Haupt, and Evelyn Hall. Including those by his wife's daughters from her first marriage (Diane Deshong and Elizabeth Kabler), he left behind seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... The Enid A. Haupt Glass Garden was built in 1958 as part of the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University Medical Center. ...

Trivia

• Walter Annenberg gave the home located at 668 St. Cloud Road in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, to the Reagans as a gift upon Ronald Reagan's departure from the Presidency of the United States. This would remain his home until his death.

Bel Air is the name of several places in the United States of America: Bel Air, Alabama Bel Air, Los Angeles, California Bel Air, Kentucky Bel Air, Maryland Bel Air, Tennessee Bel Air, Texas Bel Air, Virginia (two places): in Fairfax County in Stafford County Outside America: Bel Air, Mauritius... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... David K. E. Bruce (February 12, 1898 - December 5, 1977) was the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1961 to 1969. ... The office of United States Ambassador (or Minister) to the United Kingdom (also known as Ambassador to the Court of St. ... Elliot Lee Richardson (July 20, 1920 – December 31, 1999) was an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the cabinet of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. ...

References

External links

• Obituary critical of Annenberg in Slate
• Walter Annenberg on 2000 Forbes 400 (oldest member of the list)