Katharine Graham, who once described herself as a doormat wife, became one of the most powerful figures in America. The New York Times called her a “publishing legend.” William Buckley, the conservative columnist, said she was a “mythogenic figure” and “a natural star.” Television host Larry King described her as a woman who “made editorial decisions that changed American history.” Graham’s metamorphosis from a doormat to a phenom, a life she called a “fairy tale,” is a great story for anyone seeking inspiration.

Katharine Meyer was born in New York City on June 16, 1917, with a silver spoon in her mouth—and little parental warmth. Her mother was more involved with the arts and her social standing than with her children. Graham’s father, Eugene, was a Wall Street wizard who made his fortune in gold, copper, automobiles and chemicals. He served as chairman of the Federal Reserve and helped President Hoover start the Reconstruction Finance Corp. He served briefly with the Fed under FDR but resigned because he did not like Roosevelt’s monetary policies.