William Randolph Hearst

A strong proponent of The American Legion, Hearst received one of five Distinguished Service Medals in 1946. The National Executive Committee unanimously resolved that Hearst "has been a constant champion of the rights of veterans for the past 26 years, and has demonstrated an intense patriotism in his unselfish support of the program and principles of The American Legion."

As a newspaper publisher and politician with wealthy family roots, Hearst always aspired to grow his business and pursue a higher office. After taking control of his father's San Francisco Examiner in 1887, Hearst acquired the New York Journal and went into direct competition with Joseph Pulitzer's New York World. Eventually, he controlled an empire of more than 30 daily newspapers and magazines.

Hearst sought the presidency, but lost the bid for the 1904 Democratic nomination. He served two terms in the U.S. House from 1903 to 1907, but failed in bids to become mayor of New York City and both governor and lieutenant governor of New York failed.

Back in his native California, his estate, Hearst Castle, is now a state historical monument and a national historic landmark. Hearst died in California in 1951, at 88.

For more on Hearst, click here (www.library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/spanamer/hearst.htm).