Aspen Stories: The Post

Stories from the Road
February 4, 2018
Stories from the Road

I saw The Post the other night and liked it very much. It is a complex movie with numerous stories within it.  Katherine Graham who took over her family newspaper when her brilliant husband, who suffered from bi-polar disease, committed suicide. Initially, she was a figurehead who wasn't taken seriously by the board of the Post. When it came time to risk government legal action by publishing the Pentagon Papers, she found her voice with the help of Ben Bradlee, her editor, and went against her board to publish.

The movie also examines the relationship of newspaper people to politicians, people they potentially have to cover. Typically the fear is that cozy relationships are a barrier to objective coverage.  Ben Bradlee criticized Katherine Graham for her relationship to Robert McNamara, but I think it was her deep disappointment in McNamara's deceit about the Vietnam War that helped Mrs. Graham eventually give the go-ahead to publish the papers.

I remember John Kennedy speaking about his relationship with the press. He didn't always like what they said about him and his government, but he felt their presence was vital in a democracy. He would have it no other way. Such was not the case of thin-skinned Nixon and certainly not in today's times with irresponsible 45. The movie aptly portrays the struggle between the press and the government and how important a free press is.

Meryl Streep is terrific as Katharine Graham. Her nuanced performance captures the insecurities and self-doubts of her character. Tom Hanks was also excellent as the bold, hard-charging Bradlee, though his character was perhaps less complex than that of Meryl Streep.

Today is Super Bowl Sunday, and we are rooting for the Pats. We are taking the day off for rest and recovery. We'll be on the slopes tomorrow.