Philip Graham's suicide led Katharine to lead The Washington Post.
On August 3, 1963, Katharine Graham's life took a dramatic turn with the suicide of her husband, Philip Graham. Despite personal grief, Katharine moved quickly into the leadership role at The Washington Post Company, initially driven by necessity, deeply aware of the business's pivotal role in American journalism. Her assumption of control marked the start of her landmark tenure during which the paper rose to national relevance.