As you may know, March is Women's History Month and a chance for us
all to celebrate the trailblazing women who have contributed to our history,
culture, and society. Interestingly, the month-long celebration grew out of
an event organized by the school district of Sonoma, CA, in 1978. A few
years later, their concept sparked similar events across the country, and
in 1980 Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8 as National Women's
History Week, which eventually grew to be Women's History Month.
Each week this month, we'll be honoring a different woman who has
shattered the glass ceiling and helped pave the way for future generations.
To start, we wanted to spotlight Katharine Graham. You may know that
Graham was the publisher of The Washington Post. But did you know she
was also the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company?
Taking over The Post in the 1960s, when newspapers were big business
and dominated by men, Graham became a towering figure, not only in
publishing but in American history. Her controversial decision to publish
the Pentagon Papers hastened the end of the Vietnam War, and her
paper's Watergate reporting led directly to the resignation of President
Nixon. Under Graham, The Post became one of the nation's most
influential newspapers and an illustration of the power and importance of a
free press. For that, she has my utmost respect, and we're proud to honor
her.
We hope you'll join us this month in reflecting on the extraordinary
accomplishments of inspiring women in history and celebrating the women
in your life.