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American Morning

D.C. Mayor Speaks About Katharine Graham's Importance to the City

Aired July 23, 2001 - 10:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Katharine Graham was not only a hugely important figure nationally, she was a very important part of the city of Washington. Joining me now, Washington's mayor, Anthony Williams.

Mr. Mayor, how well did you know Mrs. Graham?

MAYOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS, WASHINGTON, D.C.: I would say I knew her pretty well. She befriended me and my wife, as she has done for presidents and also for me as mayor and my wife, hosted a get- acquainted meeting for all the movers and shakers in the nation and around the region and we deeply appreciate that.

WOODRUFF: What would you say that she has done for the city, the nation's capital?

WILLIAMS: What she has done for city is certainly really set the tone, standard for a leading business women. For the aspirations of people who were moving against barriers in this city, she was a real standard bearer. What's she has done in providing a radio station for Howard University, arts education with the Shakespeare Theater, what she has done with community revitalization with Douglas and Stanton dwellings, which is over in the eastern part of our city -- southeast part of our city are just a few of the many things she has done, leading her family in a major way to make a major impact in her community.

WOODRUFF: Mayor Williams, what would you say to those viewers who --certainly, they know what "The Washington Post" is, but they don't know the name Katharine Graham? How -- how you would describe her?

WILLIAMS: I think that she's just left a legacy in how you write an autobiography, she's left a legacy in setting the tone for the First Amendment, left a legacy for blazing a path in business and left a legacy in what you do for your family with your legacy being comfortable with that and using that gravitas and that throw weight to make an impact in education, arts and music and everything else.

It's a tremendous story. I mean she is one of the leading people in the 20th century, and we are very proud to have called her our own.

WOODRUFF: As you look ahead, is there anyone else like Katharine Graham in the city, in the country, for that matter?

WILLIAMS: I mean, great people, to me, like me are like champion trees. They're just one a kind, they're once in a generation. We have lost a great one.

WOODRUFF: Washington, D.C. Mayor Anthony William, we thank you very much. It's good to see you.

WILLIAMS: Thank you, Judy.

WOODRUFF: Thank you for stopping by to talk with us.

WILLIAMS: My pleasure.

WOODRUFF: Thank you. Thank you. We've been talking with Washington's mayor, Anthony Williams and a little while ago, one of his predecessors, Marion Barry came in and as you heard Mayor Williams say, she, Katharine Graham, not only a figure nationally, she has been an enormous figure in the life and the health of this city, the nation's capital.

Bruce Morton is joining me again now. There were so many things that she did for this city that I think no one really knew about, Bruce. I mean, she, as the mayor said, she gave money to Howard University to start a radio station. This, of course, is a principally African-American university here in Washington. There were day care facilities that she funded, and she'd go around quietly and visit them without telling anybody ahead of time, no press.

BRUCE MORTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know. there's an old- fashioned tradition among old-fashioned rich people, and her family is rich, that you do good quietly, and she certainly is in that tradition. I mean, everybody knew about the newspaper, and she wanted you to know about the newspaper. But if you're encouraging a school here, an arts program there, she didn't have to have her name on her. That's one of the nice things her.

WOODRUFF: All right, Bruce Morton, and we've been talking with Washington Mayor Anthony Williams. A little while ago, we saw business man David Rockefeller going into this cathedral. This was a woman who knew people in all walks of life. The service -- the funeral for Katharine Graham scheduled to begin in just a few moments. CNN plans to carry it live.

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