An exclusive interview with four-time Emmy award-winning documentarians, brothers GEORGE KUNHARDT and TEDDY KUNHARDT, discussing their latest documentary, BECOMING KATHARINE GRAHAM.
SYNOPSIS: Former Washington Post publisher Katharine “Kay” Graham is showcased in this documentary, sidelining in history around Watergate and The Pentagon Papers and also features never-before-heard audio from President Nixon’s campaign against her leadership at The Post. One of the most influential forces in modern American history, the documentary tells the story of Katharine Graham’s accidental rise to power and how it changed history, based on her own account and audiobook from her best-selling and Pulitzer-Prize winning autobiography, Personal History. Along with never-before-seen archival images, among those lending their insights into this film are Warren Buffett, Gloria Steinem, Don Graham, Lally Weymouth, David Remnick, Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Richard Cohen, Lynn Povich, Susie Buffett, Sharon Osberg and others.
Already known for their outstanding documentaries True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight For Equality, and John McCain: For Whom The Bell Tolls, among others, it comes as a surprise to learn that BECOMING KATHARINE GRAHAM became a reality at the suggestion of Warren Buffet. The project, funded by the Kunhardts foundation, Life Stories, took two years and involved a team led by editor and co-producerJawad Metni and producer Jill Cowan. Using a blend of archival materials from past projects and new interviews, the documentary opens with the 1975 Pressmen’s strike and never-before-seen 16mm footage of the striking workers as they shut down the newspaper, forcing the presses to stop and Katharine to seek out assistance from other publications to get The Washington Post back on the streets.
Backpedaling from that point in time, in a primarily linear fashion, we learn about Katharine’s youth and her experiences with her father, the former publisher of The Post, that led to her taking over the paper and how she navigated multiple political crises from Watergate to the Pentagon Papers to the Nixon tapes, as well as the landmark ruling on Freedom of the Press. Using the actual Nixon tapes we get the full depth of his hatred for Graham versus the newspaper and the personal vendetta he had against her.
Breaking down the documentary process for BECOMING KATHARINE GRAHAM all starts with the research process which was extensive and collaborative. Jill Cowan, their producer, who the Kunhardts described as a “magician”, had terabytes of media from previous projects and spent considerable time digging for new materials. They started with Graham’s audiobook to establish the story’s arc and then pivoted as new archival materials were discovered. Using existing research from previous documentaries like “The Newspaper Man” and their Nixon film, gave them a head start. They worked closely with Ken Hughes from Miller Center to analyze Nixon’s tapes, even counting how many times Nixon mentioned Katherine Graham versus Ben Bradlee. As kids opening presents on Christmas morning, George Kunhardt noted that every time they discovered new archival pieces, like the Truman Capote Ball footage or the 16mm film of the Pressmen’s strike, they would get more invested and excited. Some interesting finds, like unseen Nixon tape quotes, even surprised a 43-year veteran reporter from the Washington Post. However, the research wasn’t just about collecting materials, but about finding pieces that would help tell Katherine Graham’s story most effectively, sometimes cutting interesting but non-essential segments for narrative clarity.
Choosing to use Katharine’s own voice in voiceover, the filmmakers clearly valued her personal perspective. Hearing the story in Katharine’s own voice and not just her words, elevates the documentary exponentially and allows them to provide a more intimate, personal narrative that directly reflects her experiences and perspective. Emphasizing their commitment to telling her story clearly and authentically, George discusses wanting to avoid confusing the audience and present Graham’s dramatic life story in a way that did justice to her experience. As George explained, “Every time we pulled it out of chronology, we found ourselves confused” and they wanted to ensure they didn’t leave anyone bewildered. They ultimately decided a chronological approach worked best because Katharine Graham’s story was already so dramatically compelling. Teddy added that their editor Jawad Metni played a crucial role in shaping the narrative, particularly with the strategic decision to start with the Pressmen Strike to hook viewers’ attention immediately.
And just what would Katharine Graham think about what’s happening in today’s world with attacks on the media? Take a listen and find out the answer to that question and more!
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 03/13/2025
BECOMING KATHARINE GRAHAM is now streaming on Prime Video.
