William Randolph Hearst Essay -- History, War

A. Plan of Investigation How greatly was William Randolph Hearst's propaganda concerning the Cuban insurrection involved in the decision of the United States to declare war on Spain in 1898? This question will be addressed in this investigation in an attempt to find the degree of influence that the publisher William Randolph Hearst had on a brief period of American foreign policy (and Cuban domestic policy) by his manipulation of the press, the emerging medium of the screen, and the lobbying of Congress. This will be done by reviewing the two opposing theories regarding Hearst's involvement; one claiming that he was one of the leading catalysts of the conflict, the other arguing that he simply manipulated the existing public opinion to make money. This paper will also analyze the historical evidence that may or may not point to Hearst's early steps towards the war, such as journalist George Creelman's account of the controversial Remington-Hearst telegrams, as well as W. Joseph Campbell's study of the factu ality of Creelman's narrative. The period of time being examined is from Hearst's papers' first calls for intervention in Cuba in 1893 to their coverage of the sinking of the USS Maine on 15 February 1898. It will not discuss anything that Hearst published in this time period advocating intervention in or covering the crises in the Phillipines and Puerto Rico. B. Summary of Evidence On the evening of 15 February 1898, the USS Maine, an American battleship stationed in Cuba's Havana Harbor, spontaneously exploded, killing more than 250 of its passengers. Two days later, despite the warnings of the Maine's commander Captain Charles Sigsbee that "public opinion (about the cause of the explosion) should be suspended until f... ... for description" (New York Journal 17 Aug. 1897). The paper detailed the story of her bold resistance to the advances of a Spanish officer, her imprisonment in a jail reserved for prostitutes and her eventual rescue by Journal correspondent Karl Decker (Thomas 179-184), who, according to fellow Journal writer Willis Abbot, actually bribed the prison guards to stage the rescue (Abbott 215-216). From 12 January to 20 January 1898, the Journal ran a series of cartoons ridiculing House Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed for openly opposing American intervention. On 25 January, the Maine arrived in Havana harbor, the first American boat to arrive. "Our Flag at Havana at Last," declared the Journal. Then, for almost a month the paper was quiet, finally interrupted by the mysterious explosion of the Maine. By that time, Hearst was riding a wave of papers and power to war.