Exclusive Video: Nixon Targets A TV License In 'Becoming Katharine Graham'

The documentary Becoming Katharine Graham receives its broadcast premiere Tuesday, June 16th on PBS. (It's available now on PBS Passport).

It tells the story of the iconic Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, who became a defining force in journalism. The film covers a lot of fascinating ground, including her relationships with JFK and LBJ, her friendships with Warren Buffett and Gloria Steinem, and the misogyny she faced as a woman in the very male world of Washington politics.

This exclusive clip centers on the period after the reelection of Richard Nixon and it's easy to forget that despite its iconic nature now, at the time Watergate was seen as a minor irritant more than something that potentially could end a presidency.

In audio recorded in the Oval Office, Nixon and Special Counsel Chuck Colson discuss blocking the renewal of the broadcast license of the Post-owned television station. A move which resonates in some unpleasant ways in 2026.