21.12.2025

"Lally Weymouth, Esteemed Journalist, Dies at 82"

Lally Weymouth, the daughter of the late Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham who forged her own journalistic career that included interviewing Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi among other world leaders, has died

Lally Weymouth, the daughter of the late Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, has passed away at the age of 82. She died on Monday at her home in Manhattan due to pancreatic cancer, as reported by her daughter Katharine Weymouth.

Born Elizabeth Morris Graham, Lally Weymouth had a notable career in journalism, most recently serving as a senior associate editor at The Washington Post. Her final published piece was an interview with the Qatari Emir Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, which appeared shortly before President Donald Trump's visit to Qatar in May. In interviews, Weymouth often preferred a question-and-answer format, allowing her subjects to express their views clearly.

Throughout her career, Weymouth established herself as an accomplished interviewer, having spoken with every Israeli prime minister since 1981. Her extensive interviewing repertoire also included prominent world leaders such as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Argentine President Javier Milei. Weymouth's legacy in journalism is marked by her ability to engage with influential figures and present complex geopolitical issues to her audience.

In an interview with Washingtonian magazine in 2011, Weymouth revealed her desire to build her own career rather than follow in her family's footsteps at The Washington Post. She mentioned that her mother, Katharine Graham, chose her brother Donald E. Graham to run the paper in the 1970s. Despite this connection, Weymouth sought to make her mark independently. An editor at Newsweek, which was also owned by her family, encouraged her to specialize in interviewing foreign leaders, which led her to carve a niche for herself in this field. In addition to her work at The Post, she also contributed writings to the Los Angeles Times.

Weymouth received recognition for her journalistic efforts in 2015, when the May Chidiac Foundation awarded her the Antoine Choueiri Special Tribute for Lifetime Achievement, acknowledging her impactful contributions to the industry. She was also an author and editor, having edited and compiled "Thomas Jefferson: The Man, His World, His Influence," published in 1973, and authored "America in 1876: The Way We Were," which followed in 1976.

Lally Weymouth’s family has deep roots in the history of The Washington Post. Her grandfather, Don Graham, acquired the newspaper during a bankruptcy sale in 1933 and substantially enhanced its reputation and circulation. Following his leadership, control transitioned to her father-in-law, Philip L. Graham, and subsequently to her mother, Katharine Graham, who was instrumental in leading the paper during critical times, such as the Watergate scandal that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation.

The Graham family maintained ownership of The Washington Post until 2013, when they sold it to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. This sale marked a significant transition for the historic publication, which continues to play a vital role in American journalism.

In summary, Lally Weymouth's life and career reflected a rich legacy of journalism, shaped by her family's influence and her personal commitment to her craft. Her contributions to The Washington Post and the wider media landscape will be remembered long after her passing.