Note :sorry if someone else has posted about this before; I tried posting at 6 PM Eastern on Sunday … then ran into the one-diary-a-day rule.
In today’s edition, the Union Leader (the only state-wide circulated newspaper here in New Hampshire) revealed that its long-time publisher William Loeb — who died in 1981 — had molested both a step-daughter (now telling the tale) and a daughter (who is no longer alive to tell her tale).
He was merciless in denigrating anyone he didn’t like — which often meant any Democrat — and could even turn against a Republican who dared to go against his beliefs (and especially if you crossed him personally). It spawned an aptly-named 1975 book, Who the Hell is William Loeb?
While the influence of the paper was already in decline when I relocated here in 1987 — the late political reporter Jack Germond attributed it to the decline of newspapers (in general) and the rise of the local ABC affiliate’s news programs (in particular) — it has long been a right-wing stalwart. Yet it did turn against Trump (and in fact endorsed Joe Biden) … and long-time observers know that the vitriol that Loeb wielded has been absent in more recent times.
The story is told by veteran reporter Kevin Landrigan (who, interestingly, spent twenty-six years of his career at the rival Nashua Telegraph newspaper) … here are portions:
Ending an almost 70-year public silence, William Loeb’s stepdaughter said last week that the late iconic publisher of the Union Leader sexually molested her repeatedly when she was 7 years old.
Nackey Scagliotti also charged that a decade later, in the mid-1960s, Loeb also sexually abused his daughter, the late Edie Tomasko, when she was 6.
Tomasko’s son, Cody DuBuc, 35, and John Gfroerer, a documentary filmmaker, each said that before her death, Tomasko told them Loeb had molested her. Loeb died in 1981 at age 75; Tomasko passed away in 2014.
Publisher of the Union Leader from 1946 to 1981, Loeb used his arch-conservative editorials on national and state affairs to elevate the Union Leader’s national profile.
Loeb, himself a prominent political figure, could be merciless in attacking his adversaries, but he also was known for being deeply loyal to friends and, at times, personally generous to the unfortunate.
To call him an enigma would be “an understatement,” his stepdaughter said. “He often befriended and did favors for people from whom he had nothing to gain. All that is in stark contrast to his ability to attack people viciously and publicly, the cruelty that emerged in the privacy of his home and his sexual abuse of children,” Scagliotti recalled.
The New England-based press critic Dan Kennedy weighed-in with these words:
“The story had been making the rounds for years, but couldn’t be pinned down as long as Scagliotti was unwilling to go on the record.
Now she finally has”.
To its credit (which I wouldn’t have imagined saying before) the newspaper has accompanied the front-page story with a front-page editorial (portions below) — in fact, the street address of their headquarters is named 100 William Loeb Drive after him:
William Loeb has been dead for more than four decades. Although he never lived in the state, for many Granite Staters: Loeb remains synonymous with New Hampshire politics and the Union Leader. For three and a half decades, Loeb wielded the printing press as a political weapon, castigating some of the most powerful names in the country while praising some of the most controversial.
He publicly espoused a certain morality and ethics while failing to live his own life by the same. Loeb’s many divorces, adulteries and family squabbles have become well known. Until now, very few knew of more terrible and unforgivable things hiding in his past. Loeb is not a historical figure being judged by modern sensibilities. The actions described here were as wrong 70 years ago as they are today.
We know now that William Loeb is not a man to be celebrated. We have removed his name from the masthead of this newspaper and from other commemorations.
We thank the members of the Loeb family who courageously came forward with this dark portion of their family history.
The part about his step-daughter noting a good quality (“He often befriended and did favors for people from whom he had nothing to gain”) reminded me of childhood discussions with my father, who told me that — while it’s good to have heroes and villains — very few people are 100% one or the other. I appreciate the reminder of Dad today … though it’s far more personally disappointing when a hero of mine is revealed to have a major flaw or two (rather than a horrific figure with only a silver lining).
I’m sad that it was not possible to have this revealed (before he became the vitriolic voice he became) but glad this is now on the record. The former Secretary of State for New Hampshire noted:
“There will be a big reaction to this, no doubt about it. Those who revere Loeb won’t believe it. Those who hate him will wonder why it’s taken so long for this to surface.”
Here’s hoping that a least a few that “revere” him … may have their souls challenged.
Let’s close with a short musical piece … to attempt to clear the air.