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Patty Hearst: How kidnap saga became a media feeding frenzy | Patty Hearst: How kidnap saga became a media feeding frenzy |
(7 days later) | |
Forty years ago the kidnap of a US newspaper heiress, and her reappearance as an urban guerrilla, made headlines around the world. For more than two years, America was gripped by a saga of high drama and farce. | Forty years ago the kidnap of a US newspaper heiress, and her reappearance as an urban guerrilla, made headlines around the world. For more than two years, America was gripped by a saga of high drama and farce. |
Shortly after 21:00 on 4 February 1974, a 19-year-old undergraduate at the University of California at Berkeley was kidnapped from her flat. | Shortly after 21:00 on 4 February 1974, a 19-year-old undergraduate at the University of California at Berkeley was kidnapped from her flat. |
The victim was Patty Hearst, granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst, on whom the film Citizen Kane was based, and an heiress to part of his fortune. | The victim was Patty Hearst, granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst, on whom the film Citizen Kane was based, and an heiress to part of his fortune. |
Her captors were an obscure group called the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), dedicated to the overthrow of the "Nixon-represented corporate dictatorship". | Her captors were an obscure group called the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), dedicated to the overthrow of the "Nixon-represented corporate dictatorship". |
Their rhetoric was overblown and frequently absurd. They called the Hearsts a "superfascist ruling class family" and dreamed of "unleashing the most devastating revolutionary violence ever imagined". | Their rhetoric was overblown and frequently absurd. They called the Hearsts a "superfascist ruling class family" and dreamed of "unleashing the most devastating revolutionary violence ever imagined". |
The SLA used a communal toothbrush, practised free love, had a jazz-funk "national anthem", and proclaimed: "Death to the Fascist Insect that Preys upon the Life of the People!" | |
Within days of the kidnapping, hundreds of journalists had congregated outside the Hearst household, in a self-styled Press City. | Within days of the kidnapping, hundreds of journalists had congregated outside the Hearst household, in a self-styled Press City. |
From there, with relay trucks and camper vans, the media reported every development, layering it with hours and pages of commentary. | |
The veteran AP reporter, Linda Deutsch, told me: "Several of the news media groups, including mine, even had phones installed on the trees outside Patty's parents' home." | The veteran AP reporter, Linda Deutsch, told me: "Several of the news media groups, including mine, even had phones installed on the trees outside Patty's parents' home." |
A placard was placed outside the house with the request "Please don't feed reporters". | A placard was placed outside the house with the request "Please don't feed reporters". |
Food riots | Food riots |
All communications between the family and the SLA were conducted via the media, with radio stations receiving taped communiques to be published - on pain of Patty's death - "in all newspapers and all other forms of media". | All communications between the family and the SLA were conducted via the media, with radio stations receiving taped communiques to be published - on pain of Patty's death - "in all newspapers and all other forms of media". |
The SLA demanded the Hearsts provide a "goodwill gesture" by funding a massive food programme for millions of impoverished Californians. | The SLA demanded the Hearsts provide a "goodwill gesture" by funding a massive food programme for millions of impoverished Californians. |
But the early handouts were a disaster - goods were thrown from moving trucks, there was rioting and looting, and journalists - eagerly filming the havoc - were attacked. | But the early handouts were a disaster - goods were thrown from moving trucks, there was rioting and looting, and journalists - eagerly filming the havoc - were attacked. |
The media engaged in a public debate about the tactics it helped promote - did the food programme highlight the nature of poverty in America, or was it "aiding and abetting lawlessness", as claimed by the then Governor of California, Ronald Reagan? | The media engaged in a public debate about the tactics it helped promote - did the food programme highlight the nature of poverty in America, or was it "aiding and abetting lawlessness", as claimed by the then Governor of California, Ronald Reagan? |
Then, on 3 April, Patty made a remarkable announcement - she was, of her own volition, now a member of the SLA, taking the name Tania in honour of the martyred lover of Che Guevara. | Then, on 3 April, Patty made a remarkable announcement - she was, of her own volition, now a member of the SLA, taking the name Tania in honour of the martyred lover of Che Guevara. |
Patty denounced her parents and described her fiance as "a sexist, ageist pig". | Patty denounced her parents and described her fiance as "a sexist, ageist pig". |
Accompanying the tape was an iconic poster, of Tania in full combat dress, standing with an automatic weapon in front of a flag of the SLA's insignia, a seven-headed cobra. | Accompanying the tape was an iconic poster, of Tania in full combat dress, standing with an automatic weapon in front of a flag of the SLA's insignia, a seven-headed cobra. |
It was as Tania that Patty made her first appearance in public, when she was caught on camera robbing a bank owned by the father of her best friend. | It was as Tania that Patty made her first appearance in public, when she was caught on camera robbing a bank owned by the father of her best friend. |
The public was shocked and bewildered, and the press coverage intensified. | The public was shocked and bewildered, and the press coverage intensified. |
The SLA fled San Francisco for Los Angeles, where six of the group died in a blaze after a fierce shootout with the LAPD. | The SLA fled San Francisco for Los Angeles, where six of the group died in a blaze after a fierce shootout with the LAPD. |
Incredibly, the whole gunfight was broadcast live on national television, using a new experimental technology called the mini-cam, which allowed journalists to report instantly while on the move. | Incredibly, the whole gunfight was broadcast live on national television, using a new experimental technology called the mini-cam, which allowed journalists to report instantly while on the move. |
Neither viewers nor police were aware that Tania was not at the scene, but watching the broadcast from a motel room near Disneyland. | Neither viewers nor police were aware that Tania was not at the scene, but watching the broadcast from a motel room near Disneyland. |
Three weeks later, Tania issued her final communique, in which she derided "the fascist pig media" and offered a lyrical eulogy for her fallen comrades. She referred to one, Patricia Soltysik also known as Zoya, as "perfect love and perfect hate, reflected in stone cold eyes". | Three weeks later, Tania issued her final communique, in which she derided "the fascist pig media" and offered a lyrical eulogy for her fallen comrades. She referred to one, Patricia Soltysik also known as Zoya, as "perfect love and perfect hate, reflected in stone cold eyes". |
Tania and her remaining comrades spent the next year zigzagging the country, evading the FBI and intrepid journalists. | Tania and her remaining comrades spent the next year zigzagging the country, evading the FBI and intrepid journalists. |
On 18 September 1975, Patty Hearst was arrested in San Francisco, and put on trial for the Hibernia Bank robbery - the only member of the SLA to be tried for the crime. | On 18 September 1975, Patty Hearst was arrested in San Francisco, and put on trial for the Hibernia Bank robbery - the only member of the SLA to be tried for the crime. |
'Trial of the century' | 'Trial of the century' |
The press called it the "trial of the century", and the prosecution offered the media memorable sound bites, describing Patty as "a rebel in search of a cause". | The press called it the "trial of the century", and the prosecution offered the media memorable sound bites, describing Patty as "a rebel in search of a cause". |
Patty Hearst was found guilty of armed robbery but served only 22 months, after her sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter. She was granted a full pardon by President Bill Clinton in 2001. | Patty Hearst was found guilty of armed robbery but served only 22 months, after her sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter. She was granted a full pardon by President Bill Clinton in 2001. |
So great was the appetite for news of Patty Hearst that the editor of one San Francisco newspaper fabricated an interview with the SLA in order to increase circulation. | So great was the appetite for news of Patty Hearst that the editor of one San Francisco newspaper fabricated an interview with the SLA in order to increase circulation. |
Both the Hearst family and the SLA felt the media's coverage lacked editorial judgment, but its influence was too great to ignore. | Both the Hearst family and the SLA felt the media's coverage lacked editorial judgment, but its influence was too great to ignore. |
Between 1974 and 1976, Patty appeared on the cover of the Newsweek magazine on seven occasions. | Between 1974 and 1976, Patty appeared on the cover of the Newsweek magazine on seven occasions. |
John Lester, who began covering the story as a reporter before becoming the Hearst family spokesman, told me the press were "lap dogs to the SLA", unthinkingly amplifying each of their statements. | John Lester, who began covering the story as a reporter before becoming the Hearst family spokesman, told me the press were "lap dogs to the SLA", unthinkingly amplifying each of their statements. |
Patty's mother, who had married into America's most famous media empire, called the press "vultures". | Patty's mother, who had married into America's most famous media empire, called the press "vultures". |
The SLA exploited the culture of sensationalist journalism pioneered by Patty's grandfather, at a time when the media was creating an instant news spectacle. At the dawn of rolling news, Patty's captors lived and literally died in the media spotlight. | The SLA exploited the culture of sensationalist journalism pioneered by Patty's grandfather, at a time when the media was creating an instant news spectacle. At the dawn of rolling news, Patty's captors lived and literally died in the media spotlight. |
Listen to Captive Media: The Story of Patty Hearst, on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday 22 March at 20:00 GMT or catch it later on the BBC iPlayer. | Listen to Captive Media: The Story of Patty Hearst, on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday 22 March at 20:00 GMT or catch it later on the BBC iPlayer. |
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