Walter H. Annenberg once acknowledged in an interview, "I started out with an awful lot handed to me."
Over the years, Annenberg gave back manyfold, contributing more than $2 billion in cash to organizations as diverse as the small prep school he attended to more than $500 million to organizations for the reform of public education. In recent years, the Salt Lake City School District was the beneficiary of one such grant.
On the occasion of his death this week, Annenberg is remembered primarily for his vast charitable giving, which began when he was 17 years old. Upon graduation from prep school, he donated $17,000 to the school for a running track. Over the years, his giving expanded exponentially, with some of his most noteworthy contributions benefiting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Southern California.
In 1991, Annenberg pledged his renowned collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist pieces to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The works, which are exhibited at the Met six months of every year, were valued at more than $1 billion at the time of the contribution.
Annenberg wore many hats in the course of his 94 years, including former ambassador to Britain and head of a communications empire that included TV Guide and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Despite his financial success, Annenberg would have to prove himself time and time again in business and political circles. When he was appointed ambassador to Britain by President Nixon in 1969, some pundits alleged he had bought the nomination through his many generous contributions to the Republican Party. Early in his tenure, he was criticized in the British press for his lack of qualifications and his bumbling speaking style. His wife did not help matters when she dispatched a team of Beverly Hills decorators to London to embark on a $1 million redo of the embassy residence.
Over his 5 1/2-year term, Annenberg redeemed himself through hard work, his wife's penchant for gracious entertaining and financial gifts to various royal causes. Over time, Annenberg befriended Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother. He was named an honorary knight in 1976.
For all of Annenberg's achievements, biographers have written that his philanthropy and continual efforts to polish his public image stemmed from distress at his father's conviction on tax evasion charges. Walter Annenberg was also indicted on the charges, along with two other business associates. His father, Moses Annenberg, entered a plea agreement that cost him $9.5 million in back taxes, penalties and interest. He was sentenced to three years in prison, but charges were dropped against his son.
At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination as British ambassador, Annenberg was grilled about the tax evasion case. While some senators were critical of Annenberg's lack of experience in international affairs, he was lauded for his attitude in respect to adversity: "I have actually found that tragedy is a great source of inspiration for constructive endeavor," Annenberg said.
There is perhaps no better description of his many charitable works.