Leonore Annenberg
A formidable philanthropist and diplomat who wielded social grace and strategic generosity to shape American arts, education, and protocol.
1918–2009 (age 91)·American businesswoman·Birthday: February 20·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Leonore Annenberg lived a life of American royalty, but she was never merely a consort. As the wife of publishing magnate Walter Annenberg, she mastered the art of high-stakes hospitality, turning their Sunnylands estate into a crossroads of global power where presidents and princes forged agreements. Her appointment as Chief of Protocol for the Reagan administration was a natural fit; she brought a new professionalism and grandeur to the role, overseeing state visits with exacting standards. After her husband's death, she stepped fully into the light as head of the vast Annenberg Foundation. She directed its billions with a focused will, championing educational reform, public television, and neurological research. Lee Annenberg was a paradox—a guardian of traditional etiquette who used its tools to facilitate modern change, and a shy woman who commanded rooms through impeccable preparation and genuine curiosity.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Leonore was born in 1918, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Leonore Was Born
The biggest hits of 1918
Leonore's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1918Born
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Started school
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1931Became a teenager
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Could drive
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1936Could vote
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Turned 21
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1948Turned 30
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 40
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 50
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 60
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 70
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 80
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2009Died at 91
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Served as the Chief of Protocol of the United States, managing all diplomatic ceremonies and visits for the Reagan White House.
- Led the Annenberg Foundation as chairman and president, overseeing billions in grants for education, the arts, and health.
- Was a major benefactor and board member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, influencing its collections and exhibitions.
- Co-founded the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania with her husband.
Did You Know?
She was a talented equestrian in her youth and maintained a lifelong passion for horses and riding.
The Annenbergs' estate, Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, California, became known as the 'West Coast Camp David.'
She personally selected and purchased the official state china service used during the Reagan administration.
She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in 2009.
“Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, and expecting more than others think is possible.”
