Since 1896, when a German immigrant's son named Adolph S. Ochs took control of the anemic New York Times, the paper has grown into a sturdy publication—and a tightly held family fief. Lacking a son, Publisher Ochs chose his next most eligible successor, lived long enough to see his son-in-law, Arthur Hays Sulzberger, take over. Under Sulzberger, the Times grew richer and stronger than ever. This week, as he approached his 70th birthday, Times Publisher Sulzberger decided that the time had come to place the family paper in more youthful hands. The Times's new publisher, formally introduced at an annual stockholders' meeting: Orvil Eugene Dryfoos, 48—who happens to be Arthur Hays Sulzberger's son-in-law.
A onetime Wall Street broker, Orvil Dryfoos married Sulzberger's first daughter, Marian, in 1941. two years later went to work for his father-in-law. From then on, his rise was prompt and predictable: vice president and Times director in 1954, Times president in 1957. Ever since Sulzberger suffered a stroke three years ago, Dryfoos has been publisher in nearly everything but title.
Having granted his son-in-law the title, Sulzberger intends to keep his office on the 14th floor at the Times, but "if someone comes in to see me now, I'll tell him to go and see Orvil." Orvil is not likely to ruffle an operation that has climbed steadily since Ochs set it in motion. Today the Times, with 744,763 daily and 1,400,826 Sunday circulation, is the fastest-growing paper in Manhattan and the most influential in the U.S.—although its margin of profit is surprisingly low.* Said New Publisher Dryfoos: "I see the Times going along just about as it is."
As their new boss took command, Timesmen took up the game of guessing his probable successor. Three likely contenders: Dryfoos' son Robert. 16, and the men, as yet anonymous, who will marry Dryfoos' two daughters—Jacqueline, 17, and Susan, 14—and in so doing take a long step toward becoming the next custodian of Adolph Ochs's family domain.
*Last year, on gross revenues of $112,149,302, the Times netted $1,652,392—a return of less than 2%. Of this skimpy profit, all but $348,051 came from Canada's Spruce Falls Power & Paper Co. Ltd., in which the Times has a part interest.