William White was an American newspaper editor, politician, and author. Between World War I and World War II White became the iconic middle American spokesman throughout the United States. White became famous after purchasing his hometown newspaper and printing the editorial "What's the Matter With Kansas? This 1896 article brought him fame in the Republican Party and national recognition. He won a 1923 Pulitzer Prize for his editorial "To an Anxious Friend." White had 23 works published. Many of these works were collections of short stories, magazine articles, or speeches he gave throughout his long career. A Certain Rich Man was published in 1909. The story has its humorous and serious moments. It is a story of the effect of riches on a man's character. Young John was a barefoot boy in a small midwestern town. Through less than upstanding means he becomes very wealthy.