A few years ago Jerry Finkelstein, the communications magnate, purchased part of Dan's Papers.

The apartment was then acquired by Janet Annenberg Hooker, the philanthropist who died in late 1997 and was a sister of Walter Annenberg, the communications magnate and art collector.

The communications magnate led them in and poured drinks; white wine all round, Cairstens noticed.

"I think he's smart," said David Garth, the consultant who is advising Michael R. Bloomberg, the communications magnate who is also considering a run for mayor.

The communications magnate William S. Morris III is an avid collector, and so is Jack Nicklaus, who owns seven of Ms. Hartough's paintings.

The Toronto Blue Jays remembered the passing of Ted Rogers, the communications magnate and former owner of the club who died in December, with a tribute on their uniforms consisting the name "TED" on a red box.

These characteristics are also evident much of the time in "Murdoch," his biography of Rupert Murdoch, the communications magnate who owns newspapers, magazines, a television network, a satellite television service, a book publishing house and a Hollywood movie studio.

A person who spoke on condition of anoynmity and who is associated with Robert Maxwell, the British communications magnate, said that Mr. Maxwell's interest in buying The News remains "very deep."

The Guests sold the apartment to Mrs. Hooker, sister of Walter Annenberg, the communications magnate, in 1963, about the time their daughter, Cornelia, was born.

None had more enthusiastic praise for this Republican communications magnate than black Democrats, the loyal heart of their party.