Jed Leland (Joseph Cotten)’s Timeline and Summary
- Leland shows up with Charles Kane on the first day Charles takes over The Inquirer newspaper. Both men are excited about their new adventure and can barely contain their enthusiasm.
- It isn't long before Leland gets a little hesitant about Charles' actions. After buying the most successful newspaper staff in America, Charles has a big party. But Leland is suspicious that the new staff will change Kane more than he'll change them.
- Leland's suspicions grow over time as Kane acts more and more selfish. Even when he declares his newspapers core principles, Charles has a way of always talking about himself. So Leland calls him out on how often he says "I" when talking about the struggles of poor people. Kane just shrugs him off though.
- As time passes, Leland becomes downright depressed about the direction Kane has taken with his newspaper. He finally tells Kane straight up that he can't treat people like a bunch of sheep who need him to shepherd them.
- He says that the poor need to stand up for their own rights instead of having these rights given to them like a gift by Kane. Kane doesn't want to listen though.
- Finally, Leland comes to work drunk and writes a blistering review of Kane's wife's singing performance. Kane finishes the review, but then fires Leland.
- In the movie's present, Leland has grown into an old man who's filled with depression over the fall of Charles Kane.
- He thinks Kane was always a selfish dude, but he also think Kane could have turned into a better guy. Now in his old years, all Leland wants out of life is a nice cigar. After all, he's not all that interested in living a super long life.