Anna Kowalczek comes to Washington D.C. for her first journalism job just as the United States is getting into World War II. She becomes friends with three other novice journalists, all of whom eventually become successful. Anna is not satisfied, however, she wants to start her own paper. To this end she marries Gordon Hastings, a rich senator from Texas. Using his money she begins building a communications empire. She persuades her friends to join her and over the years becomes an important force in the newspaper business. In the process, however, she loses her family and lets down her friends. "Anna Hastings" is the story of the rise of a driven woman to a position of power and an examination of the costs involved in getting there.