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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000937967-00-000001.txt : 20000202
<SEC-HEADER>0000937967-00-000001.hdr.sgml : 20000202
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000937967-00-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	19991231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20000111

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WASHINGTON POST CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000104889
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NEWSPAPERS:  PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711]
		IRS NUMBER:				530182885
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0103

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06714
		FILM NUMBER:		504974

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1150 15TH ST NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20071
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2023346000
<REPORTING-OWNER>

COMPANY DATA:	
	COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GILLESPIE GEORGE J III
	CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000937967
	STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	 []
<RELATIONSHIP>DIRECTOR

FILING VALUES:
	FORM TYPE:		4

BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
	STREET 1:		1150 15TH STREET NW
	CITY:			WASHINGTON
	STATE:			DC
	ZIP:			20071
	BUSINESS PHONE:		2023346694

MAIL ADDRESS:	
	STREET 1:		1150 15TH STREET NW
	CITY:			WASHINGTON
	STATE:			DC
	ZIP:			20071
</REPORTING-OWNER>
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 - DECEMBER 1999
<TEXT>

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 4
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
( ) Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16.
Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instructions 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person
   Gillespie, III, George J.
   The Washington Post Company
   1150 15th Street, NW
   Washington, DC  20071
   USA
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
   The Washington Post Company
   WPO
3. IRS or Social Security Number of Reporting Person (Voluntary)

4. Statement for Month/Year
   December 1999
5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)

6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
   (X) Director ( ) 10% Owner ( ) Officer (give title below) ( ) Other
   (specify below)

7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
   (X) Form filed by One Reporting Person
   ( ) Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Table I -- Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned                                                 |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
1. Title of Security       |2.    |3.    |4.Securities Acquired (A)         |5.Amount of        |6.Dir |7.Nature of Indirect       |
                           | Transaction |  or Disposed of (D)              |  Securities       |ect   |  Beneficial Ownership     |
                           |      |      |                                  |  Beneficially     |(D)or |                           |
                           |      |    | |                  | A/|           |  Owned at         |Indir |                           |
                           | Date |Code|V|    Amount        | D |    Price  |  End of Month     |ect(I)|                           |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
<S>                        <C>    <C>  <C><C>               <C> <C>         <C>                 <C>    <C>
Class B Common Stock       |12/20/|G   |V|1,200             |D  |N/A        |4,800              |D     |                           |
                           |99    |    | |                  |   |           |                   |      |                           |
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Class B Common Stock       |      |    | |                  |   |           |4,000*             |I     |Spouse                     |
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
<CAPTION>
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Table II -- Derivative Securitites Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned                                                   |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
1.Title of Derivative |2.Con-  |3.   |4.    |5.Number of De |6.Date Exer|7.Title and Amount  |8.Price|9.Number    |10.|11.Nature of|
  Security            |version |Transaction | rivative Secu |cisable and|  of Underlying     |of Deri|of Deriva   |Dir|Indirect    |
                      |or Exer |     |      | rities Acqui  |Expiration |  Securities        |vative |tive        |ect|Beneficial  |
                      |cise    |     |      | red(A) or Dis |Date(Month/|                    |Secu   |Securities  |(D)|Ownership   |
                      |Price of|     |      | posed of(D)   |Day/Year)  |                    |rity   |Benefi      |or |            |
                      |Deriva- |     |      |               |Date |Expir|                    |       |ficially    |Ind|            |
                      |tive    |     |      |           | A/|Exer-|ation|   Title and Number |       |Owned at    |ire|            |
                      |Secu-   |     |    | |           | D |cisa-|Date |   of Shares        |       |End of      |ct |            |
                      |rity    |Date |Code|V|  Amount   |   |ble  |     |                    |       |Month       |(I)|            |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
<S>                   <C>      <C>   <C>  <C><C>        <C> <C>   <C>   <C>          <C>     <C>     <C>          <C> <C>
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |     |     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
</TABLE>
Explanation of Responses:
*The reporting person disclaims any beneficial ownership in these
securities.
SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
George J. Gillespie, III by Diana M. Daniels
DATE
January 10, 2000

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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