 O'Hearn was in wide demand as a speaker, particularly because of his insight and understanding of what he considered one of the most important stories in North America — the rise of French nationalism in Quebec.He served four terms as director of The Canadian Press, was an officer of the Corporation des Quotidiens du Québec (Quebec Dailies, Inc.), and a member of the Montreal arts council.With his first wife, the former Mary McGrath, O'Hearn had a son, Walter Jr., a lawyer in New York, and three daughters, Eileen, Catherine and Julia.