Roberts was elevated to president of the "Star" in 1947. The "Star" was not particularly kind to hometown Democrat Harry Truman, who had been backed by famed big city Democratic Machine boss Tom Pendergast. In 1953, the Truman administration in its closing days filed antitrust charges against the "Star" over its ownership of WDAF-TV. The Star launched radio station WDAF May 16, 1922, and television outlet WDAF-TV on October 19, 1949. The "Star" lost its case and had to sign a consent decree in 1957 that led to the sale of the broadcast stations.