author
Josephus Daniels
1862–1948
A powerful newspaper editor from North Carolina, he went on to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Navy during World War I and later as ambassador to Mexico. His career left a lasting mark on American politics and journalism, even as his role in white supremacist politics remains a serious part of his legacy.
1 Audiobook
Our Navy at war
by Josephus Daniels
About the author
Born in Washington, North Carolina, in 1862, Josephus Daniels built his reputation in journalism and became the longtime editor and publisher of the Raleigh News & Observer. Through that paper he became an influential voice in Southern politics and public life.
Daniels is best known nationally for serving as Secretary of the Navy under President Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1921, a period that included the First World War. Later, he served as the U.S. ambassador to Mexico under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
His life and career are also closely tied to the white supremacist politics of his time. Modern histories note his active support for racist campaigns in North Carolina, so he is remembered today as both an important public figure and a deeply controversial one.