The Wilmington massacre of 1898, an insurrection that overthrew a legitimately elected biracial government, was fueled by the editorial campaign managed by Josephus Daniels. As the proprietor of The News & Observer, he utilized inflammatory journalism to orchestrate the displacement of black citizens and the destruction of their businesses, fundamentally altering North Carolina's political trajectory for generations.
Early Career and Political Ascent
Born in Washington, North Carolina, in 1862, Daniels spent his early years moving between towns after his father was killed during the American Civil War. Educated at the Wilson Collegiate Institute and later studying at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he entered the legal field in 1885 but focused his professional life on journalism and politics. By the late 1880s, he managed various publications including the Wilson Advance and the Daily State Chronicle. He eventually secured a federal appointment as chief clerk of the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1893.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Proprietorship of The News & Observer
In 1894, with financial support from industrialist Julian S. Carr, Daniels purchased a controlling interest in The News & Observer in Raleigh. He transformed the publication into a powerful tool for the Democratic Party, explicitly stating the paper was designed to be the militant voice of white supremacy. Through editorials and cartoons by Norman E. Jennett, he stoked racial tensions to consolidate white voters. His campaign played a central role in the 1898 Wilmington coup and the subsequent 1900 suffrage amendment, which disenfranchised most black citizens in North Carolina.
Federal Service and Diplomacy
President Woodrow Wilson appointed Daniels as United States Secretary of the Navy, a position he held from 1913 to 1921. During World War I, he managed naval policy while his Assistant Secretary, Franklin D. Roosevelt, handled major operational decisions. Following Roosevelt's election to the presidency, Daniels served as the United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1933 to 1941. In this role, he implemented the Good Neighbor Policy, navigating the tensions surrounding the 1938 expropriation of American-owned oil holdings with a measured diplomatic approach.
Fast facts
- Born: 1862, Washington, North Carolina
- Died: 1948, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Education: Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- U.S. Secretary of the Navy: 1913-1921
- U.S. Ambassador to Mexico: 1933-1941
- Primary Newspaper: The News & Observer
- Burial Place: Historic Oakwood Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the result of Daniels's newspaper campaign?
His editorial strategy contributed to the only successful coup d'état in American history during the 1898 Wilmington massacre and the subsequent disenfranchisement of black voters in North Carolina.
What was his role in the Roosevelt administration?
He served as the United States Ambassador to Mexico under President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 until 1941, focusing on repairing international relations.
