Josephus Daniels was a close friend and political ally of President Franklin Roosevelt. He served as secretary of the U.S. Navy during World War I under President Woodrow Wilson, and was later appointed the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico by FDR.
Early Life
Josephus Daniels was born on May 18, 1862, in Washington, North Carolina. He attended Wilson Collegiate Institute and at Trinity College (now Duke University). While he earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina, he never practiced.
A career newspaperman, Daniels got his start editing the Wilson Advance, which he ultimately purchased. A few years later, he became a co-owner of the Kinston Free Press and the Rocky Mount Reporter. In 1885, Daniels acquired the State Chronicle and the Farmer and Mechanic. He merged the two Raleigh-based publications to eventually create a daily newspaper.
Daniels used his newspapers to espouse his political views and became influential in the Democratic Party. In 1887, he was elected to the office of Printer-to-the-State. He was subsequently reelected in 1889, 1891, and 1893. Thereafter, he returned to newspaper publishing, ultimately acquiring the News & Observer, which would become one of the state’s most popular and prosperous publications. Daniels used his powerful position to support a range of political and social causes, including white supremacy.
Secretary of the Navy
Daniels used the News & Observer to support Woodrow Wilson’s bid for President in 1912. He was rewarded by being appointed Secretary of the Navy. He held the office from 1913 through 1921. Daniels appointed Franklin D. Roosevelt as his Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Daniels was responsible for dictating policy, while Roosevelt handled many of the strategic decisions during wartime.
Daniels spearheaded the establishment of shipboard vocational schools to train enlisted men, rooted out corrupt military contractors and increased the number of navy chaplains. He was ordered the elimination of alcohol onboard naval ships. According to legend, the term “Cup of Joe” began when sailors drank coffee in deference to Josephus’ prohibition of alcohol.
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
After returning to the News & Observer, Daniels aggressively campaigned for FDR in the Presidential election of 1932. FDR subsequently appointed Daniels as United States Ambassador to Mexico. He held the position until 1944.
Daniels was initially greeted with contempt by Mexican citizens because the U.S. Navy had bombarded the Mexican port of Tampico in 1914 and blockaded the port of Veracruz. However, Daniels was able to rebuild relations with Mexican officials and win over the people. He served a trusted adviser to FDR, particularly with respect to Mexican–U.S. relations. He resigned as ambassador in 1941 and returned to his newspaper business.
After the President’s death, Daniels rode on Roosevelt’s 1945 funeral train from Raleigh, North Carolina to Hyde Park, New York. He died in 1948.
