Josephus Daniels

Josephus Daniels, born on May eighteenth, eighteen sixty-two, was a prominent figure in American politics and media, serving as a diplomat, politician, and publisher. He is best known for his role as Secretary of the Navy under President Woodrow Wilson during World War I, where he worked closely with Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was then his top aide. Daniels managed The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina, from the 1890s until his death, making it the state's largest circulation newspaper.

Despite his contributions to public schools and women's suffrage, Daniels was a staunch white supremacist and segregationist. His newspaper actively promoted the white supremacy cause through editorials, news reports, and provocative cartoons. He was a key figure in the Wilmington insurrection of eighteen ninety-eight, which resulted in the violent overthrow of a biracial government and the disenfranchisement of black citizens in North Carolina.

As a Democrat, Daniels was initially seen as a progressive, advocating for public works and regulation of trusts and railroads. However, his legacy is marred by his involvement in policies that excluded most black citizens from the political system for decades. After serving as Secretary of the Navy, he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico by Roosevelt, where he worked to mend relations following the Mexican Revolution, aligning with Roosevelt's