He was instrumental in the founding of the medilltribune post 348 at the newspaper and of first division cantigny post 556. Mccormick s biographer calls it the definitive history of this episode. Mccormick foundation offices are currently closed until further notice, a precautionary response to the public health emergency related to covid19, the coronavirus. He built the tribune company from a single newspaper into a major media organization of newspapers, radio.
The colonel, though ed in 1997, remains a pertinent and exceedingly interesting biography some 18 years later. Mccormick, legendary editor and publisher of the chicago tribune and now the subject of a thoroughly absorbing biography. As editorpublisher of the chicago tribune, robert r. Signature slip affixed to a page bearing a news photo of mccormick at a lectern.
Mccormick, whose uncle invented the reaper and whose own career as a dilettante diplomat took a backseat to his more serious pursuit of alcohol. By the early 1920s, he was fascinated with radio and arranged a demonstration for his mother. Drawing on mccormick s personal papers and years of research, richard norton smith has written the definitive life of the towering figure known as the colonel. A deep bond was formed between the two men during the. Robert rutherford colonel mccormick july 30, 1880 april 1, 1955 was a member of the mccormick family of chicago who became a lawyer, republican. He was one of the many founders of the american legion. Reitemeyer a cavalry officer known to reporters in the late 1950s as colonel right winger was the longtime publisher of the hartford courant. Every purchase includes our industry recognized coa. He became owner and publisher of the chicago tribune newspaper further reading.
Mccormick, a controversial and charismatic visionary who served as editor and publisher of the chicago tribune. Colonel mccormick was an astute businessman and made wise long term investments in canadian paper mills that benefitted his publication. Robert rutherford colonel mccormick 18801955 was a member of the mccormick family of chicago who became owner and publisher of the chicago tribune newspaper. Mccormick was a leader in the field of journalism and press rights.
The epic story of the the contentious publisher and fervent conservative who, along with william randolph hearst, was a model for orson welless citizen kane. Mccormick, commander of the first battalion, 5th field artillery but this wasnt the first action hed seen in the war. Mccormick staged a centennial blowout for his chicago tribune, the selfproclaimed worlds greatest newspaper. The colonel was a man with deep and unbending convictions. Mccormick cantigny honor club cantigny park and cantigny golf, each part of the mccormick foundation, are pleased to offer special privileges to activeduty military and veterans.
Summerall, who later became the 10 th president of the citadel. There he fought with the first division at the battle of cantigny, americas first major battle of the war. Colonel mccormicks obituary movies the new york times. Mccormick beach club of the citadel is named for a great american soldier, editor, former chicago tribune publisher and philanthropist. Under his direction the chicago tribune achieved the largest circulation among american. He was 33 and had been president of the tribune for three years. The museum will also be a distinctive leader in museum practice within the. Mccormick, owner of the chicago tribune the worlds greatest newspaper per its masthead and of wgn radio and tv bequested his estate to be a public park. Mccormick place is named in honor of colonel robert r. Mccormick, one of chicagolands citizen leaders, worked to make our community a better place and left a lasting legacy of service. Colonel mccormick was an exacting and sometimes arbitrary employee, but he was also an appreciative, benevolent and progressive one. Mccormick was a citizen soldier and a friend of veterans.
On the other list appeared an entry identified simply as mccormick patterson. Returning from france in 1918 as a colonel in the u. He served in the illinois national guard and, in 1917, at the age of 36 volunteered for duty in france during world war i. From the 1920s through the mid1950s, he was editor and owner of the chicago. Mccormick and his impact on politics, media, first amendment issues, industry, philanthropy and patriotism. As influential as mccormick was in terms of national politics, his antagonism towards local republican party bosses and his friendly relations with democratic city officials may have caused irreparable injury to the fortunes of the republican party in illinois. This is the acclaimed biography of a giant of american journalism. The trove of historic documents, which includes personal, family and tribune business papers, was a gift of the chicago tribune company, the robert r. Robert rutherford colonel mccormick was the editor and publisher of the chicago tribune. Mccormick believed in public service and was elected alderman of chicagos 21st ward in 1904 and president of the chicago sanitary district in 1905.
The foundation was established as a charitable trust in 1955, upon the death of colonel robert r. Mccormick was the long time editor and publisher of the chicago tribune and played a major role in american journalism during the first half of the 20th century. Robert mccormick received a special temporary commission as a colonel in the illinois national guard august 23, 1915 allowing him to travel in russia and report on world war i for the chicago tribune. Mccormick kept a diary during world war i that sounds eerily familiar. Roosevelt did not need the lists to know the main media critics of his administration. It is our way of supporting our troops and honoring the men and women who served and sacrificed to protect our countrys freedom. Resources american legion cantigny post 556, illinois. Fearful his notes could fall into enemy hands, he didnt write much about plans for the battle of cantigny. Colonel mccormick served in the first infantry division artillery in world war i with then brigadier general charles p. Under his leadership, the chicago tribune not only became involved in the early development of. Robert rutherford mccormick, aka the colonel, the late publisher of the tribune, set up the robert r. For most of his varied and colorful career, colonel robert r. He was a member of the mccormick family of chicago.
He paid high wages and bonuses, and was one of the first to. Robert rutherford colonel mccormick july 30, 1880 april 1, 1955 was a member of the mccormick family of chicago who became a lawyer, republican chicago alderman, distinguished u. A group of fourthgraders from downers grove sidesteps a regiment of flower beds and winds past the american tanks planted outside colonel robert r. He became a citizensoldier, serving in the illinois national guard in 1915 and in the first infantry division during world war i.
Smith is also a presidential biographer and the director of the gerald r. Mccormick was born in 1880, the second son of robert s. He believed that we all can be citizen leaders and that we all have the power to change the future. Mccormick was born on july 30, 1880, in chicago, illinois, to robert sanderson mccormick and katherine medill. It is certainly more definitive than the colonel s own version, which makes near and guilford seem like.
Mccormick foundation, which helps nonprofits working. Mccormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the chicago tribune. The 74yearold mccormick, one of the most noted figures in contemporary journalism, had long been ailing and only this month had been under observation at chicagos wesley memorial hospital. Mccormick, the legendary publisher of the chicago tribune, prepared to scoffdespite the fact that several friends had told me the layout included. Northwestern libraries acquires papers of chicago tribune. It was colonel mccormick who spearheaded the drive to build a worldclass convention center in the city of chicago.
Grandson of joseph medill, became a lawyer but took over as president of struggling chicago tribune in 1911 and held position until his death. He served as a chicago alderman in 1904 and 1905, then became president of the chicago sanitary district board from 1905 to. Robert rutherford colonel mccormick 18801955 was a member of the mccormick family of chicago who became owner and publisher of. Mccormick was the selfproclaimed emperor of chicagoland, a middle america of his own imagination, forever at odds with the alien east and the flaky west. Mccormick 1880 1955 built the chicago tribune, in which he inherited a significant share, into a powerful, idiosyncratic giant that dominated the upper midwest for decades. Mccormick related autographs, signed photographs, historical documents and manuscripts from the worlds largest collection. The colonel of cantigny lecture by jeffrey anderson. Mccormick field artillery association is a group of. What does the reader look for in a truly excellent biography. Mccormick foundation formerly mccormick tribune foundation. Mccormick research center the research center has a wide variety of individual patrons, ranging from the general public, students, veterans, the relatives of veterans, researchers, scholars and authors. Robert rutherford colonel mccormick july 30, 1880 april 1, 1955 was an american businessman. He introduced the concept of higher education in journalism. The foundation also oversees cantigny park, once the colonels estate, in west suburban wheaton.
After returning home, he renamed the estate in honor of the battle. Robert rutherford mccormick, powerful editor and publisher of that powerful and controversial newspaper, the chicago tribune. Army officer in world war i, and eventually owner and publisher of the chicago tribune newspaper. He grew up in chicago, illinois, in a community involved family. Mccormick and joseph patterson, the publishers of the chicago tribune and the new york daily news, respectively. Mccormick 18801955, longtime editor and publisher of the chicago tribune. This commission expired when he returned to chicago but on june 21, 1916, he received a new commission. Mccormick field artillery association, bolingbrook, illinois. When he passed away, all his fortune was left to creating the robert r. The 1918 battle of cantigny was the first combat members of the american expeditionary forces saw in europe. Under colonel mccormick s leadership, the state endorsed. Mccormick, american newspaper editor and publisher, popularly known as colonel mccormick, whose idiosyncratic editorials made. Mccormick, editor and publisher of the chicago tribune, died early today in his wheaton, illinois, country home. The newspaper baron robert mccormick was a passionate isolationistyet his brief service in france in 1918 shone for him all his life and gave birth to an extraordinary museum.
Colonel mccormick served in world war i and saw action at the battle of cantigny. Mccormick, american newspaper editor and publisher, popularly known as colonel mccormick, whose idiosyncratic editorials made him the personification of conservative journalism in the united states. Mccormick foundation over half a century ago, colonel robert r. A leading noninterventionist, an opponent of american entry into world war ii and of the increase in federal power brought about by the new deal, he continued to champion a traditionalist course long after his positions had been. Colonel mccormick to the rescue the new york times. Research assistance provided to patrons by the colonel robert r. The colonel book chicago public library bibliocommons. Neal johnston is a practicing attorney who was formerly the secretary of the association of the bar of the city of new york. Mccormick museum will be the recognized authority on the life of robert r. Northwestern university libraries has acquired the papers of legendary chicago tribune publisher col. Amendment made him the perfect author to capture this story.
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