The Colonel: The Life and Legend of Robert R. McCormick

The Colonel tracks the life of Robert R. McCormick, the influential publisher who transformed the Chicago Tribune into a media empire during the first half of the 20th century. The biography spans from McCormick's privileged upbringing in a powerful Chicago family through his evolution into one of America's most controversial newspaper figures. Smith draws from personal papers, archives, and interviews to reconstruct McCormick's military service, his rise in Chicago politics, and his iron-fisted reign over the Tribune. The narrative covers McCormick's complex relationships with family members, fellow publishers, and presidents from Theodore Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhower. The biography examines McCormick's fierce isolationism, his hatred of Franklin Roosevelt, and his unwavering belief in both American exceptionalism and his own destiny to shape public opinion. His creation of a media empire centered around conservative principles and his transformation of his estate into the suburban community of Cantigny receive detailed attention. This portrait of McCormick illuminates broader themes about the role of media in American democracy and the intersection of personal conviction with public influence. The book raises questions about how family legacy, wealth, and power shaped the development of modern American conservatism.

Readers found this biography thorough and well-researched in documenting McCormick's complex life and his influence through the Chicago Tribune. Many noted Smith's balanced portrayal - showing both McCormick's achievements and his controversial views without seeming judgmental. Readers appreciated: - Extensive use of primary sources and interviews - Clear writing style that maintains interest over 600+ pages - Context about Chicago history and newspaper industry - Insights into McCormick's personal relationships Common criticisms: - Too much detail about minor events and figures - First 100 pages (about McCormick's ancestors) move slowly - Some found the tone too sympathetic to McCormick Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (52 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (21 ratings) One reader called it "the definitive biography of a fascinating American character." Another noted it "reads like a novel while maintaining scholarly standards." Some readers mentioned the book changed their view of McCormick from "just a conservative newspaper baron" to a more nuanced figure.

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🗞️ Robert R. McCormick transformed the Chicago Tribune from a struggling newspaper into one of America's most influential media empires, increasing its circulation from 55,000 to over one million during his tenure. 🏰 McCormick's estate, Cantigny, was named after the French village where he fought during World War I. He later turned the 500-acre property into a public park and museum, which still operates today. ✍️ Author Richard Norton Smith served as director of several presidential libraries, including those of Herbert Hoover, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, before writing this definitive biography. ⚔️ Despite being initially rejected by the U.S. Army for poor eyesight, McCormick eventually served as an artillery officer in World War I and was promoted to colonel, a title he proudly used for the rest of his life. 🗽 McCormick was so fiercely opposed to Franklin D. Roosevelt that he ordered his newspaper to refer to the president as "Roosevelt" rather than "President Roosevelt," and never capitalized "New Deal" in Tribune articles.