"Newspaper Axis: The Radical Conservatism Prevalence in Mid-20th Century Journalism"
Mediocre Propagandists: How Six Rich Newspaper Tycoons Bungled America and Britain into a Brawl with Hitler
By Mary Peters****Journalist and History enthusiast
Remember when we thought Roosevelt, the Depression, and the buildup to World War II in the '30s were the domain of a balanced and fair media? Think again.
In Kathryn S. Olmsted's revealing book Media Axis: The Half-dozen Press Barons Who Aided Hitler, she meticulously dismantles the myth of an unbiased press. Instead, big-money newspaper publishers—including William Randolph Hearst and Robert McCormick—stabbed Roosevelt with stilettos on their editorial pages, even manipulating their own reporters. Back then, "fake news" was just as rampant as it is today.
Hitler and Roosevelt both grabbed the reins of power in 1933. When we recall the grim scenario in 1932—25% unemployment and a collapsing banking system—it's astounding that FDR secured 41% of media endorsements, marking the highest endorsement count. FDR's landslide victories—carrying all but two states in 1936—reflect both the popular appeal of his New Deal programs and his magnetic personality.
Roosevelt faced resistance on both the domestic and foreign fronts, with the press titans Hearst, owner of a network of papers and radio stations ("America First"), and Col. Robert McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune ("The World's Greatest Newspaper"), leading the charge. Eventually, his cousins, siblings Joseph and Eleanor "Cissy" Patterson joined the fray, publishing the New York Daily News and the Times-Herald, the largest circulation papers in the United States, respectively. Combined, they could lay claim to a reader base of 30% of the country.
These press lords also had ties with influential newspaper tycoons in England—Lord Rothermere and Lord Beaverbrook—who admired Mussolini and Hitler. Besides their fondness for the Axis powers, they delayed America and Britain's entry into World War II by propagating appeasement until Germany invaded Poland in 1939.
McCormick's bile could rival Hearst's notoriety. He tagged the New Deal as "The Raw Deal" and instructed his White House correspondent to label federal aid programs as "government welfare." When the Lend-Lease bill was presented to Congress in 1940, the Chicago Tribune dubbed it the "Dictator Bill," without using quotation marks. McCormick assumed that every Roosevelt initiative was designed to make him a dictator, yet he tolerated a genuine dictator like Hitler due to his fanatical isolationism and hatred of communism. He favored a fascist dictator over a communist one!
FDR and his supporters managed to curtail the influence of Hearst, McCormick, and the Pattersons regarding Lend-Lease and rearming the nation through mediums such as FDR's radio talks (Fireside Chats) and the growing popularity of commercial radio and cinema. Henry Luce, owner of Time and Life magazines, controlled a radio show and movie newsreel service, both called the March of Time. Despite his opposition to the New Deal, he understood the gravity of the situation in Europe as Hitler tightened his grip on power.
It's hard for us to imagine the impact of moving pictures today, but in the '30s, Americans shelled out most of their entertainment money on movie tickets. The March of Time mini-documentaries were seen by over 20 million Americans each month, giving them real-world glimpses of the war unfolding in Europe. Olmsted adds, "There was also a shift in the late '30s and early '40s in how Americans received their news—by 1942, polls found that 62% preferred to receive it via radio." Wartime broadcasts from beleaguered Britain, particularly Edward R. Murrow's CBS broadcasts, helped change the tide of isolationism—from Hearst, McCormick, and the Pattersons to a more interventionist stance by the American public.
Following the fall of France in June 1940, Hollywood began churning out films that portrayed the Nazis in a negative light, culminating in masterpieces like Alfred Hitchcock's Foreign Correspondent and Daryl Zanuck's A Yank in the RAF.
Olmsted weaves the intricate tales of Anglo-American media personalities in the '30s and beyond. Chris Beaverbrook, despite serving important roles in Churchill's government post-War, reverted to his earlier isolationist stance, opposing the Marshall Plan, the United Nations, and the European Common Market. Olmsted notes that Rupert Murdoch—who later founded Fox News—was mentored by Beaverbrook in the '50s. Learning from the master, Murdoch helped architect Brexit.
In her poignant conclusion, Olmsted writes, "Echoes of their voices can still be heard today—in the anti-European headlines of the British Daily Mail, in the angry populism of Fox News and Breitbart, in the nationalist speeches of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump. 'From today forward, a different vision will govern our land,' President Trump asserted in his inauguration address. 'From this day forward, it will be only America First—America First.' The last of the press lords have long since passed away, but their heirs carry on the crusade, seeking their land, their empire, the 'white race,' and Britain and America First."
Originally published by History News Network, 07.31.2022, reprinted with permission for educational, non-commercial purposes.
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
In the '30s, six influential newspaper tycoons, including William Randolph Hearst, Robert McCormick, and Rupert Murdoch’s mentor, Chris Beaverbrook, significantly impacted America and Britain’s entry into World War II, their alliance with Hitler, and international relations due to their media influence.
Impact on Public Opinion
- William Randolph Hearst: Initially, Hearst's media provided favorable coverage of Hitler, driven by his anti-communist viewpoints and support for strong leaders. However, as Nazi aggression emerged, his media shifted their stance against Nazi Germany.
- Robert R. McCormick (Tribune): McCormick was a vocal isolationist, opposing U.S. involvement in European conflicts. The Chicago Tribune often criticized President Franklin D. Roosevelt's policies leading up to World War II, emphasizing the need for American neutrality.
- Joseph Patterson (New York Daily News): Patterson initially supported isolationism but later shifted stance towards pro-intervention as the Nazi threat became more apparent.
Relationship with Hitler
- Early Support: Initially, some of these media tycoons, like Hearst, provided favorable coverage of Hitler. However, as Nazi aggression intensified, media support for Hitler waned, eventually leading to open criticism and advocating for U.S. intervention in World War II.
- Change in Imperial Policy: As anti-Hitler sentiments in the media grew, the Anglo-American alliance solidified, leading to measures like Lend-Lease and military intervention against Germany.
Impact in the United Kingdom
- Lord Rothermere and Lord Beaverbrook: British newspaper tycoons had links with the American media owners due to shared interests and political ideologies. They delayed the U.K.’s entry into World War II by advocating for appeasement with Germany, but eventually shifted their stance.
In summary, these influential media moguls delayed entry into World War II with their isolationist views and early positive coverage of Hitler. However, as the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany became more apparent, their media entities played a crucial role in shaping public opinion, galvanizing support for intervention and forging a strong alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom against Germany.
- The general news in the 1930s was significantly influenced by six rich newspaper tycoons, such as William Randolph Hearst, Robert McCormick, and Chris Beaverbrook, who shaped public opinion in America and Britain, influencing their alliance with Hitler and their stance towards World War II.
- The newspaper tycoons, including Hearst and McCormick, initially provided favorable coverage of Hitler due to their anti-communist viewpoints and support for strong leaders. However, as Nazi aggression intensified and their atrocities became more apparent, these media entities played a crucial role in shaping public opinion, galvanizing support for intervention and forging a strong alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom against Germany.
